I just got home for buying my first 1st Gen...its an 85 GS.. ...but on the drive home i noticed some issues that i want to address and was looking for some advice as to where to start with each problem

1.The steering wheel has a little bit of play left to right about 2 in each way when i am going straight without turning the wheels


2. The car has no PS but it seems more difficult to turn then it should be even at about 30-40 mph..maybe related to the above question


3.When i drive over a bump or some imperfection on the road it has a clunking sound coming from the passanger rear wheel

any advice would be greatly appreciated as i don't want to waste too much money chasing easy fixes so more green is left for mods...thanks

 

1. common as the steering boxes wear out. You can tighten an adjustment screw, unless it's too worn and the screw is at the end of it's travel. Otherwise, swap out the box for a new one.

2. Many people are used to the overboosted feel of other cars, not the manual steering of an early 80s car

3. Clunk could be a rusted shock tower allowing movement, a brake pad missing a shim, etc. Best to jack up the car and look.

 

where is that adjustment screw??

where can i locate a new steering box??

ohh and i forgot to add this.....i noticed the oil guage drops down to the mark between the 0 and 60 on the oil guage when at a stoplight, but goes right back up when the engine is revved or if i just start driving normally...

 

Be sure the clunk isnt coming from the front. The Idler arm bushings are a common problem on these cars. That would explain, some of the excess play in the steering and the heavy feel (In addition to what Manntis said). Like Manntis said, most older rx7's have some play, and they arent exactly easy to steer. Narrower front tires will help the steering feel. I find 205's feel too heavy, but 185's feel perfect.

 

yeah, I just put in a new box, then a week later switched back to my 205 wheels. Steering is heavy even with new parts

 

what about the oil guage and where can i find a steering box

 

I would also make sure your tire pressure is sound and not too low, that will cause steering to be more difficult as well. If you could explain your oil pressure situation a little better we could get a better idea of what's going on