Need Suspension Guidance
#51
This is exactly the thread I was looking for, thanks alot for the info. But I have to ask which shocks you went with? Did you use all stock replacement from bilstein Heavy Duty Series (R30-5014-H0) Front (34-050149) and Heavy Duty Series (B46-1214-H0) Rear (24-012140). Or did you go with the 3KGT for the Front Heavy Duty Series (R36-5022-H0) Front (34-050224)? And for your rear strut mounts, are they from the gc Coilover Conversion kit, 86-92 Mazda RX7? Did you have to modify them to fit the bilsteins?
#52
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Good, I'm glad it was helpful. I went with the regular Bilstein HD shocks from TireRack for $476 shipped. They were listed for an Rx-7, not the 3000GT. The Ground Control 86-92 coilover conversion kit does include the rear strut mounts and I didn't have to modify the rears at all, the GC sleeves slipped right on and stopped on a small lip on the shock body.
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No problem man, happy to help. I did my best to document everything step by step hoping that someone would benefit from it but let me know if you have any other questions.
I got both end links off today, only to find out that I couldn't get the rear sway bar out without removing the suspension, removing the catback or cutting it in half (which I'll probably end up doing since it's trashed anyway). So I hooked the straight one back up and took the car out but I don't like it yet. When everything was done the car dove the same, just faster and felt way better. Now it acts differently so I have to relearn how to drive it but I was able to carry a bit more speed through turns and when I was ready for the rear to slide, it didn't. So I know it'll be faster but it's gonna take some getting used to. I'll update again when I get more time behind the wheel or turn the plates and correct the camber.
I got both end links off today, only to find out that I couldn't get the rear sway bar out without removing the suspension, removing the catback or cutting it in half (which I'll probably end up doing since it's trashed anyway). So I hooked the straight one back up and took the car out but I don't like it yet. When everything was done the car dove the same, just faster and felt way better. Now it acts differently so I have to relearn how to drive it but I was able to carry a bit more speed through turns and when I was ready for the rear to slide, it didn't. So I know it'll be faster but it's gonna take some getting used to. I'll update again when I get more time behind the wheel or turn the plates and correct the camber.
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Time for an update since everything is pretty much done with. Got the car aligned, went for a hard drive, everything was great until I heard a knocking noise up front. Turns out the nut on top of the driver's side strut was loose. No problem, except the car was put on a lift before it was discovered and tightened so the alignment got thrown off. Back to the shop.
My camber that had previously been -2.5* was now -3.04* and -3.17* but I didn't change it since I was trying to get out of there. I guess the suspension settled? The tow was set back to zero, I had a hard drive last Sunday and I autox'ed the car this past Sunday. I set my tires to 40 psi front and 35 psi rear based on some recommendations that I read, coming from 32 psi all around. I spun the car once and didn't like how it handled so my last run I dropped my front/rear hot pressure from 43/38 to 37/32 and took 3 seconds off my fastest time, 5 seconds off from my first run. I'm very happy with the car and I can't wait to get these six year old Bridgestone RE-01R's off and some new RE-71R's on.
My camber that had previously been -2.5* was now -3.04* and -3.17* but I didn't change it since I was trying to get out of there. I guess the suspension settled? The tow was set back to zero, I had a hard drive last Sunday and I autox'ed the car this past Sunday. I set my tires to 40 psi front and 35 psi rear based on some recommendations that I read, coming from 32 psi all around. I spun the car once and didn't like how it handled so my last run I dropped my front/rear hot pressure from 43/38 to 37/32 and took 3 seconds off my fastest time, 5 seconds off from my first run. I'm very happy with the car and I can't wait to get these six year old Bridgestone RE-01R's off and some new RE-71R's on.
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