ok, installed 1 side. no problem, easy install. dont have pics yet.

when i completed the swap, i couldn't fit my vert wheels on them. tires are 205..not sure about sidewall, but not low profiles. then i fitted on a vert rim with no tire and there was very small clearance.

since the vert wheels didnt fit, ima have to roll on spares and change the order on my wheels since they werent the same as fc's...

so just wondering if anyone cross the same issue.

 

I got my kit today, but I don't plan to install until ~winter when she's hibernating.

 

Did you use your struts or the ones from a GSL-SE? Because th GSL-SE shares the same offset as the FC and I think the offset of the GSL is smalle or lower. So you might need to use spacer inorder for the wheels to fit. IMO

If I am wrong on that anyone eel free to correct me.

 

the only thing that matters is the acual spindle. both gsl-se and gsl's are same arent they? spindle wise

 

No I think they are different look over the Re Speed Big Brake Thread I think they mention the difference

 

no diff in spindles for '84 and '85. If you have a 83 or earlier I believe (most likly wrong on this) they say to up grade to the S3 spindles

 

'83 and up used larger spindles with larger bearings. I think '83 may have been a somewhat split year on some things, but I'm pretty sure '83's had the larger diameter spindle.

 

indeed. for sure the s3's are the larger diameter spindles. which i have since the adapters fit on.

when the adapter is in place, u just put the fc's hub onto it. simple. im pretty sure i installed it correctly, 0.020 gap from adapter to side of spindle (+/-0.005). just bugging me that after the whole install, i couldnt fit my wheels on...fc wheels.

 

and 84 gsl and a gsl-se have very different offsets the gsl se has so much more space

 

What exactly is hitting the wheel?

 

Does respeed have a website? Couldn't find one.

 

http://www.mrcmfg.com/respeed/

 

wake up guys and tell me whats the verdict

 

im woodonasticks friend and the wheel alone fits but it slides UNDER the spring perch. With a tire mounted it would never slide on, a stock 15x6.5 +40 fc offset wont fit, looks like something closer to +15 would seem to work

 

I have explained all this before on here, but I guess it is time to do it again. First of all, the change in struts and axle sizes was in 1984. When Mazda built the GSL-SE, they wanted to beef things up and it was simpler to just use the heavier parts on ALL 1984-85 RX-7s. This means the front and rear axle diameters. The CP and Respeed front brake kits only work on 1984-85 struts, and it doesn't matter which model. I worked with my machinist to design and build the equivalent parts before these were available, and had to solve all the same problems. I used a set of BBS 15 inch alloys from a a 1990 convertible, and the tires will not clear the strut. We made a spacer, 1 1/4 inch thick, to provide the required offset.

We also did the rear brake conversion, and the same wheels fit nicely in the rear with no spacer. I am using 205/50 in the front, 225/50 in the rear. There are some photos and details of our conversion here:

www.cardomain.com/ride/646433

 

ok this thread worries me. heres all i need to know. i have the kit and plan on installing it soon. it will be going on a SA with GSLSE suspension. the SE front isnt on the car at the time i figured id wait to put them on till after i did the brake upgrade to the parts. after i do this, will i be able to run stock S5 wheels or not? i need to know so ill know what to do about wheels. thanks

 

I guess everybody that swaps out the brakes runs into problems. My swap was supposed to be simple - The plan was to swap out the brakes from my 85 gsl to that of the GSL-SE. Everyone I asked told me that all I needed was the caliper, rotor, caliper bracket and that was all - because the spindles are the same. Well the problem I ended up running into was that the brake swap did not work out. It ended up being that the swap also requires that you take out the dust shield assembly from the GSL-SE along with the other brake parts. So just some FYI if anybody is doing the same swap - cause it totally sucks to have to re-bleed the brakes, reinstall the brakes and everything else all over again due to the brake swap not bolting up correctly.

 

as stilettoman stated, you will need an adapter to fit stock fc wheels. i just finished the swap a few hours ago. since the stock wheels didnt fit, im running on 2 fc SPARES to get the car home.

im trying to get my pics uploaded, so hang tite.

 

So any noticeable difference in the breaking distance?

 

Not really sure why there would be a clearance problem. Sounds like you have everything installed correctly.

My statement was based on a spread sheet I worked up and information on replacement wheels from Tirerack.com. I have attached the spread sheet to this post.

Turbo wheels are 7" wide according to the "FC options" thread in the second gen section. Tirerack has +45 listed for aftermarket wheels for the FC in the 7" wide wheels.

Our measured back space needed. (By measuring from wheel mounting surface to the stock size spring on the strut is around 5.3 inches.

Our spreadsheet gave us clearance when 7" wheel and +45 offset were input based on the back space number needed.


I would be interested to know the backspace measurement of the convertible wheels.

-billy

 

^^^I belive the off set of the vert rims are +38^^^

 

i dont see the brake conversion kit on their website

 

so basically this was all done on paper , no actual part fittment was tried?

 

i really hope thats not the case

 

I posted some info earilier, but forgot to mention that I initially did not install the splash shields (or backing plates). The first time I drove it in the rain at speed, the discs got wet and did not respond immediately. This could be dangerous. I took it all apart and modified the spash shields to fit with the new caliper location. Note that the calipers go to the front on this conversion to clear the steering arms. No problem in the rain now except when I push down on the throttle!

A properly made spacer for use with the available kits will cost you at least as much as the adapter kit. Take a look at my photos earlier in this thread - these spacers are not simple. One of my motivations in doing this conversion was that someone gave me a really nice set of the convertible wheels.

It is possible to build this such that no spacer would be required for the stock 2nd gen wheels, but that would require machining a complete new hub.

If you are only converting the front brakes you are not getting the full benenfit of these bigger brakes, and you still have to convert the bolt pattern.

www.cardomain.com/ride/646433