No one addressed this topic directly, so I thought I would ask...

I took both spindles off an FC with 4-piston calipers (thank you Pull-A-Part ) and I'm trying to retrofit the hubs to my '85 GS spindles. Now I know there's an article about putting FC brakes on an FB, but I don't want to do more work than is necessary to accomplish this. In other words, I don't REALLY want to replace the strut assemblies so that I can use the FC spindle, yadda, yadda.

There just has to be a way to put the FB inner bearing into the FC hub and it fit. Using the FC inner bearing on the FB spindle leaves way too much play for comfort.

Has anyone done this? Or do I really need to go back to the junkyard and get the FC suspension and then purchase new shocks?

 

From what I remember when I had my RX-3... a friend put them on his RX-3.
IIRC... he took the spindles and hubs to the local bearing shop and said..

Ummmmmm I need bearings.

They measured the spindles and then the hubs.. and then handed him bearings with the right sizes. He pressed them in and went on to making his own caliper mount adaptor.

BTW.. the RX-3 and the 1st gen have the same strut/spindle... if I remember right.

 

From my understanding you need some sort of adapter for the bearings to use the FB spindles with the FC hubs. From what I remember, the kit that CP sells had the adapters for the bearing, caliper brackets, and a few other parts. Bouis on here used to have pics of the parts used in the CP kit. Maybe you could measure the FB spindle and the FC hub and take the bearings down to a bearing shop and see if they can look up something with a FB inner size and a FC outter size ?? I don't know. Best of luck to you. I hope you get it figured out.

Kent

 

Hey Kent, long time no see!

I got a few local shops from a local SCCA SA racer...maybe they can make some inner bearings for me?

That would be better than swapping to FC suspension, IMO, does anyone think otherwise?

 

How's the project? Still waiting on the Haltech? This is my main hang out, but I check out NP at least once a day too (no action in the 1st gen section over there, though ). I've kept up on your thread, but there is just nothing I can really contribute to it at this time. But if you have any questions or just want to chat, just send me a message. [/non related ramblings]

I would definitely try to track down some bearings that will match up the FB spindle to the FC hub. I am sure you have a bearing shop somewhere around there. Just take in your measurements and maybe the old bearings and see if they can find something for you. I am sure this would be of interest to a lot of first gen owners (even just to get a decent wheel selection). Good luck.

Kent

 

The Haltech is on its way back, and surprise, they found nothing wrong with it. After they ADVISED me to send it to them. It was delivered to my house on Monday. Anyways, the FB section is slow over there because no one checks it. Thanks for your help, and SPinRacing, and anyone else that has some suggestions.

I'm gonna make some calls when I have time (I'm at school ) and see if some of the shops around here can make me some bearings. I can bring in the FB and FC hubs, and the spindles from each, so they can do it right, hopefully.

We'll see!

 

Before the thread dies let me ask a question about the rear brakes...I already swapped out the diff and replaced it with an -SE LSD, thinking I would keep my drum brakes.

I thought wrong. Can I just get the hubs redrilled for 5x114.3 and bolt up some generic rotors?

 

Good luck I would never redrill any rotors or break hubs but that is a possablity.

 

My friend just had that done to a set in Indy, and it worked fine, he ahd the machine shop weld a couple of the stock holes shut, redrilled the new holes, and then threw it on a lathe to remove any warpage.

doug

 

I haven't actually looked to see what the 5x114.3 bolt pattern would look like on the existing hubs, I guess it overlaps?

The hubs are so thick; I doubt redrilling them is going to do any harm.

 

let us know how this hole deal goes, I for one am very interested in how this turns out.

 

umm....well the easiest answer i have to have 5 lug plus big brakes is the cpracing kit. its 375 dollars but it does the job. it has some washers where u can put onto the fb's spindle and u can put on the fc hub on it.

 

I'm not paying $375 for a "kit" that adapts existing hardware to the FB. Hah!

Thanks for the suggestion though.

 

Agreed. But I did.
I wanted something simple to work - and now
to replace bearings, rotors, etc. - it's stock TII parts.

No "custom" read $$$ anything.

 

I bet I can get new bearings machined, calipers bead blasted and painted, and new new vented rotors for a very competitive price...plus the money spent on the used FC parts.

 

there have been a few in the past that have been able to come up with the bearing to get this to work. alas none would share this info. I have tried geting it from them some that did this are no longer in the rx world and others have saved no info when they did it and just too long a go to remember. I got the info on a set that was used in nz from someone with the e name of hotjoxs but the supplie co or manufacture whent out of biz and the # was not cross referanceable. I know this has been done with just the bearing and a bracket on rx3s and rx7s ( no machined collar ) and also has been done with a standard press on collar. if someone could find this info (part #s) and share this info it would be a boon to all of us the bracket is easy to make its the bearing thats the problem.

 

I will be going to a machine shop to see what they can do for me. If they share the info on the bearing size I will post up the information so other people can have this done.

 

Just a little update and a question...

The machine shop has been working on a part for me, so I'll post up more detail about it later this week when I get it back as well as pics of the hubs on my car, hopefully!

As an aside, I'm unsure if the stainless steel brake lines sold for an FB will fit with me having new calipers...does anyone know? I would hate to spend a week getting brake lines from Cali just to find out they don't fit properly...

 

They work fine. Teeny bit short, but fine.

 

I`m pretty curious about this myself.. There`s gotta be a bearing that`ll work with these.. I know of two FCs in a pull apart where I can snag parts from..

 

Thanks! I'll be sure to order these today in hopes that my little spacer and calipers will be finished...

 

They have the same size outer bearing as the FC, but a smaller inner bearing. You can have a bushing made for the inner bearing and one for the seal so that the FC hub will bolt on.

It looks like this. This is another member's picture.

 

Just to clarify, this would be for the later larger 1st gen spindle/strut assembly, correct?

In talking to Tom D., over @ 7s-Only, they've had a failure of the spindle on one of their GT race cars that use the 1st gen smaller (IIRC) spindle assembly and their own big brake kit. Of course this is on a full prep SPEC GT-2 race car with 16" wheels and shaved TOYO R's, under full race conditions, but one needs to consider this. Tom has actually developed a complete new stronger thicker spindle/strut assembly for his race cars. Just a data-point for this conversation. Maybe Brad has some further info on this.

http://www.sevensonly.com/

Regards,

-Bern

 

That's exactly what I'm having made.

Yes, this bushing is for 83-85 spindles, I think I got the years right.

 

I would like to ask another question relating to brakes, but more specifically the rear brakes.

My car still currently has drum brakes, but those have to go. I already swapped out the 3rd member for an SE LSD, so I would really like to keep the rearend assembly as it is now.

So, in order to match the bolt pattern I have for the front wheels, I would like to get the hubs redrilled to 5x114.3, but my concern is how the rotors will bolt to the hubs. What am I missing here?