*79 Spindles on 1983 rx7?
Thread Starter
TopGunM2k
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 302
Likes: 27
From: San Jose, CA
*79 Spindles on 1983 rx7?
Hi guys, are the 1979 spindles the same or at least compatible with mounting onto a 1983 rx7 GSL? I found a local seller that welded some nice coilovers to a 1979 spindle and is currently offering them to me at a good price. The spindle includes the disc, backing plate, and caliper mounts. I am hoping it's as simple as just bolting my existing calipers to them after removing my spindle assembly.
Old [Sch|F]ool
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 12,848
Likes: 563
From: Cleveland, Ohio, USA
The only effective difference between 79-80 and 81-83 is the strut housing length, the wheel bearings are the same.
All, repeat all, 1st gen strut housings use the same bolt pattern for the backing plate, which is what the caliper bolts to. The '79 caliper is a different design from '80-85 but it used to be common for people to swap to the later calipers because the '79 units kinda sucked. If the strut housings don't have the backing plates for the later calipers, you can just use yours.
All, repeat all, 1st gen strut housings use the same bolt pattern for the backing plate, which is what the caliper bolts to. The '79 caliper is a different design from '80-85 but it used to be common for people to swap to the later calipers because the '79 units kinda sucked. If the strut housings don't have the backing plates for the later calipers, you can just use yours.
Last edited by peejay; Jun 30, 2025 at 10:12 PM.
Thread Starter
TopGunM2k
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 302
Likes: 27
From: San Jose, CA
The only effective difference between 79-80 and 81-83 is the strut housing length, the wheel bearings are the same.
All, repeat all, 1st gen strut housings use the same bolt pattern for the backing plate, which is what the caliper bolts to. The '79 caliper is a different design from '80-85 but it used to be common for people to swap to the later calipers because the '79 units kinda sucked. If the strut housings don't have the backing plates for the later calipers, you can just use yours.
All, repeat all, 1st gen strut housings use the same bolt pattern for the backing plate, which is what the caliper bolts to. The '79 caliper is a different design from '80-85 but it used to be common for people to swap to the later calipers because the '79 units kinda sucked. If the strut housings don't have the backing plates for the later calipers, you can just use yours.
This is the exact response I was hoping for, thank you very much! Yes, my plan is to completely swap out everything as a whole unit (pictured). Seems like unbolting the calipers from the current spindle will be the only thing I’ll really keep. 👍
Old [Sch|F]ool
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 12,848
Likes: 563
From: Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Those are for '79 calipers. You can't use them, you'll need to swap backing plates.
Those also look like universal generic crap 'adjustable position" strut housings that are almost universally garbage. They weigh a lot more, have a lot less suspension travel, and almost always have damping that is like Monroe Sensa-Tracs with half the fluid missing. I'd say those strut housings are scrap metal, don't even bother wasting money on them.
Another tell that they are MaxPeedingRods or similar is that they use a non standard spring diameter. Then, when you have about 2" of suspension travel because of the crappy layout and the way the upper hat steals another inch of travel, you can't even compensate for the Chinesium damping with different spring rates.
Those also look like universal generic crap 'adjustable position" strut housings that are almost universally garbage. They weigh a lot more, have a lot less suspension travel, and almost always have damping that is like Monroe Sensa-Tracs with half the fluid missing. I'd say those strut housings are scrap metal, don't even bother wasting money on them.
Another tell that they are MaxPeedingRods or similar is that they use a non standard spring diameter. Then, when you have about 2" of suspension travel because of the crappy layout and the way the upper hat steals another inch of travel, you can't even compensate for the Chinesium damping with different spring rates.
Last edited by peejay; Jul 1, 2025 at 12:07 AM.
Thread Starter
TopGunM2k
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 302
Likes: 27
From: San Jose, CA
Those are for '79 calipers. You can't use them, you'll need to swap backing plates.
Those also look like universal generic crap 'adjustable position" strut housings that are almost universally garbage. They weigh a lot more, have a lot less suspension travel, and almost always have damping that is like Monroe Sensa-Tracs with half the fluid missing. I'd say those strut housings are scrap metal, don't even bother wasting money on them.
Another tell that they are MaxPeedingRods or similar is that they use a non standard spring diameter. Then, when you have about 2" of suspension travel because of the crappy layout and the way the upper hat steals another inch of travel, you can't even compensate for the Chinesium damping with different spring rates.
Those also look like universal generic crap 'adjustable position" strut housings that are almost universally garbage. They weigh a lot more, have a lot less suspension travel, and almost always have damping that is like Monroe Sensa-Tracs with half the fluid missing. I'd say those strut housings are scrap metal, don't even bother wasting money on them.
Another tell that they are MaxPeedingRods or similar is that they use a non standard spring diameter. Then, when you have about 2" of suspension travel because of the crappy layout and the way the upper hat steals another inch of travel, you can't even compensate for the Chinesium damping with different spring rates.
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