I have a 1984 with manual steering. I've made a lot of mild performance upgrades, and now I'm at the point where I'm happy with the car's overall driveability, except the steering. There's too much "play", which I can't seem to eliminate by adjusting the box. I'm considering my options:

1. Send the manual box to Red-Head (or some other shop) to have it rebuilt (no underhood tear-up)
2. Swap in a power box and run it in manual mode (quicker / higher effort / no underhood tear-up)
3. Swap in a power box and run it in powered mode (quicker / lower effort / some underhood tear-up)
4. Change to rack & pinion (???)

I have 205/50-15 performance tires on the front, so parking lot steering effort is fairly high. I use the car as a summertime daily driver, as well as performance weekend driving.

I'm interested in hearing your experiences and recommendations.

 

In to hear what other say. My manual steering gear is belching oil and likely needs a rebuild...

 

In as well. As I fix up my suspension the only thing that seems difficult to fix/restore/upgrade is the sloppy steering. Only a few ancient wizards know how to adjust the box (talking bout you GSL-SEforme) and I do not want an FC subframe. I've been thinking about going to one of the local race chassis shops and having them install a Mustang-II r&p or similar.

 

At the risk of stating what you might already have read, the adjustment is not a simple matter of torquing down the various connections based on feel. You can end up screwing up the preloads and adjustments, ultimately wearing the parts and gaining only a temporatry fix. Back in the 80's I have my FB box adjusted, well meaning friend but inexperienced in ball-nut sector shaft manual boxes and while the immediate feel was "tight" it quickly waned and ultimately was much worse than before.

Here are two excellent threads to get you started on adjusting the box, they complement one another and are thorough. I am planning to do this on my present 83 GSL, just waiting for my ball joint separator to arrive.
https://web.archive.org/web/20010714...eeringgear.htm

https://www.rx7club.com/1st-generation-specific-1979-1985-18/success-adjusting-manual-steering-box-84-rx7-gsl-1114116

And definitely read section 10A in the factory service manual.

Here are other threads of interest, regarding proper adjustment:

https://web.archive.org/web/20161205...-steering.html
81.5 to 85 recirculating ball steering adjustments - RX7Club.com
https://www.rx7club.com/1st-generati...ent-ii-498673/


Edit:

The above relates to adjusting the box while still in the car. With a leaking seal you have to remove the box from the car and of course disassemble it.

If anyone has a link to a "rebuild kit" for the box that would be super helpful.

 

I couldn't find one! I'd be grateful to anyone that knows... Otherwise it'll be a time consuming process of using gasket maker and figuring out what size bushings/bearings i need to source. That of course assumes that the actual sector shaft isn't worn out.

 

Ancient!!?

 

Ancient wizard.

 

GSLSEforme, I believe you just set a forum record for the longest, most informative post - not that I am suggesting anyone tries to top it...

Anywho, joining the thread as well since I too have fallen victim to the wondrous steering slop.

 

I've been running your Option 2 - power box with manual effort, as my PS Pump couldn't be rebuilt, but I did remove and check it's function awhile back. On reinstall, the same leaks were evident from the front pulley of the PS Pump, making it more trouble than it was worth to try and find replacement. I pulled the belt off and have been driving it as a DD this way for several years now with no ill effects.

I'm running 215/50×15 tires and the steering effort isn't bad as long as you remember to get the vehicle moving before you try to wrestle it. Any good driver would be doing this anyway, as turning lock to lock is about the worst thing you can do to any steering box, much more so for a PS box. All that friction and heat has to go somewhere, and the effort is considerably easier with just a little motion from the car.

In truth, I got used to not having PS. It was noisy all the time and leaked, though it did give the car a feeling of lightness that is gone.

If I could get my -SE PS working like a new car steers - I'd do it. That's easier said than done...

 

Lol,not sure how I did that,senility perhaps?
On phone,been away from home awhile

 

You all need to drive some cars from the 60s and 70s. This was state of the art steering back then. Get used to it you pansies LOL!

 

Have you considered swapping in an electric PS pump? There are a number of self-contained units, such as the Volvo one below.

 

I saw a post in a Mopar thread where they removed the piston seals from a PS box and ran it in manual mode (eliminating the need to loop the PS hose). The poster claimed that it reduced the parasitic drag and dropped the effort. Has anybody tried this with an RX-7 box?

I have a PS box on the shelf, and I'm highly interested in the quicker steering.

 

I've had 4, 79, 82, 84, 85. Only my current car the 85 GSL came with power steering. I rebuilt the pump 6 years ago, no leaks no problems. I love the power steering! So much better then the manual steering. as stated above it gives the car a lighter feeling, no slop, a little quicker too.

 

Toyota MR2s had a 12V motor driven pump that I looked into, but it's a significant retrofit and I'd need custom hoses to fit it all up, and I don't know anyone around me that can take care of that. I'm all ears, if someone knows of a retrofit kit that's closer to drop-in.

 

You can make your own PS hoses -->
I've made many custom hoses, and it's not difficult. Too bad you don't live closer . . .

 

Having driven a GSL with power steering in manual mode for years, daily driving and track days, I would have no problem recommending going this route. I recently purchased an '84 roller with manual steering which, as part of its rebuild, is planned to be upgraded to a quicker ratio GSL power box, also in manual mode.

Although...LWROBONS' comments are making me think about possibly rebuilding the power steering system that I still have laying around.

 

Did any 1st gens come with manual box and two piece column? I seem to have found one that is described that way. If so, what is needed to install two piece where there was originally one piece?

Carl

 

Carl, if you pass on that would you let me know about it? Just installed the Mazda MPI race seat in the EP car and am a bit more offset to the steering wheel compared to the Kirkey seat I had in there. Looking for a 2 piece box to get it closer to seat center-line. Sorry, Not trying to hijack the topic.

This topic has been very informative and will need to apply it to my car/manual box in very near future. Bias-ply slicks really wear the entire steering assembly.

 

Nothing like a stock FB steering box in good condition.

Manual preferred, power will do if unhooked.

That's what makes FB handling great, totally predictable sloppiness.

Sweet.

 

Dumb question, but did any other Mazda use similar steering components such as the 626 or GLC?

 

there were only 3 part numbers, the old 79-81.5 box, the 81.5+ manual, and the 84-85 power.

 

I decided to go with option #2 -- a power box run in manual mode. I'm dissecting the box right now to thoroughly understand how it works, then I'll modify it for unpowered usage. The general plan:
a. Use EP gear oil instead of ATF
b. Plumb in a reservoir to feed the box and ensure there is always a good supply of gear oil
c. Open up passages in the pistons / remove the piston ring so there is less resistance to the power piston movement

Pictures and details soon.

 

I expect it may be hard to find these days, but on my FB (that I just sold ) I had installed the ReSpeed subframe with rack & pinion kit - with the high ratio rack. The improved leverage more than made up for the high ratio rack - the thing was only slightly better than stock in parking lot situations, but amazing on the autox course. I don't know if the FC subframe swap has the geometry quite as dialed.

Scariest mod I ever did to my car was cutting the steering column to install the new linkage (made it 3 piece column)

 

Late follow-up, but the "2-piece" steering column appears to have been the normal 1-piece, with the collapsible portion disconnected. Thus shipped in two pieces! Not necessarily a deal breaker for a rebuilt box.

Carl