To Coil Over or Not to Coil Over

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Hey All

Well things have progressed well in the last couple of weeks with my 1st Gen thanks to great advice received on here to get Don @ Whippett to work on the car. All done and running great. New set of tyres went on last week (Toyo Proxes T1R) on my FR 16 Simmons, but now here lies a problem.

The very bottom of the front springs plate are actually touching the wall of my new rubber!!...I had Darryl @ TP Blackwood do the fit etc and he's chucked on some spacers to try and help but they are still touching. He has suggested Coil overs to eliminate this completely. Gave Don a call and he said he'd need to have a look to offer any suggestion but did say 1st Gens springs get wider down the base. He did also say I'd have the same issue with coil overs??...

Anyone got any advice for me on this??...

Cheers

Mike

[capella re]

im no expert but coilovers because your tyres rub??? kind of seems like massive overkill, like my front mount coolers to big for my r100 so im welding a cortina front end on it. surely theres a better option than that.
secondly wheel spacers as far as im aware are dangerous and illegal due to strain put on lugs etc so im surprised they were fitted by a business.
theres a few techno heads on here that will beable to be more specific with help and normally i keep my trap shut when i don't know something, but if someone told me to get coilovers because my tyres rub id ask why they can't fit tyres that will fit my car?? (nothing against tyrepower blackwood as i havent dealt with them in 10 years)

have a look into hubcentric wheel spacers, not sure if they are legal and probably still not great on safety but seems a better option heres a link but have a google on them. http://www.srbpower.com/hr/spacers.php

what size tyres (width / profile) and offset are you running? how much room have you got before the strut rub turns to guard rub from pushing the wheel out and what spring and strut combo are you running??

and this is what your talking about isn't it but with actual touching of the tyre to the strut

http://memimage.cardomain.com/ride_images/3/613/3501/26531750027_large.jpg

heres a good thread on first gen wheel fitment offset etc http://www.rx7club.com/showthread.php?t=782512&highlight=rim+offset but if you have the wrong offset or tyres are too wide not much will fix it. were the rims on the car before? did you increase the width or raise the profile (if it was lower profile may have sat under the cup rather than now along side it)
i only ran 205's 16's 50's on one of my first gens but not knowing the offset is pretty useless to you.

[13bwankel]

I ran 205/65 on my stock rims and had a slight rub, ended up using the grinder to just smooth out the edge on the lip of the base of the spring mount. worked out ok. I've got coilovers in the front of the wide body, but I haven't driven it yet so I've got no idea how it rides, but the spring rates and shocks says it won't be real nice..

[FLEX]

in my RX7 i used my stock struts and converted them to coilovers using a weld on sleeve kit. Pretty simple/easy to do and not that expensive. Best option

I havnt finalised my wheel/tyre yet but i plan to run atleast a 215 (17's)

[MaDaZ S1]

Hi Mike!
There is some awesome info here and ill just add my expertise.. or useless information..

What rims are you running? Do you know the offset?
With coilovers you will be able to fit some wider tyres underneath so thats a big plus in my book! I would def go the coilovers as its a great mod for handling.

You should always be able to find a rim/tyre combo that wont rub on stock suspention. My guess is that the guys at tyrepower blackwood arnt experienced with First Gen Rx-7's. Im sure they are learning though! Ive had a few problems with them in the past and wont go there but thats my grief!

I used to run a quite thin 205/45/16 with a +12 offset 7" wide rim with no rub and im sure i could go one more tyre size wider!

But i believe your answer will lie in the size/offset of your rims/tyres.
If you have too much positive offset. Like Don said, it will continue to rub on your coilovers, and new rims will be the answer..
If your offset is less positive then you sould be fine and coilovers should fix it. (usually the case)
or who knows, your tyre might just be too wide??

**or your profile may be too big??**

But i would def try and eliminate the use of those spacers (my opinion) but they are illegal for a reason!!
Just my two cents Mike!

