Fox T-Bird/Cougar Forums

Technical => Suspension/Steering => Topic started by: vinnietbird on November 22, 2005, 11:44:08 PM

Title: Mark VII spindle swap....
Post by: vinnietbird on November 22, 2005, 11:44:08 PM
Won't the Mark VII spindles swap over to the '88 T-Bird (along with brake lines,rotors and calipers of course) even if the Mark VII has the air suspension?I'm thinking 5 lug.
Title: Mark VII spindle swap....
Post by: Tbird232ci on November 22, 2005, 11:45:52 PM
they do swap over, but they use a larger diameter balljoint shaft, so you have more work than just a spindle swap.
Title: Mark VII spindle swap....
Post by: vinnietbird on November 22, 2005, 11:49:06 PM
Thanks.
Title: Mark VII spindle swap....
Post by: cougarman on November 23, 2005, 04:20:00 AM
Just use TC spindles, they bolt right on and you can use the MK VII brakes with them.:D
Title: Mark VII spindle swap....
Post by: vinnietbird on November 23, 2005, 08:15:18 AM
Turbo Coupes aren't very common at all around here.Standard issue Cougars and 'Birds are easy to find at the salvage yard,but not TC's.Not even Mustang GT's.I'll keep looking.
Title: Mark VII spindle swap....
Post by: Chuck W on November 23, 2005, 08:28:37 AM
Yeah, you'll spend more on the little taper adapter bushings than you will a set of 87-93 Mustang or TC spindles.  Try ebay, I see a few up there from time to time.
Title: Mark VII spindle swap....
Post by: Bird351 on November 23, 2005, 09:06:20 AM
Sorry to derail this conversation a little, but I have a couple questions:

1) Does the conversation change at all for an '86 T-bird? I'm a little fuzzy on all my past readings about this. (been up all night doing unrelated research/work, sorry) I would guess not, but I suppose it's better to ask and look stupid than assume.
2) Does the conversation change if, for example, you had an entire (possible) donor '88 Mark sitting 3 feet away from said T-bird?

Sorry to let my stupid hang out again.. but I might as well ask now while the topic's still going.
Title: Mark VII spindle swap....
Post by: Haystack on November 23, 2005, 10:40:47 AM
I was told by a guy at auto zone that all 83-88 brakes are the same(on the front at least) minus the tc's.
Title: Mark VII spindle swap....
Post by: EricCoolCats on November 23, 2005, 11:07:49 AM
Well, you could not use the A-arms from a Mark VII because they're specially set up for the airbag suspension. That's really the big hangup. So...unless you would convert over to an airbag suspension, the A-arms--and therefore the ball joints--wouldn't transfer over. It's a real shame, too, because so many Mark VII's are kept in good shape. The only spindles that work for the 11" brake conversion without going through ball joint hell are from the 1987-88 Turbo Coupe, and the 1987-93 Mustang 5.0 cars (LX, GT).

Haystack: all 1983-88 Cougar front brakes are 10". All T-Birds from 1983-88, except for the TC, are also 10". That info is correct.
Title: Mark VII spindle swap....
Post by: slamedcat on November 23, 2005, 03:52:34 PM
Quote from: EricCoolCats
Well, you could not use the A-arms from a Mark VII because they're specially set up for the airbag suspension.


Unless you wanted to use the Air Bags. The Mark VII also uses the mustang motor mounts. So if you wanted to run the mustang mounts and not have the problem with the K member from the mustang fitting right....

This swap is in my plans for the Cougar seeing how I have two Mark doner cars.
Title: Mark VII spindle swap....
Post by: RDOG on November 24, 2005, 02:49:36 PM
I know for sure you can use mark VII front rotors with no issue with stock 87-88 TC brake stuff.

I have some questions? Are the SVO 5 lug rear rotors the same size as the Thunderbird Turbo Coupe. Can these be used as a direct swap.

I have already created/machined 5 lug rear TC Turbo coupe axels so that I can retain my stock components such as ABS and emegency brake. Just curious if the SVO 5 lug rears could be a direct swap for my setup.

Also can I direct swap my 86 TC for 87-88 spindles.?
Title: Mark VII spindle swap....
Post by: cougarman on November 24, 2005, 03:12:33 PM
SVO rear rotors are larger than TC brakes, they are the same as MK VII.:D
Title: Mark VII spindle swap....
Post by: vinnietbird on November 24, 2005, 05:30:11 PM
I'll get some Mustang spindles.I know where a set are.I was just curious because I have a Mark VII parts car that I'm about to get rid of.I'll run to the yard and get the spindles and calipers and use my Mark VII rotors.I got rid of the calipers from the Mark VII.