Jon_Valjean

Hey all,

So i've got the rear brakes sorted with some 10.5" Ford items after the 8.8" swap, now I need to upgrade the front. I've got a quote for some 310mm discs with Wilwood calipers, good compound pads and some SS lines, but the guy supplying the gear has this to say:

"The Series 1 RX7 struts have a very flimsy spindle and flex really bad with racing slicks and even more so with 16" diameter slicks. I am surprised there hasn't been a few fall off. If there is any other strut out of Mazdas that can be adapted that have possibly a 32 mm inner bearing and a bolt on bracket for the caliper (perhaps Mazda 808??) it would certainly be worth adapting these in first. I personally would not run a RX7 spindle in any car except on an RX7 Class Car. However the basic brake price is very similar."

Hmm.. so now I'm completely against the idea of retaining the original spindle, but does anyone know of a good upgrade along the lines he has suggested? Anyone know anyone who has done this?

lovintha7

Of all the 1st gen race cars, you think any of them run spindles from a different car? A spindle is made for that, and I've thrown mine into some corners pretty hard. Stick with stock, unless you want to "upgrade" the bolt pattern to an -SE. I bet a single spindle would support the weight of the car and then some.

Jon_Valjean

I agree that the stock spindle would be fine for road tyres, a vehicle of standard weight, and fairly quick driving around a good track. Problem is, this vehicle is over 400RWHP, is running 16" slicks and is probably 200 pounds heavier than factory. The front hubs are being machined from scratch with a 5 stud pattern.

So far, I've had one vote to change the spindle, and two (including yourself) who say it should be fine standard. I'm more confused than ever

If we were talking about a clutch or something I wouldn't give a ****, just run it until it breaks then upgrade. The brakes and spindle are a little bit more important tho.. not the type of thing you can worry about fixing after you've driven the car through a safety barrier at 150mph...

steve84GS TII

The 84-85(all cars,12A and 13B) spindle is much thicker and shorter.The outer bearing is also much bigger.Its a direct swap for older cars.
Outer bearing failure is quite common with the older cars,and most race guys will swap to the later model ones right away.Just be sure you mention it when buying parts, if you swap on an older car.The rotors and bearings are not interchangeable between the 2.

Jon_Valjean

Ahh - that's the information I need Thanks heaps, I'll do that.

Now, all I need to do is find some... this will be hard. Anyone got a parts car around who wouldn't mind shipping the spindles to New Zealand?

steve84GS TII

Yea,Im thinking the rest of the world didnt get the upgrade in 84 like we did.My SelectMaz brake kit from Australia was setup for the smaller 79-83 spindles.They werent aware that we had an upgrade in 84.
I was able to make it work on my 84 spindles with a little machine work,last I heard SelectMaz was working on a hub to fit the bigger spindles.Before buying any brake kit,be sure the supplier has them availible for the larger spindle,if you switch.

Jon_Valjean

Hmm that's not good.. if only the US models were upgraded, it's going to be next to impossible to find any in NZ.

Brakes aren't a problem, the supplier can get them for pretty much any spindle..

Damn, now I'll have to investigate getting them in from the States..

Jon_Valjean

I don't suppose anyone knows the Mazda part number for the '84-'85 spindles?

BMS2004

not sure of part numbers just keep checking the classifieds I would say. also check out some USA SCCA forums, we just got our SE struts from someone who was parting out a racecar.

Jon_Valjean

Thanks man, but you can separate the spindles from the struts, can't you?

BMS2004

nope we bought it all as one piece

Hades12

Jon

I looked but it could be as high as $250 just to ship a set to you. Used would not be a problem to get. The local yard has an 85 in it I could pull them from.

Dom

damper/spindle assembly:

FA66-34-910B (right and left)


mounting bracket for SE calliper:

FA66-33-260A (right)

FA66-33-270A (left)


Most likely not available at Mazda. Check Ebay, I see them everyonce in awhile.

BMS2004

Jon one more thing to note, do you plan on putting aftermarket shocks in it too? if so I would recommend finding someone who will do it in the states since no one will prolly be able to where you are since they don't have them.

You could make hades your rabbit for ya.

Jon_Valjean

Crap.. so the spindles are integral with the struts, meaning I'd have to import both front struts from the US?

This is looking better and better

BMS2004

yea but maybe hades will be a rabbit for ya =)

on second thought aren't the strut tubes the same? you might be able to get away with just getting them sent to you and getting them set up in NZ not sure someone who knows for sure chime in.

Jon_Valjean

Wow.. $250?? that's madness. Any idea what the yard would charge you for them?

Jon_Valjean

Cheers dude, but I could probably order the shocks online and have them shipped to NZ relatively cheap, in fact I may be able to source them locally. I can fit them myself.

Dom

If your S3s take the different bearings then you can get the newer spindle off any other S3 locally.

To convert to the SE brakes you will need the calliper AND mounting plate.

Hades12

Here is what they look like, The spring comes off and the silver rod is the shock, It comes out and you have a tube that goes down to the spindle, The tube and Spindle are one peice. The complete assemble is #50 each with the rotors and Calipers on them. I guess the weight of just the spindle assy to be about #15 each, 30# shipped is $221 by Fedex, Dont know what Dutys and Tax would be.

Hades12

Looks like the yard get $25 Each for Spindles.


I could pull them, Box them and Work the shipping for $100 With you paying the shipping and you would have to pay the dutys and Taxes when you received them.

Jon_Valjean

Ok, so that would be $100 + $50 +$250 for shipping, = US$400. If you marked them as a gift I wouldn't have to pay any taxes.

How would I get the money to you? Shall we take this to PM or email?

Jon_Valjean

As far as I'm aware, our S3's used the earlier spindles. In any case, S3's in NZ are only slightly less rare than US spec models, so I wouldn't be able to find any of those either.

I'm getting Wilwood brakes modified to fit the spindles, so I should be able to make do with just the mounting plate.

Hades12

I ment $50 for spindles + $50 for Me + $250 for shipping.

Lets go to PM and we can work out the Details.

cammil

All Australian (and I assume NZ) 84 an 85 models (series 3) had the upgraded suspension and bolt pattern found on the US spec GSL-SE. So a swap from any local S3 should do the trick.