So i was talking to Steve Kan today about my motor rebuild. I had supplied him with an atkins rebuild kit (including the solid corner seals) and Esmeril apex seals. He informed me that there could be an issue with using the corner seals. I am not extremely clear on everything but he has told me that since the rx8 seal is thinner, the corner seal is against only the apex seal spring and not the seal itself, so if the spring moves at all then the side seal could fall out of place. Obviously this guy knows what he is talking about and has build a motor or two. I was curious if anyone has ran these seals from atkins and what there thoughts are about the whole ordeal.

Since its only on the spring "the spring only provides so much tension to hold the piece up. Once it gets heated up, they soften up and looses pressure that is applied to the seal, since there's a big hole on the corner seal, it doesnt hold the seal in place and you will most likely loose compression and/or piece fall out"


Thoughts or experiences?

 

Why would you even use those in a Renesis?

 

Thats the thought we were having, they are what was included in the "master rebuild kit" that Atkins sold. I figured a rebuild kit for the RX8 would have the correct parts for the RX8. Lookings at atkins site, they say that the same corner seal can be used for all years of 13b including the renesis. So i guess in thier mind they work correctly. I have emaild atkins and am still awaiting a reply.

 

Huh?

The apex seal rides in a groove on the corner seal. The corner seal sits in a recess.
Nothing can "fall out of place".

That said, there is absolutely NO reason to use anything other than OE corner-seals and springs.

 

Not sure what the issue was exactly, thats why i am not the one doing the rebuild. However, its more of an issue to me that atkins is selling the rx7 corner seals in the rx8 rebuild kits. More curious if these would work of if anyone else had come across this issue.

 

There is a reason why Mazda stopped using solid corner seals in the 70's...

Want a shocker? Bust out a micrometer and measure the difference in thickness of those seals.

 

There is another issue to be wary of. The rx8 apex seals being shorter require a different corner seal insert to hold up the apex seal properly vs the rubber inserts that the rx7's had. If they really sold you rx7 solid corner seals, the slit in the corner seal will be too deep to support the rx8 seal properly.

Get OEM seals and inserts.

 

yeah, Atkins replied and wanted me to have Steve call and talk to him and discuss the issue. Steve called and i got an email from Dan at atkins saying:

from what I understand there is no problem with the apex seals and corner selas.

Dan

That was the whole reply i got from him after steve told him the exact same thing that hornbm stated above.

So, i got a set of OEM seals and they are going in instead of the solid seals that atkins sold me with the kit.