ruparts Posted July 16, 2009 Share Posted July 16, 2009 Hi, I am interested to upgrade the brakes on my 84 wagon to EA-82 parts from a turbo wagon. i think the rear is pretty straight forward just switch out the backing plates and calipers, rotors. I know the bigger front calipers do not mount to the orig knuckles so i have to ask for your help here. can and i switch the knuckles to the ea-82 ones and how will this change the front end, will the original tie rods line up or will i need to do something there? will i need ea-81 axle shafts with ea-82 outer joints or what would be needed there? next the ea81 struts have springs that are centered around the strut,both top and bottom, but ea-82 struts have the spring offset to the outside on the bottom perch and centered on the top, so does this still work if i use the ea-81 top hats on ea-82 struts and be good ? If anyone has done a front like this could you lay it out for me ? any and all information for this is greately appreciated. thank you for the help! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capn_r Posted July 17, 2009 Share Posted July 17, 2009 I swapped the knuckles on my 82 DL (EA81) to some off of an early EA82 car several years ago. What I recall is the EA81 tie rod ends are a larger taper. I reamed the EA82 knuckle to fit but since I have seen several threads on tie rod end differances and I'm sure a practical tie rod end swap exists. I used the original axle by pressing in a thin sleeve made from I believe 3 inch exhaust tubing into the EA82 knuckle to allow the original (EA81)size inner seal to fit. I used the EA81 struts in the EA82 knuckles and had to address some camber issues that generated but if you can change the top hats and run the EA82 struts you may not have that problem. That would probably also eliminate some slight weirdness that my car has at near lock when turning. The brakes work very well(I installed rear disc's as well) and was well worth the effort on mine. Abe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruparts Posted July 17, 2009 Author Share Posted July 17, 2009 I swapped the knuckles on my 82 DL (EA81) to some off of an early EA82 car several years ago. What I recall is the EA81 tie rod ends are a larger taper. I reamed the EA82 knuckle to fit but since I have seen several threads on tie rod end differances and I'm sure a practical tie rod end swap exists. I used the original axle by pressing in a thin sleeve made from I believe 3 inch exhaust tubing into the EA82 knuckle to allow the original (EA81)size inner seal to fit. I used the EA81 struts in the EA82 knuckles and had to address some camber issues that generated but if you can change the top hats and run the EA82 struts you may not have that problem. That would probably also eliminate some slight weirdness that my car has at near lock when turning. The brakes work very well(I installed rear disc's as well) and was well worth the effort on mine. Abe Hey, thank you for the help , but i want to ask a couple of questions . So the original axles worked as far as "length" with the ea-82 knuckles installed , is that correct? cool fix on the seals! I think the ea-82 tie rod ends might fit the ea-81 tie rods to match that part. I looked at both knuckles and the 82's looked like the strut hole is offset further in from the face (backing plate surface) than the 81's, ) that seems like it would cause a camber problem , would you explain what camber problem you did have? I'm not sure using either strut would affect the camber since it is a straight line from top hat to knuckle with either strut. Also, I am not sure if the strut mounting hole in the knuckles are the same angle for both, but i will try and check somehow. I had thought the ea-81 strut mounting dia is slightly smaller than the ea-82's, i'm sure i measured some one time, did you notice the 81's in 82 knuckles having a loose fit, but would clamp down ok? I have not started yet but i do have most of the parts discussed here so hopefully i can do the job without a lot of down time solving things i didn't know about. Thank you again, and if anyone else has something to add, or links, Please do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capn_r Posted July 17, 2009 Share Posted July 17, 2009 So the original axles worked as far as "length" with the ea-82 knuckles installed , is that correct? Yes, if I remember correctly the wheel bearings and spacer between them is the same on both and my fit with no issues. cool fix on the seals! I was / am happy with that very affordable and easy solution myself. Thanks! I looked at both knuckles and the 82's looked like the strut hole is offset further in from the face (backing plate surface) than the 81's, ) that seems like it would cause a camber problem , would you explain what camber problem you did have? I believe what I had is positive (?) camber, (splayed out at the top). Also, I am not sure if the strut mounting hole in the knuckles are the same angle for both, but i will try and check somehow. Your observation on the angle makes sense as to why my camber issue existed. I had thought the ea-81 strut mounting dia is slightly smaller than the ea-82's, i'm sure i measured some one time, did you notice the 81's in 82 knuckles having a loose fit, but would clamp down ok? Mine fit fine. The knuckles I used were I believe 85 or 86, possibly the later ones were a different diameter? I think your downtime will be limited, keep us posted! Abe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now