My 1st Gen RX-7

[David Nock (RIP)]

Looks like wheels are toeing out.

Check ball joints in steering system at same time as re tracking. Either give everything a good old wiggle up on the axle stands before going to tyre centre or get them to check for you. (Not advised \'cos they might not be as thorough as you would be).

[automatic18]

I\'ve had the front end off the ground and given the wheels a good push/pull as I thought the hub nuts might have loosened off as I had the discs off several times, the wheels seem fine.. When driving the car, steering has gradually become more and more vague, it wanders badly now, even passengers notice it
 
Is there a way to tighten up/adjust the steering or is it a case of replacing ball joints.?

[Ian65]

1st gen steering is notoriously crap... the most likely culprit for loose steering is the idler arm bush ..... about £15 for new ones.... easy fix. The steering box can be adjusted as well to take out some of the play.... check out the workshop manual to see how it\'s done.
You can download the factory workshop manual for free here...

http://www.rx7fb.com/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=131

if you\'re only running on the inside tread of the tyres though, your steering / handling / safety will be compromised. 1st thing to do is get it the wheels adjusted so that all of the rubber is on the ground.

[automatic18]

thanks for the advice here!
 
I\'m getting new front tyres tomorrow, also they will be checking the wheel alignment (hope the rod ends aren\'t seized :Hammer). Hopefully it will make a big difference, I\'ll check that arm bush as well later.
 
 
Paul.

[captainbizzaro]

Are you gonna sell her Paul? If you do let me know as I know someone on the lookout for an S2.

[CHC (RIP)]

Hi Paul, glad to hear you\'re mobile again even though with a few corrections required.

The rear valance is a very easy job to do:-
Take of rear bumper.
Grind tack welds running along the top of the valance.
Finish grinding off each side of the valance and off she\'ll drop.
Ready for fitting new section - easy, isn\'t it?

[automatic18]

Thanks for putting up those pictures there, seems a bit less daunting... a bit...
 
Got my MOT test tomorrow.
 
So for the emissions test, is it going to be best to have the car fully warmed up before going in for the test or is it better to have it cold?
 
Hope to get back on the road soon... fingers crossed..:mmmm

[rossonza]

As long as it isnt smokey the car is exempt from machine test, thought it was just visual with these?
 
or is it all depending on year?

[Casey]

My 1983 FB passed it\'s MOT last month (first time, with no advisories) after a lot of helpful advice from people on here. Ian65 sent me this link;

http://www.rx7fb.com/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=211

I suggest you print it out and take it with you. Most MOT stations will be unaware that rotaries of this age has a special exemption. My MOT station was about to get their emission testing kit attached when I showed him the attached. He remembered something vaguely and checked with a colleague, then no tests were done, just a quick visual on smoke :Thumbs-up

[automatic18]

Thanks a lot for the info, I definitely did not know that! Printed it out to take with me.
 
Its a 15 minute drive to the testers, I\'m taking it to the place that did the last few tests for the previous owners so hopefully they will remember the car.

[automatic18]

Got to the test station and all the computers have crashed. The agony is prolonged for another day! Had a good feeling about today as well oh well.

[johnnyboy]

Got to the test station and all the computers have crashed. The agony is prolonged for another day! Had a good feeling about today as well oh well.

 
Be calm. Practice deep breathing. In 1 2 3 4 hold 1 2 out 1 2 3 4 hold 1 2 etc.
 
Or alternatively, kick the dog.

[automatic18]

Well.
 
Failure sheet makes pretty dismal reading! Apparently since passing ok last year the chassis has become \'completely rotten\'. I suppose this is down to the individual testers opinion... so when he told me it also failed on emissions I didn\'t bother arguing. :Hammer
 
Had my fun with the car and it will be for sale soon, Seeing as my Renault is also in pieces in the garage I can\'t face having two cars that are not running..
 
So will my glass sunroof and spare water pump, etc.
 
Watch this space!

[A7RXY]

Not great when that happens,is that the same place that passed it last year ?
 
  Dibs

[automatic18]

Yeah, the same place. I thought I\'d try it as the place I usually go to (with modified/old) cars has just closed down. The car has been parked outside on my drive since I bought it.
 
Wonder if I should try a different garage..