Can someone please tell me the difference between the SA, GS-FB, and GSL-SE tube size?

I have an '81 GS, but imported front tubes/spindles from a US spec '85 model (thanks Hades!) but I'm not sure if they're from a GS or a GSL-SE.

So I go to swap my shocks from the original GS setup into these new tubes, and they appear to be about 30mm too long. When I measure the tubes, sure enough, the '85 US tubes are 30mm shorter than the '81 GS tubes.

Didn't really think this would be a problem, all I need to do is get shocks for a 81-85 model RX. So I bought some on the weekend (Koni "Special D" adjustables, part number 82P 2052) and not only are they too think to even fit in the tubes, they appear to be the same length as the '81 shocks I have, so they won't fit anyway.

The tubes I imported have the part number FA55 34910A WG18 on them. Can someone please tell me what shocks should fit this tube, and where I can get them? This is driving me nuts!!!

 

Bump - nobody knows??

 

All I can say is that ALL 84-85 tubes are the same for ALL models, and left AND right are also the same.

The callipers, disks and mounting hardware changes for all models and right and left side.

 

In the US and Canada, all 81-85 strut tubes are the same length and diameter. The only difference is the larger spindles to fit bigger bearings/brakes on the 84/85 model years. The '79-80 models have the same small spindle from the '81-'83 tubes but are about an inch (or 30mm) longer, making their inserts incompatible with the later years. What's weird is that since you have an '81, your strut tubes should be the same size as the later '85 model, unless of course your car had swapped in '79 or '80 struts at some point, or perhaps the AUS spec cars didn't change to the shorter strut tubes until some later point. In any case, you'll have to order US-spec strut inserts to ensure you get the proper sizing.

I'd also suggest that you visit ausrotary.com. They've got a good tech contingent there and they might be able to shed some light on the AUS specs vs the US/Canada specs.

Good luck!

 

I am afraid I do not remember what model the car was, Sorry.

 

Ahhh brilliant, this is the info I need! Thanks heaps. I think you're right, the only logical possibility is that someone has swapped some SA struts into the car at some stage. This would make sense because FB's are pretty rare over here, and someone might have just swapped a whole front leg out instead of changing the shocks at some point.

Although, it doesn't explain why the Koni's I have (82P 2052) are listed as for the '81 to '85 model car on their website, but their diameter is too big to fit into the tubes. Perhaps Koni also sell large front legs, as some kind of a package?

 

I don't know why the Konis are the wrong P/N but I do know that there are 5 way externally adjustable Konis out there for the '81-85 struts.

www.racingbeat.com
www.groundcontrol.com
www.mazdatrix.com

Those are just ones I know of off the top of my head. I'm sure that you can find the right P/N and get them local in AUS.

Good luck.

 

I phoned Koni in NZ a few minutes ago, they list the ones I bought for a '78-'79 SA22C chassis, so it seems there were at least four different tube/spindle designs for the car:

1) SA22C '78-'79, larger diameter but same length than:
2) SA22C '79-'81, which was 30mm longer than:
3) FB '81-'83 which was the same length but had smaller spindles than:
4) FB/GSL-SE '84-'85

Hope this helps someone else, it's taken about a week to figure this out

Thanks for your help again guys, I'm going to get a workshop here to modify the ones I bought to fix, since the car is lowered it's better to get the shaft shortened anyway. They've said they can replace the cases and shorten everything down for about $200.