Axle differences between 83-86 TC and 87/88 TC June 15, 2013, 05:20:10 PM Hi guys.I'd like to know the axle differences between 83-86 and 87/88 Turbo Coupe. I'm thinking about swapping the rear axle from 87/88 to my 85 TC. I've read a couple articles, but I'm still not sure, if it is a direct swap, or if it requires some mods.The same question is about the front suspension. Is there any major difference between those years? I'd like to use bigger brakes in the future. I remember one difference - 83-86 has brake disc and spindle as one part and the 87/88 has separate spindle and brake disc. Is there any other detail, such as different mounting, or something like that?Thanks. Quote Selected
Axle differences between 83-86 TC and 87/88 TC Reply #1 – June 15, 2013, 05:39:19 PM The differences dimensionally are shown in THIS CHART. Are you planning to swap the rear end as a whole, or are you thinking about keeping your drums? Your '85 *should* have the narrow housing 7.5, but you'll need to measure it. If it's narrow, brakes will swap to the 8.8 with no issues. Using the discs won't require anything special, other than some way to adjust brake bias and perhaps a master cylinder upgrade to account for adding the rear discs. [COLOR="red"]86[/COLOR]-88 Tbirds use a different motor mount set-up as well. (Yes, the 86 uses the 83-85 suspension/brakes, and the 87-88 motor mounts).As far as the front suspension goes, 87-88 uses longer control arms vs the 83-86. If you want to use the 11" brakes from the 87-88TC, you'll need to swap spindles as well. They'll bolt up to the ball joints on your 85. You can use your current struts with spacers between the spindle and the strut mount, or swap the 87-88TC ones. Not really any drama. Quote Selected
Axle differences between 83-86 TC and 87/88 TC Reply #2 – June 16, 2013, 08:58:10 AM That sounds good. It is an '85, but '86 model year. I'm thinking about disc brakes on all wheels.And for the front suspension I need almost everything from 87/88. Is it right? You wrote about longer control arms, different knuckle with spindle and different strut mounts on the knuckle side.BTW, are the 87/88 spindles 4 or 5 lugs? Quote Selected
Axle differences between 83-86 TC and 87/88 TC Reply #3 – June 16, 2013, 10:02:08 AM If you just want the larger brakes up front, just swap over the spindles/brakes to your car and don't worry about the control arms. Front struts are optional.On the 87-88, the K-member suspension mounting points are different, to accommodate the longer control arms and keep the same overall track width. You just swap arms to your car, it'll push the front wheel out and you might have rubbing issues due to the wider track. I suppose if you wanted, you could just swap the whole K-member, but there's really no gain in it.All 80-88 TBirds/Cougars were 4-lug. Quote Selected
Axle differences between 83-86 TC and 87/88 TC Reply #4 – June 16, 2013, 10:30:43 AM The reason, why I am asking about the front suspension is, that I have the left front knuckle damaged (some bell end overtighten that nut and ripped off the thread).I think stock knuckle cannot accomodate bigger brake rotors, because the calliper holders are the part of the knuckle and they go over the rotors.The last question about the lugs: Do they have the same bolt pattern 4x108mm with 65mm center bore? Quote Selected
Axle differences between 83-86 TC and 87/88 TC Reply #5 – June 16, 2013, 10:40:19 AM You will need the 87-88 spindles run the 11" brakes.All the wheels will work as long as they clear the brakes. Bolt pattern, etc are the same. Quote Selected
Axle differences between 83-86 TC and 87/88 TC Reply #6 – June 17, 2013, 05:39:51 PM Please correct me if I am wrong but can't you also run the 87-93 5.0 Mustang spindles as they will bolt right up on the car like the 87-88 TC spindles? Another source are the spindles off a Lincoln Mark VII but they require the SVO diameter ball joint. If you need new ball joints and have access to a set of Mark VII spindles then get the SVO ball joints or you can get the adapters from Maximum Motorsports:http://www.maximummotorsports.com/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=514_2_84This should help if you need an additional sources for the spindles.Darren Quote Selected
Axle differences between 83-86 TC and 87/88 TC Reply #7 – June 17, 2013, 06:12:04 PM Quote from: Aerocoupe;417220Please correct me if I am wrong but can't you also run the 87-93 5.0 Mustang spindles as they will bolt right up on the car like the 87-88 TC spindles? DarrenSame spindle. (For all intents and purposes) Quote Selected
Axle differences between 83-86 TC and 87/88 TC Reply #8 – July 01, 2013, 02:37:30 PM 87-93 5.0 Mustangs have which brakes? 11 or 13 inches?And what about MN12 front brakes/spindles? Are they somehow compatible? I have couple MN12 cars floating around, but no donor foxes in whole Europe. Quote Selected
Axle differences between 83-86 TC and 87/88 TC Reply #9 – July 01, 2013, 09:44:44 PM Quote from: Trinom;41782287-93 5.0 Mustangs have which brakes? 11 or 13 inches?11". 13" stuff didn't appear until the '94 Cobra. (Well, the '93 Cobra R had them also, but they're the same thing as the '94-'98 Cobra brakes. No, they didn't use the std 87-93 spindles, they used what would become the 94-95 ones)Quote from: Trinom;417822And what about MN12 front brakes/spindles? Are they somehow compatible?Nope, not even close. Totally different platform. Quote Selected
Axle differences between 83-86 TC and 87/88 TC Reply #10 – July 02, 2013, 01:03:46 PM See if you can find a 94-98 Mustang GT donor car. You can use all the brakes, the front spindles, and the complete rear end. The only issue might be the 96-98 spindles as the geometry is not good for a stock K-member car. The 94-95 spindles are the preferred spindles and the GT or V6 cars have the same spindle.Do a search on this here and you should come up with a lot of info.Darren Quote Selected
Axle differences between 83-86 TC and 87/88 TC Reply #11 – October 01, 2013, 05:34:17 PM Hi, could someone, please, update that chart with S-197 Mustang Rear end?Are they somehow compatible with Fox axles, or are they totally different? The same with front spindles, etc. I didn't find any reference. I'm asking, because I can have them cheap. I wasn't able to find SN95 axles here in Europe for some reasonable price ($3000 for used parts is too much I think). Quote Selected
Axle differences between 83-86 TC and 87/88 TC Reply #12 – October 01, 2013, 05:57:46 PM They won't work completely different Quote Selected
Axle differences between 83-86 TC and 87/88 TC Reply #13 – October 02, 2013, 05:19:43 PM Can you be more specific, please? Quote Selected
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