If I switch my 80 over to the 85 spindles in order to get the benefits of the improved bearings, will that mean I have to get new strut cartridges too? If i have to get new strut cartridges, will they work with the existing strut tops, or will I need the 85 strut tops too.


Too many suspension questions... now my head hurts.

btw, it would be 85GSL to 80GS. No -SE involved.

 

Strut tops are the same unless you go with certain race cartridges which require special ones.

Yes you will need different cartridges - but this is okay because most performance cartidges are only for '81-85 housings anyway.

-SE strut housings are the same as all other '84-85, only the backing plate is different. For what that's worth.

 

If you find me a SE in Louisville, I need the front stuff.. You can have my 85 stuff in the front of mine Of course Ill pay the difference for the Se stuff

 

I will keep my eyes out for ya. I haven't found any SE's in the salvage yards, though there are several other 84-85 models around. I did find an SE sitting in someones yard. It hasn't moved in the two+ years I have lived here. Offered them $2000 for it a couple of months ago, or to trade them my 86 GXL which runs great, and they said no.

Probably better that way... I am the 2nd owner on the GXL and it has 105K original miles and is still running strong. The SE had a lot of rust and and some body damage and mine has neither. Lust for a FI 13B 1st gen almost got the better of me.

Can I ramble or what? I will keep my eyes open for ya. On a side note, if anyone wants to trade a set of Koni front struts 81-85 for a set of Koni front struts 79-80....

I wish I hadn't upgraded the struts before I started thinking about the spindles.

 

Well the -se and the 84-85 12a strut housings are close but not the same. The -se's spring pertch is ~1/4 higher on the tube than the 12a ones. But other than that they are the same.