1st gen mk 3. steering problem

[stevey41]

Hi everyboby.  Completly new to this club/forams.
Just bought 1st gen mk3, have got massive steering issue\'s. Huge play in steering box. Been told to get a mk2 box put in. Any body done this?
It is really doggy at moment.
Also probably due to worn box car really follows road grooves.
Any body heard of a rack convertion?
When last owned a rx-7 mk 3 gen 1 it was only 2 years old cant remember this being a problem then.
Happy days.   great to get back in to rx-7\'s.  great fun.....
Many thanks.
Steve.

[oldone]

There could be two problems here...1st problem is check the steel work where the steering box is mounted,that area is prone to severe corrosion which leads the whole box to \'float\' on the body......2nd prob is that the 1st gens wear out there steering boxes at a rate.it is possible to do the swop as they are interchangeable with a lil work.You could get the box reconditioned....Question: have you tried to take the tension up on the stering box or is it tensioned up completely ?

[MikeLMR]

also check the idler arm bushes on the passenger side, mine were all but gone when I got my car, made a huge difference to the way it drove. You can also adjust the steering boxes but you need to be carefull as over adjusting can make them wear out faster and in the worst case jam when in tight lock due to the majority of the wear being near the centre.

A steering rack conversion has been discussed a lot in the aussie forums but nothing seems to be forthcoming at the moment.

[oldone]

I agree Mike with all..... :Typing ,we have done some tests and trials to convert to steering rack,but it only worked on the race cars cos we could reposion the motors...on the road cars it was just to difficult and worth the trouble ! :yes

[stevey41]

Hi thanks for replies. Steelwork is fine by steering box. Iv just screwed in grub screw on to of box there was a fair bit of adjustment. (hope ive not over done it)
Iv ordered a mk 2 box from jimmeys, see how that goes.
Bushes all seem fine but cant tell properly till i get car up in the air. (will get all bushes changed though, cant do any harm.).
Heard that they do a kit for a rack conversion in Canada but left hand drive only.
regards   Steve.

[banned advertiser]

Hi Steve
My quote was off top of head inc vat & del, shame you did not look on my site.
http://www.rotaryart.uk.com/acatalog/1st_gen_misc_parts.html

[antnicuk]

Tim at RX motors did a rack conversion on My 13b Turbo Elford Mk3.  Made a huge difference but needed 16inch wheels.
I dont know if he would do it again,  he used a 2nd gen egi non pas rack

[MikeLMR]

what was the reason for the 16" wheels ? did he use the 2nd gen hubs and struts as well ?

[mullins]

Don\'t they run 15\'s anyway???

As above info is spot on I can only add to check the swaybar (anit-roll bar) bushes as if these are worn it will affect castor and hence wheels will tram track.

[stevey41]

Thanks everybody. really usefull to get some experienced feedback. Will get all bushes changed + box done.
Note to gary at rotaryart.
 Thanks just been on site , great site. Be in touch with regards to getting other bits required.
Steve.

[mullins]

Aparently you get better handling in a 1st gen if you use Mazda rubber bushes at the chassis ends and poly bushes at the outer ends! (I was told this by Adsby on Ausrotary who is a suspension guru).

Welcome to the club btw!!!  

[stevey41]

Cheers ! Adjusted box this afternoon ( up to full adjustment now), better but still not right. I agree about bushes as wheel tram track the same.
Great roads we\'ve got , hay.!!!! why can\'t the just be flat.

[antnicuk]

what was the reason for the 16" wheels ? did he use the 2nd gen hubs and struts as well ?

Mike

They are stock hubs, struts and brakes etc.  If i rememeber correctly he turned the bits over that the track road ends attach to, they normally sit inside the wheel but cos they were reversed (left one on the rhs and righ one on the Lhs) they hit the wheel.  This was done to bring the rack behind the wheels.  

Regards
tony

[MikeLMR]

ah ... thats what I was planning to do on the 323 ... hopefully I\'ll not have the same problem

[mullins]

Do you need to get these sort of mods certified by the dvla or someone?