1st Generation Specific (1979-1985) 1979-1985 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections

Hub conversion to 5 lug help

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Old Jul 24, 2020 | 11:01 PM
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GA Hub conversion to 5 lug help

I can't find any wheels that match the 4x110 wheel pattern on my 1985 Rx-7 so I'm just gonna do a hub conversion but while I'm at it I'm going to do a drum to disk conversion on the rear wheels too. I'm curious if anybody else did the same route and if you did please give me some pointers on which parts to use. Also if you know anything about good Coilover kits please give me some recommendations.
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Old Jul 24, 2020 | 11:23 PM
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unless ur 100% set on 5 lug conversion, but since ur already planning a disc rear swap, i would suggest going with the gslse swap. gets u disc rear and 4x114.3(4.5) lug pattern. it's pretty much a direct bolt in.
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Old Jul 24, 2020 | 11:26 PM
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Originally Posted by rxtasy3
unless ur 100% set on 5 lug conversion, but since ur already planning a disc rear swap, i would suggest going with the gslse swap. gets u disc rear and 4x114.3(4.5) lug pattern. it's pretty much a direct bolt in.
That sounds better but than I'm left with the problem of struggling to find aftermarket wheels. Do you happen to know of any wheels I could use on that bolt pattern before I set a plan in stone?

Last edited by blimux; Jul 25, 2020 at 12:26 AM.
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Old Jul 24, 2020 | 11:38 PM
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From: Spartanburg, SC
https://www.google.com/search?q=4x11...w=1600&bih=739

the 4x4.5 pattern is a lot more plentiful than the 4x110. konig makes the 110 pattern wheels. a few others do too but can't think of any right now.
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Old Jul 25, 2020 | 12:13 AM
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Thank you so much you jus saved me so much time. What do you think about these
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/AEO-55-174520

Last edited by blimux; Jul 25, 2020 at 12:20 AM.
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Old Jul 25, 2020 | 12:26 AM
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Originally Posted by rxtasy3
unless ur 100% set on 5 lug conversion, but since ur already planning a disc rear swap, i would suggest going with the gslse swap. gets u disc rear and 4x114.3(4.5) lug pattern. it's pretty much a direct bolt in.
So all I'd need is this https://www.autopartone.com/products...e-hub-axle-set
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Old Jul 25, 2020 | 08:04 AM
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I ended up going the long way around to get a 5 lug conversion. My issue was I kept destroying rotors and pads at the race track, and I wanted wider tires. I designed a billet hub, that uses all S1/S2 bearings, but is essentially a FC hub in design. Then had some caliper brackets laser cut. This set up uses all factory TurboII brake components. For the rear, I did a Ford Explorer 8.8 swap.


I actually found it difficult to find a 15x8 (or wider) wheel, as I wanted to run 245 series tires, but ended up settling for 225
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Old Jul 25, 2020 | 11:48 AM
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From: https://www2.mazda.com/en/100th/
Rota makes 4x110 wheels too, and SSR if you have the $$.

if you really want to go 5x114, i would buy the wheels first, 5x114 wheels are easy to find, but not in a decent size, its easier to buy a 15x8 in 4x100 or 4x110 than it would be in 5x114
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Old Jul 25, 2020 | 12:00 PM
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I have been using bolt-on adapters on my race car for the last 6 years with 20,000 miles of racing. I did have one failure, because I forgot to put one of the nuts holding the adapter to the hub back on after changing a front rotor. Mine adapt to 4x100 which is the same as Miata, Honda and various others. Lots and lots of aftermarket wheels. I like the adaptitusa.com design, because it uses shouldered lug nuts that give more contact area of the nut to the adapter. They cost about $100 per pair. The thinnest adapter you can get is about 25mm, which means you need a wheel offset between 30 and 40mm. That allows use of 205-50-15 Hoosiers (which are really wide for 205's).

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Old Jul 25, 2020 | 03:43 PM
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OP, before you buy anything. Do some more research. There are plenty of cool, period-correct wheels in 4x110 and 4x114.4 bolt patterns that fit our cars. Make sure you look at the offset/backspacing too. It means the difference between the wheels fitting right, vs rubbing your fenders badly. 15x7 w/ 4x110 bolt circle w/20mm offset fits our cars perfectly and isn't hard to find. For the bigger GSL-SE bolt pattern, look for 15x7 w/ 4x114.3 (4.5") bolt circle w/ 38mm offset. These are both very easy to find from quslity companies like Enkei, Rota, Panasport, Konig, etc.

Going the full suspension GSL-SE swap is more work and expense than you realize. You need all new brake calipers, rotors and mounting brackets/dust shields to match, and calipers are almost unobtainable.

Cheapest, easiest and best route is to just get good looking wheels that fit your car, as it is. There are plenty of choices. This is s very, very well discussed topic on the forum.

Last edited by Maxwedge; Jul 25, 2020 at 03:46 PM.
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Old Jul 25, 2020 | 09:40 PM
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Originally Posted by Maxwedge
OP, before you buy anything. Do some more research. There are plenty of cool, period-correct wheels in 4x110 and 4x114.4 bolt patterns that fit our cars. Make sure you look at the offset/backspacing too. It means the difference between the wheels fitting right, vs rubbing your fenders badly. 15x7 w/ 4x110 bolt circle w/20mm offset fits our cars perfectly and isn't hard to find. For the bigger GSL-SE bolt pattern, look for 15x7 w/ 4x114.3 (4.5") bolt circle w/ 38mm offset. These are both very easy to find from quslity companies like Enkei, Rota, Panasport, Konig, etc.

Going the full suspension GSL-SE swap is more work and expense than you realize. You need all new brake calipers, rotors and mounting brackets/dust shields to match, and calipers are almost unobtainable.

Cheapest, easiest and best route is to just get good looking wheels that fit your car, as it is. There are plenty of choices. This is s very, very well discussed topic on the forum.
This might be the option I go with because it seems to be the actual cheapest option. I still want to do a rear disk conversion. Do you or anybody else know of any good Brake kits? My build is going to be more street racing/ cruising orientated if that helps
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Old Jul 28, 2020 | 03:15 PM
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5 bolt conversions usually ends up with you having a harder time finding wheels that fit. Generally 5 bolt wheels are meant for larger wheel wells you would see on the newer cars, although crown vic mesh wheels work great. If you stick with the 4 bolt stuff the wheels you will find generally fit better. Anything bigger than a 16 on an FB looks goofy, and 16 is borderline goofy as it is.

For you to convert from drums to disc you pretty much already need to buy an entire rear axle assembly as the disc brake mounts are not there. For 4x110, a GSL axle will work perfectly. For 4x114.3, a GSL axle will have the housing you need and the pumpkin is usable, but nothing else. You can swap the GSL-SE axles over but still have to source all of the brake parts. You should buy a GSL-SE axle complete with brakes and hope the calipers are good. Rebuild kits exist kind of, but you can't buy calipers at a parts store anymore. You'll need rear ebrake cables too I think. Never did a drum to disc conversion myself.

As your car is an 85, converting the front to 4x114.3 is easy, just buy the brake rotors, pads, calipers lines etc from a GSL-SE. Should be able to get all of that stuff new. If your car was older you would need the front spindles/strut housings as well.

Converting to 5 lug involves buying aftermarket 5 lug rear axles or redrilling. Same with the front, I can't remember what custom rotor or bearing hub solutions are available, I imagine they would look like marshal's above.

Getting into and modifying 40 year old cars is a labour of love. The parts to just bolt them together don't really exist anymore.
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