Just got a hardware kit from Auto Zone and the top spring looks different. I was wondering if it can be used? Doesn't look like it to me.
Thanks
The bottom one is the new one.

 

There should be two springs, an upper and a lower. The 'new' spring in your picture is the upper spring. I would have thought the kit would have both springs...

 

Yes the kit has everything. My question revolves around the top spring. The one on top of my picture is the one I removed from the car. The bottom one is the kit's. They are different. Just wondering if the new one is some updated spring.

 

I'd say the car had the wrong spring installed.

 

thats the 79/80 spring, its a different kit, i know cause i made the same mistake, i just re used to old spring. the 81+ springs can work, but not as well. (too much tension)

 

Yeah, I ended up using the old springs too. Couldn't make the other one work! Is there some kind of special tool to get the bent spring shoe holder on? That thing is a pain...

 

Weird. The drums on the back of my '81 has the larger upper spring pictured in the OP. It's a real bitch to get back together. The trick is to swear a bunch and get a set of really big pliers so you can keep ahold of the spring as you twist it into place.

 

79-80 drums did not have the 'star wheel' adjusters (which engage the top spring). They were manually adjusted using eccentric pins for the bottom shoe rests.

& the trick to working on drum brakes is to use a tight strap all the way around the outside of the shoes, to hold them in place while you engage/disengage the springs.

Pictures here: https://www.rx7club.com/1st-gen-arch...cement-966704/

 

Yep 80 is different. I use a large screw driver to pull it into place. Lot of swearing needed the
first time as well.