is it really worth doing a 4 to 5 lug swap? i've been on the edge of getting it but something tells me it really just isnt worth it.

the only advantage i can see is being able to buy larger rims. i can never find anything larger than 17 inch rims(mostly ugly ones) for 4 lug wheels.

what is stopping me from buying this is that i have a low mileage car (80k) and im afraid i'll be buying a car with alot more miles and the bearings will be worn, or i'll have some weird issue with them.

i dont plan on racing the car, just want to lower it a bit and put something larger than 15 inch rims on it. 17s would look good but its hard to find anything remotely good looking in that size...

also i am young and poor, so i have limited funds


so give me some reasons why i should or shouldnt go through with this swap!!

 

sounds to me like you already made up your mind on keeping the 4 lug

 

The brakes that you end up with are far superior than what the four lug set up has. Probably more options for bigger rims with 5 lug as well.

 

ha i have both...4 in the front and 5 in the back
but seriously having 5 gives you more options

 

im not totally sold on keeping the 4 lug, just wanted some other opinions and maybe there are some other things i forgot about, i suppose there are more vehicles out there that brake parts would be more interchangeable with.

 

If u love the car, get it! If ur not planning to keep long term, don't waste money! 5 lugs=more options!

 

you can find 5 lug for pretty cheap its a waste not to upgrade. I just got my 5 lug (spindles w/ hubs, rotors, calipers and front hubs) for $270 shipped.

werd. spending <$300 on a 5 lug conversion is awesome in my honest opinon. it's your call though

 

mine is gonna cost 400. ive looked on the net, but everyone here wants 250+shipping which is around 100$ and then on top of that i need wheels. the local one includes wheels and brakes, and a new brake booster/MC

 

If its not a drift car or an Aussie-mobile theres no reason to go larger than 17, unless larger wheels are your solution to fender gap....in which case That being said, Aaron Cake has successful retrofited 4piston brakes onto 4 lug hubs so it IS possible. And if you look you can find decent 4 lug wheels in 17" (those POS 240's have to run something lol) It just requires more looking and more patience.

A 5 lug swap on the other hand, is pretty easy mechanically speaking, as long as you can get your hands on the parts it shouldn't be a problem. It could also serve as an opportunity to install some DTSS eliminators. You will have plenty more options for wheels, and can even rock some take-offs (EVO's Subies, FD's Skylines etc...) while u save up for what you really want.

 

i have the base model so my car didnt come with the DTSS.

this is the major deciding factor right now. i have 2 sets of rims for the 4 lug, one for summer and a set for winter (we do get snow in delaware...). i know i can safely drive year round so to speak with my 4 lug. i'll have to spend extra for the 5 lug

 

Define superior.

Just because the 5 lug has the 4-piston calipers in the front, does not mean that they perform better than the single piston calipers.

4 lug setups are lighter and over the life of the vehicle have shown to be way more reliable. IE: Less prone to failure.

5 lug setups look better and provide better distribution of the clamping force IF and only IF they are in tip top shape. However, finding used 4-piston calipers in good shape is tough. I'd feel confident saying that 90% of them have stuck/frozen piston cups. In this condition, the performance of theses calipers is worse than the single piston.

The only argument for performing this swap is the better selection of rims.

 

 

 

 

this is my first rx7 dont be mean....

sorry i confused DTSS with AAS.

too many acronyms!

 

The hat trick!

lol, no worries. All FC's had the Dynamic Tracking Steering and Suspension* At the time it seemed like a good idea, and helped justify the sticker price, but by now those bushings have become a liability at worst and the source of handling vaugery at best.

 

Yes it would be worth it alone just for saying you got a 5lug model FC. May not be turbo, but at least its not bottom of the line model.

And stock 5lug wheels look pretty good over the 4lug wheels or majority of the aftermarket 4 lug wheels.

 

The alternative to the view espoused by the poster above is that a base model weighs a bit less than other models which can be a positive. There is absolutely nothing wrong with a base model and quite frankly, all things considered equal...power, driver skill, etc. your car would be faster than his due to less weight. =)

 

I got my base model (no sunroof/rear wiper/alum hood) WITH the 5 lug and 4 piston. the calipers were completely frozen though. I think I spent $100 usd new oem 4 piston calipers at advance auto parts with the cores (i.e. you give them your old ones, don't need them anyway). advance auto seems to be generally more expensive then some stores though, napa is probably cheaper. do the swap, sell your 4 lug rims to mr. 240sx or mr. civic/integra/shitbox somewhere and buy some new rims or rims to get you by.

and only a very, VERY few 18" and bigger rims look good on an FC imo. 17" is the biggest I'll ever go and I intend to make a drift monster out of it. all drifters do NOT equal love of big rims, body kits, and stickers (although I do like some of the last two,haha). good luck with your decision OP.

 

Why 5 lug brakes are superior: Bigger vented discs all the way around. If you have 4 piston cores, reman'ed calipers are about $45 at NAPA. Pedal feel is way better with the 4 piston calipers.

 

$45, really? that is cheaper. knew it would be. I should have checked there first but alas, this was before I knew we had a napa in our area. (it is cleverly disguised as a house with a very tiny napa sign and its out of the way so I never knew!).

OP: if you will be drifting and road racing, wouldn't that 5th stud be beneficial? I;m sure it doesn't help much but just saying. bigger, cheap brakes and discs alone do qualify this as something to be done if you are into performance mods. fairly cheap, easy, and peddle feel IS better. very solid. forgot about that part. I don't prefer ABS on the 4 pistons though myself, its ok on the single pistons but I think ABS ruins the feel for some reason. just personal preference probably.

 

Well i just got a deal from a member on here for 250 for a set which sounds good.

i wont be drifting or racing if at all so im not worried about that.

i appreciate all your input, and now i have to decide between getting a new exhaust that wont sound like **** (mine currently does) and doing this upgrade.

 

Four piston calipers are notoriously prone to failure?
I did not get that memo.

 

side note the rotary phone rims are light and nice but i will be doing the 5 lug. will s5 stuff bolt on a s4 chassis i know the rearend will but with the front stuff?

 

^ Yes it will bolt on.