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Friday, January 6, 2017

S13 suspension of FB Rx7 Part 3 (front suspension)



So been a while since I started to post, so the front suspension is why you are here. I did this with the mindset that I wanted this solution to be practically bolt on. I didn't want to have to modify my car and not be able to go back.
So let's start with what we got first, I started with a set of s13 Hks coilovers that I had bought so I had front and rear.


Looking at them I couldn't use them with factory spindles without cutting up everything.

And the top hats where 3 stud not 4 stud that I needed.

Let's start with how to attach them, I used a custom machined 4 stud camber plate top hat , but this is where you could use FC camber plates that match your brand set.

Only difference is the FC style plates have a slightly larger bolt pattern you can used them by oversizing your mount holes a small bit about 1/8" in each direction.


Once we have those mounted let's move down to the spindles.


I chose s13 spindles for a reason I had them laying around and there are tons of options for upgrading the brakes.

So I cleaned the s13 spindles , machined my brake rotors and cleaned up, painted everything. Spindles just pop on with just the two bolts.



After the spindle was attached up top I had to attack the lower control arm, now I used tubular aftermarket lowercontrol arms with integrated tension rods built in.

You could probably use a stock S13 LCA but as I was unsure of the track width difference I wanted something adjustable.


I did have to machine the sides of the LCA main attachment bearing to fit the rails of the FB mounts, sorry but I didn't keep this measurement but it was maybe .20" inch if I had to guess.

I also had to up size the mounting holes in the lowersubgrame to 14mm as I felt the 10mm factory stuff was weak sauce.





The next deal is attaching the tension rod, I made a braket to mount the bearing to and machined spacers for it to bolt into the factory tension rod mounts. You could do this many different ways but here is what I did. This setup gives me wheel clearances that matches the max angle of the factory swaybar that still on the car.
I ended up machining locating washers to bolt in to the factory tension rod location. And fabbed a braket to mount the new bearing in.




Now the brakes, I found that factory s13 brake caliper share the same straight thread (m10) for the brakelines that the fb has only difference is the s13 calipers use a banjo bolt. So just put a copper washer in and crank her down. Remember to bleed the brakes! I'll post a caliper shot with the hose later on.

Let see what the parts look like on the car...







Now I adjusted my LCAS to the same length as the factory fb lcas from bearing center to ball joint center. And aglined the car.







And here are the money shots once the full suspension system is installed, i have taken it to a few drift days, and have made regular dampening and ride height adjustments. And suspension has been taking a good amount of hammering.