I installed my modified knuckles and hubs over the weekend.
Modified knuckle and axle spacer installed:
I had to modify the axle spacers because the fillets on the axles on my car were larger than the fillet on the axle I used as a template. I'll update the drawing when I get a chance, but make sure you confirm fitment by checking for a gap between the spacer and spindle. The gap will be only a thou or two, so use a light to inspect. Enlarge the chamfer if needed.
I used a new axle nut and axle nut washer from a J-body (not shown). I'm not sure if they're the same as the Fiero parts.
There are three torque specs listed for these hubs, despite the hubs being the same for all years: 1984-1997: 184 ft-lbs (260 N*m) 1998-2001: 144 ft-lbs (195 N*m) 2002-2003: 148 ft-lbs (200 N*m)
This is is still in the prototype stages, but hopefully if it works well under the stress loads of wheel bearings on cars/trucks, there will be some available that would fit the Fiero, at some point.
I was browsing the web and found that early wrx sti rear suspension is virtually the same as the 88 rear. What about using the wrx uprights to gain better bearings in the rear? I'm not sure what the wrx axel spline count is, but I'm sure you could mod the fiero axels to work. Other things that would need to be worked out are strut length, swaybar mount, and possibly modifying the trailing link mount. The lateral links look pretty close. Of coarse the bolt pattern would change, but could possibly redrill the hubs back to 5x100. The wheel offset may also change. If I run across one in the junkyard I may grab it too see if this is feasible. Here are some pics of the wrx stuff.
After further reading I have found that the wrx rear bearings are no better then the 88 fiero's. However, 2005 STI's use basically the same upright, but have an upgraded bearing. The WRX has 5x100 pattern hubs, the STI has 5x114.3 pattern. Some discussion here: http://forums.nasioc.com/fo...thread.php?t=1591652
I have also realized that the STI has a small drum brake inside the hat of the rotor and serves as the parking brake. This could be a problem to overcome. Perhaps the whole assembled could be eliminated by using the fiero calipers?
[This message has been edited by Bridgetown (edited 02-08-2016).]
I have also realized that the STI has a small drum brake inside the hat of the rotor and serves as the parking brake. This could be a problem to overcome.
Is the drum parking brake necessarily a bad thing?
I dont know if im fully understanding this mod...basically u can install an F body hub onto the rear of the Fiero?? (What car is that off of and what year?)
also, (and there is a reason im asking this) with this mod, could one install a FRONT Fiero hub onto the rear of the Fiero? or no...
This thread is about installing J body (late 90's cavalier etc.) front bearings into the rear of 88 fieros to get a more durable bearing for racing. I'm hijacking with talk of using modified Subaru STI uprights to again, get better bearings in the rear.
Is the drum parking brake necessarily a bad thing?
Well, maybe not. You would need to try to make the cables work somehow, which could be tricky. The real downside imo is the extra unsprung weight having a drum and rotor brake.
[This message has been edited by Bridgetown (edited 02-08-2016).]
This thread is about installing J body (late 90's cavalier etc.) front bearings into the rear of 88 fieros to get a more durable bearing for racing. I'm hijacking with talk of using modified Subaru STI uprights to again, get better bearings in the rear.
Interesting, has anyone tried that?? This upgrade? or is it just a theory at this point??
So I'm building a 88 for Lemons and have begun machining the rear knuckles. What I don't understand is why you need the spacer and where it goes. I know I'm missing something. BTW, great write up in the original post.
Cadillac Rear wheel/hub update to be used on the front of 88's: I decided to look into this. I've been to wrecking yards and the bearings I have found are all aftermarket. I took them apart and the reason you can not use them is that they all have a crush collar compressed around a lip at the end of an unthreaded shaft. You'd have to take a die grinder and cut parts off until the cap can be removed. The collar is on a lip instead of a threaded shaft. Hence the aftermarket unusability as previously stated. However, I did find one new bearing, made in the USA, that had been sitting on a shelf for a long, long time. It has the nut on the end of the shaft with a cotter pin, under the seal cap. The problem is its only ONE and they are all gone.
I eventually did find two US made New Old Stock Green RW402's. These are the specified 513009 bearing hubs made by Green in the USA. They disassemble and have the large castle nut. BUT, they will not work because the spindle is manufactured from the opposite side of the bearing. The spindle is made on the mount to the cadillac side not the hub side. Total bummer.
Additional note: 1984-1985 (non ABS) Corvette front wheel hubs are a direct bolt in for the Cadillac Seville. But I have not taken them apart to see if they have the same bearing dimensions as the rear Cadillac bearing/hubs. They are more readily available but the nonABS ones are hard to find.
Pretty close to a dead end.
Are the NOS Green RW-405 made in the USA a good bearings?