Cheers!
Pat

[jesse_RE]

I ran a 205/50R15 (also had T1R's) on my series 2 with 15x7" simmons. Has no issues with them apart from traction loss on boost :p

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Thanks lads. The rims were on the car before running 195/50/16, I can't tell you if they were rubbing at this time as the rubber was knackered and these wheels were only put on a few weeks before the Rota was put into retirement for the last few years. Since taking on the project of getting her back out then tyres were on the list of a must do, now I've got this little problem on my hands that may have been there before. What I think I'll do is see what Don suggests as he sounded pretty confident he could overcome it without too much trouble...that said I'll take some of the info you guys have provided and see how I end up. Again, much appreciated for the advice. Cheers Mike.

[FLEX]

S1/2 or S3?

the problem is in your wheel width/offset not your tyre

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S3 Flex, I picked up a set of Simmons FR 16's that came straight off another first gen so that's the part that's bugging me. That was like over five years ago so I can't go back to that dude and quizz him how he had his set up. I'll run with the advice that the offset is wrong and see how I get on. Cheers again.

[FC3S]

Gave Don a call and he said he'd need to have a look



story of my life i run into drama's with my rota's and don is the first guy i ring. He is a very ezy guy to get along with
mmmm must ring him next week and get him to book some dyno time for my fc

[Kendo]

Ive got some height adj coilovers that id sell to suit first gen with adjust camber and 300mm discs and s4 brakes.

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Ive got some height adj coilovers that id sell to suit first gen with adjust camber and 300mm discs and s4 brakes.
PM Sent.:smiley1:

[yelloS2Rx7]

1 st gen struts run a tapered spring
so the bit where the bottom of the spring sits on the spring seat on the strut
won't be that much different if at all to coilovers bottom sping seat width
but then it comes down to the strut.... And it's relation to ya wheels
it's easy as FLEX suggested, to build ya own coilovers,
as for wheel clearance it's in offset and tyre choice
Are they custom wheels or off the shelf???
what was reccomended to you about the fitment of the rims to your car?????
but regarding coilovers it depends on where it needs to be adj
the length of the coilovers spring used etc,
and how that all relates specifically to your wheels
if the struts are going to be lowerable to any purposeful level
the shocks need to be custom short stroke deals
then u need to decide on spring rate to get custom shoks valves correctly
spring rate is a compromise for what u wanna do with the car
and how harsh the ride is, if ur gonna be using slicks that also influences spring rate choice
if u buy the brakes n strut setyp above make sure ya wheels clear the calipers ;) B4 u buy
unless u get coilovers engineered they are illegal and regency defect otherwise
what wheels u running at what offset and what series Rx7 is it??????

[capella re]

20 bucks for who can guess who the expert on suspension is (you da man corey :) )

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Jesus titty fkn christ...thanks Corey...I'll get every measurement (including my gf's bra size) to you pronto as it sounds like you are going to have the answers for me man. Cheers Mike.

[yelloS2Rx7]

Err photos and bra size would help alot!!!!
Lol....or
if ya can bring the beast pAst wk on sat let me see what I'm dealin with
oh and we have female friendly accreditation, gf's are welcom.. Lol
brings back memories of a skinny little kid with blu S2 with eBay wheels & fitment dramas
I sorted out once upon a time...

[miket]

Cory

Are you still able to fit the semis slicks to the new rims on sat morning.......:D
( dropped one second around mallala with his advice and wheel alignments )

Michael

[yelloS2Rx7]

Aww miket cheers for the kudos!!!!
Ya stil need to do weights for ya arms n run more castor....but,
Yep sat is perfect!! The boss is goin away for wkend..

[miket]

Im going to be the black sheep and try it , no good if you get out of shape and cant steer it ( especially in the wet when you get out of control real eazy )

We will talk on saturday......

thanks..

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[QUOTE=if ya can bring the beast pAst wk on sat let me see what I'm dealin with...[/QUOTE]

Yeah for sure I can do that provided it's not miles away from me(Coro valley) only thing is the new tyres are getting shredded on the inside wall with a groove from the spring...where do I need to get to?

