I have a 87GXL and want to put my 86 GX 4 bolt pattern on it so i can fit my 4 bolt mags on my new gxl that has 5 bolts. Whats involved in this procedure - how do i do it and do i need any special tools?...and will it make a difference in performance?

-Daryl

 

WOW!!!, This has been a week of firsts. Earlier someone wanted to remove their 89+ taillights and replace them with 87 taillight and now you want to ditch the 5 bolts for 4. I'm freaked out. Good luck.

 

Yeha itll make a difference. You are going from vented rear brakes to solid rear brakes (bad) and from 4 piston front calipers to 1 piston front calipers (worse) Expect worse braking woth mroe fade and less modulation.

 

You will need to replace the whole hub assemlby, and everything outwards from there. You should be able to keep your rear-caliper, but if you front 4-piston calipers, you will need to ditch those. You will also need to replace the rotors up front. You might be able to keep the rear-rotors from the 5 lug. I personally think you should get new rims though rather than this conversion.

 

Firs, are you sure that 4-bolt rim will fit?&nbsp The stock 4-bolt pattern for an FC is 4x114.3 - this is not a common bolt pattern nowadays.&nbsp If you're looking to swap in a set of rims from a Honda (4x100), it's NOT GOING TO FIT!



-Ted

 

I think he already has rims from his 86 4 bolt, that he wants to put on his 87 GXL.

 

Oops, too early in the morning for me!



-Ted

 

Almost all racing wheels are available in that pattern. It's also known as 4 on 4.5" the same as Mustangs (and lots of other Fords) and Nissans have used for ages.

 

Mustangs have all been 5-bolt since 1993(?).
Nissan (240SX) dropped the 4-bolt pattern when swapping over to the S14.
Almost every "sporty/sports" car today runs 5-bolt.



-Ted

 

Yes but most of the Mustangs being raced are still 4-lug

4x4.5 is probably the second most common 4-hole pattern right behind 4x100... heck it might even BE the most common... I have a much easier time finding wheels in 4x4.5 than 4x100, 'course I'm not looking for appearance wheels either.