Rx7 ball joints...

[crazycanadian]

This is for anyone interested in widening the front track width by about 1/2".. 86 - 88 RX7 ball joints are a direct bolt in swap... You can use stock axles with no problems... This swap also helps control arm angles a little bit for people who are lowered..

two mx3 lower ball joints and the Rx7 ball joint...


This is where it gets tricky... There is a change over in ball joints on the mx3... 94+ use a larger ball joint.. You need knuckles off the later model that use this larger ball joint in order to make this a bolt on swap...

Rx7 ball joint


94+ mx3 ball joint


earlier mx3 ball joint



Old stock ball joint...


Rx7 ball joint

[RobMinhas]

This is for anyone interested in widening the front track width by about 1/2"..

Noobie question alert here.

What would be the benefit of this? Improved traction/handling?

[crazycanadian]

Helps add a little camber with out camber bolts/plates... If you use offset rear control arm bushing the rx7 ball joints will add a little more caster as well...

helps lower control arm angle, trying to get it a little more parallel to the ground..

helps camber curve a little bit while cornering...

Its a small piece in the puzzle when setting up your suspension to get the best handling you can out of it....

[youdirtyfox]

Nice one this is good might have to do this as I seemed to have maxed out my front camber plates on my coilovers from being so low. Thanks for sharing!

[Josh]

I completely forgot about this mod, very nice. We should make sure that this is in the FAQ section.

I think I should do this to the GS

[stepchyld]

I wondered about this same thing when dismantling an 87 RX7 parts car I had for a while, but instead of digging out my MX3 ball joints, I went on to other projects after shedding the shell and storing parts for my RX7.
I'd like to see a few pics of the car's stance after this swap and a proper alignment. It's not a big difference, but I'd still like to see it. Very soon, I'll be upgrading my GS suspension and rebuilding the front end, including ball joints...

[crazycanadian]

I wondered about this same thing when dismantling an 87 RX7 parts car I had for a while, but instead of digging out my MX3 ball joints, I went on to other projects after shedding the shell and storing parts for my RX7.
I'd like to see a few pics of the car's stance after this swap and a proper alignment. It's not a big difference, but I'd still like to see it. Very soon, I'll be upgrading my GS suspension and rebuilding the front end, including ball joints...

I don't have any good pictures of my cars stance before and after. Also my alignment is all custom set up for autocross racing. I run -3 deg camber in the front and 5 deg caster with a little bit of toe out.

[kulluminati777]

dont they make special ball joints for RX7´s that are lowered a few inches?

[Josh]

Good catch^^^^

I think they do, will have to look around. That would be a way to drop the front of the GS a bit more without taking out the helper springs....

[MrMazda92]

Josh, do you have Ground Controls, or full coilovers?

If you've got a spacer between your primary and helper springs, you COULD remove it and weld the end of the springs together, or go for a thinner spacer. I almost opted for my thinner spacers(I had 2 sets), but decided to use the custom ones permin made originally, and I'm glad I did... but I do have a set of thinner spacers if you're in need.

[crazycanadian]

Josh, do you have Ground Controls, or full coilovers?

If you've got a spacer between your primary and helper springs, you COULD remove it and weld the end of the springs together, or go for a thinner spacer. I almost opted for my thinner spacers(I had 2 sets), but decided to use the custom ones permin made originally, and I'm glad I did... but I do have a set of thinner spacers if you're in need.

So you are the guy that bought Robs old coil over set up. I remember that set up, Rob did a lot work to get things to fit.

Josh any pictures of the ball joint you are talking about for lowered Rx7s?

[MrMazda92]

Indeed I am, and the setup is fantastic.

I did have issues initially, but he was using Tokico Blues, and I bought brand new KYB Excel-G struts for the setup. I wasn't able to use the spacer below the threaded collar, and had to get creative with the strut bump stops. MoonEggs hooked me up with a few OEM ones, and I managed to make it work after a while.

The problem wasn't in his designs at all, only the fact that the KYB struts are slightly wider than the lower spacer, and I didn't have the means to modify it to fit.

The feel is fantastic, although I may go with adjustable dampening struts when I get more involved with racing.

[stepchyld]

I wondered about this same thing when dismantling an 87 RX7 parts car I had for a while, but instead of digging out my MX3 ball joints, I went on to other projects after shedding the shell and storing parts for my RX7.
I'd like to see a few pics of the car's stance after this swap and a proper alignment. It's not a big difference, but I'd still like to see it. Very soon, I'll be upgrading my GS suspension and rebuilding the front end, including ball joints...

I don't have any good pictures of my cars stance before and after. Also my alignment is all custom set up for autocross racing. I run -3 deg camber in the front and 5 deg caster with a little bit of toe out.

ok, thanks.
I would love to get into autocross! -but don't have the funds, and I don't think there's a local group, just a dirt track and a drag strip around here.
Sounds like a nice setup, a lot of work, but well worth it, I bet!

I'll be installing Tokico Struts (ZX2 S/R) and Eibach Lowering Springs (MX3 GS). If using the RX7 ball joints, is there anything else I'd need to do to it?

[300zxrb26dett]

dont they make special ball joints for RX7´s that are lowered a few inches?

Nope they dont. Everything you find is custom made.

[Josh]

I know there used to be, perhaps they were custom ball joints. I did some searching and could not find anything.