[yelloS2Rx7]

I'm at prospect....
Put ya stock wheels on front to drive it!!!!

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don't have any man...anyone got some stockies they can lend me for a day or so?...they're on the front so no burn out's guaranteed!!

[yelloS2Rx7]

S1,2 or 3????

[capella re]

its a series 3 corey

[yelloS2Rx7]

Miket might have some to lend ya
I could find some Hyundai excel steelies with near bald tyres from out the bak of Wk if ya that desperate too, lol

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Hey Corey...the latest verdict is I've been quoted $400 per wheel to get the offset changed on the FR's...happy to get out to Prospect to see if you have a better (cheaper) solution...need some stockies to get out there though?...those Hyundai steelies sound fine, I'll even stop by SupaCheap Auto and buy a set of those blinger plastic but chrome look alike snap on mags, might even pick up some fluro tubing as well so the Excel will be pimpin!!

[yelloS2Rx7]

Ya can get brand new 16 in simmons for not much more....For about 550-600 odd
Or for about $1700 ya can get some brand new 15 in performance superlights with brand new Yokohama s.drive tyres in the right offset for ya beast
if the rims are the wrong offset only Spacers and long studs will fix ya clearance issues
not springs or struts or coilovers..
So what's the go....I'm confused why your wheels don't fit???
Did you buy the rims new from Darryl at tyre power???
if he did the fitment, measurement for ya new custom simmons???
then he's responsible for your wheels fitting your car or not fitting your car....
if so I'd make it his problem not yours..

[capella re]

nah corey, he bought the rims second hand a few years back. the guy he bought them off had them running on a 1st gen rx7. mike just put them on his first gen which wasn't running so hence there was no problems with rubbing as the car wasn't moving.
now mikes getting close to wanting the car on the road he had blackwood tyre power fit new tyres to the rims and now found the problem with tyre scrubbage. so either the guy he bought them off had a setup in which they didn't scrub but forgot to mention that, or he lied and said they were off his first gen just so mike would buy them or there is some crazy tyre fitment that is now making them scrub.
either way i think he needs to get the rims to you to check out the offset and tyres and see what these rims are really meant to fit (or even better get the whole car down there)

[yelloS2Rx7]

CHEERS Simon!!!
The wheels are wrong offset and are too positive
Then his only solution for those wheels
is to fit longer studs and run Spacers!!!!!!
And now without seeing it's hard but I'd suggest ya tyres are stuffed
any sidewall damage is dangerous!!!!
Or buy new wheels that fit!!!!!

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Cheers Simon & Corey, Simon had the story right exactly, bought them at a time when I knew I wasn't running the 7 for some time but picked them up for the day I decided to start using it...which is now!! More than happy to get the car out to you Corey...just in need of fronts to get it to you, and yes whilst there is some sidewall damage it's quite minimal, that said I don't want to drive on it to make it any worse. Whats the GO with getting longer studs, it's already got spacers on there so I just need to achieve an extra few mm...

[yelloS2Rx7]

Spoke to the bloke who owns Jacobs tyres in blackwood....
He just came thru work 15 min ago
I Asked him about some steelies and tyres for ya to limp to prospect on
they're a "tyres n more" store like us,
gave him the specs of what u need,
he rekons he can help ya out.....
So ring him on monday
and I'll chase ya up some longer studs on Monday too...
Theoretically you could bring ya struts or hubs in to me
and I can stud em up for ya to take home.....

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Done Done and Done...cheers Corey...I rocked up to Jacobs @ Blackwood and dealt with a dude called Brett who sorted me all out. Won't go in to the finer details of the "fix" but lets just say there was a hammer involved.

[yelloS2Rx7]

Ah...the old bash in the bit that scrapes trick :)
millimeter or a mile as long as it misses
glad I could help!!!!!

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Yeah thanks heaps Corey greatly appreciated bud.