79 to 84 front strut conversion
#1
Tom Cinnamon
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79 to 84 front strut conversion
Gradually upgrading my 79 RX7 on a limited budget.
I have a Mazdaspeed racing LSD in a '79 drum braked rear housing. Don't want to lose it for the time being, so I am not looking to go to an 84/85 GSL-SE rear end.
Bolt pattern is the 110mm and I have 7' rims for that. Cannot buy new rims ATM.
Here is the question.................
If I get a set of 84/85 front struts, are the spindles and struts not the same on all models, whether, GS, GSL, or GSL-SE?????????????
Meaning that I could start with front hubs/discs with a 110mm bolt pattern and later when I can afford a rear end swap, switch everything over to a 4.5" bolt pattern without changing struts or spindles????????
This would allow me to buy springs and front shocks now that would work for everthing, I think.
Thoughts?
I have a Mazdaspeed racing LSD in a '79 drum braked rear housing. Don't want to lose it for the time being, so I am not looking to go to an 84/85 GSL-SE rear end.
Bolt pattern is the 110mm and I have 7' rims for that. Cannot buy new rims ATM.
Here is the question.................
If I get a set of 84/85 front struts, are the spindles and struts not the same on all models, whether, GS, GSL, or GSL-SE?????????????
Meaning that I could start with front hubs/discs with a 110mm bolt pattern and later when I can afford a rear end swap, switch everything over to a 4.5" bolt pattern without changing struts or spindles????????
This would allow me to buy springs and front shocks now that would work for everthing, I think.
Thoughts?
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i would get the discs all around first. then locate some SE rims, or equivalent with tires before i went ahead and swapped bolt patterns.
Brake Conversion Kits : 1979-1983, Basic Drum to Disk Conversion Kit.
buy the bracket from re-speed.com to swap the discs to the rear and run those in the back and keep your bolt pattern why swap entire rear ends just for brakes?
Wheel Studs, Lug Nuts, Spacers, Valve Stem Caps, Wheel Locks
later down the road just drill the 4x114.3 bolt pattern out and thread in the mazdatrix studs and voila! you now have 4x4.5 rears with studs, and can run a numerous amount of rims.
as far as the front either swap over the entire spindles and struts and be done. not worth the time of taking them all apart and stuff just drop them in, or drill the ones you have now up front and run them now. either way.
theirs a cheap way and a buy all new way. take your pick.
Brake Conversion Kits : 1979-1983, Basic Drum to Disk Conversion Kit.
buy the bracket from re-speed.com to swap the discs to the rear and run those in the back and keep your bolt pattern why swap entire rear ends just for brakes?
Wheel Studs, Lug Nuts, Spacers, Valve Stem Caps, Wheel Locks
later down the road just drill the 4x114.3 bolt pattern out and thread in the mazdatrix studs and voila! you now have 4x4.5 rears with studs, and can run a numerous amount of rims.
as far as the front either swap over the entire spindles and struts and be done. not worth the time of taking them all apart and stuff just drop them in, or drill the ones you have now up front and run them now. either way.
theirs a cheap way and a buy all new way. take your pick.
#3
Tom Cinnamon
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So am right, that there are 84/85 110mm front hubs that fit any 84/85 strut/spindle?
If so that would be great news.
I have a spare stock LSD also 110mm bolt pattern, rear axle assembly with disc brakes(flip up brake calipers, not sure what year or model it is from) that I can steal the brake caliper brackets from, that should fit RE-Speed's bracket that mounts to the axle assembly. Brake lines are pooched on the spare, so would need to find new lines and thread adapters, I think?
If so that would be great news.
I have a spare stock LSD also 110mm bolt pattern, rear axle assembly with disc brakes(flip up brake calipers, not sure what year or model it is from) that I can steal the brake caliper brackets from, that should fit RE-Speed's bracket that mounts to the axle assembly. Brake lines are pooched on the spare, so would need to find new lines and thread adapters, I think?
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Don't Cross The Streams..
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So am right, that there are 84/85 110mm front hubs that fit any 84/85 strut/spindle?
If so that would be great news.
I have a spare stock LSD also 110mm bolt pattern, rear axle assembly with disc brakes(flip up brake calipers, not sure what year or model it is from) that I can steal the brake caliper brackets from, that should fit RE-Speed's bracket that mounts to the axle assembly. Brake lines are pooched on the spare, so would need to find new lines and thread adapters, I think?
If so that would be great news.
I have a spare stock LSD also 110mm bolt pattern, rear axle assembly with disc brakes(flip up brake calipers, not sure what year or model it is from) that I can steal the brake caliper brackets from, that should fit RE-Speed's bracket that mounts to the axle assembly. Brake lines are pooched on the spare, so would need to find new lines and thread adapters, I think?
all the brakes flip up.
and yeah just swap over all the brake components you have and get lines made i believe re-speed also has the course to fine adapter for the newer easier to find brake lines instead of the old British thread pitch.
Mazda RX-2 : 71-80 Coarse to Fine Thread Adapter
#5
Tom Cinnamon
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Thanks for the tips, the new plan is formulating. Looking forward to the refurb this winter. Back in the 80's when I was running solo 1 and 2, I went through a couple of sets of metallic brake shoes every season. They never wore evenly and on occasion just sort of disintegrated. My busiest season we ran 27 events. For someone living in Ontario that is a lot.