In last month's installment on the Repeat Offender, we tackled the installation of the front suspension and binders. We dropped some unsprung weight with lightweight brakes from Aerospace Components, supported the front end with new coil springs from Steeda, and installed adjustable struts from Strange Engineering to control the front end movement on the track and cushion the ride on the street.
This month, we shift our attention to the rear and installing a slew of parts from Aerospace Components, Drive Train Specialists (DTS), Steeda, and Strange Engineering to bring the rear suspension and braking capabilities to the same level as the front. The center point of our rear suspension is the new 8.8-inch rearend from DTS.
Drive Train Specialist of Leonia, Michigan, built a stout 8.8-inch rearend for Repeat Offender. A set of 4.10 gears turn the Detroit Locker differential, which distributes power to the 31-spline Moser axles, and the axle tubes have been welded for added strength. In preparation for the Aerospace Components rear brake system, DTS welded up the Olds/Pontiac axle flanges and shipped the housing to MM&FF headquarters in Tampa.
Project Repeat Offender spent...
Project Repeat Offender spent its last few years in outside storage, so the rear suspension was not the nicest looking we've ever seen. Well, that's all about to change.
To get more information on the Olds/Pontiac axle flanges, we contacted Aerospace Components. "The Olds/Pontiac ends give you a 2 3/4-inch axle offset," explains Matt Moody, shop manager at Aerospace Components. "This offset is better because it allows you to run a more rigid one-piece caliper bracket as opposed to the two-piece bracket needed for Ford 9-inch ends. We (Aerospace Components) could make a one-piece bracket for the 9-inch ends, but that would require a shorter brake rotor hat. The problem there is that the caliper would be moved forward and wheel fitment would become an issue."
To keep the rearend in place, we had Steeda send us its heavy-duty adjustable upper control arms, spherical upper control arm bushings, weight-jacker lower control arms, and Steeda's Atreet antiroll bar, which is designed to work with tailpipes. In addition, Strange Engineering sent us a set of its 10-way adjustable Mustang rear shocks to keep the rearend movement in check.
Follow along as we install the rear suspension and brakes on Repeat Offender.
Drive Train Specialists in...
Drive Train Specialists in Ionia, Michigan, built an 8.8-inch rearend for our '85 Mustang coupe. The build started with welding the axle tubes for added strength.
Next, DTS welded all of the...
Next, DTS welded all of the mounting brackets on the reinforced tubes.
The stock axle flanges were...
The stock axle flanges were removed in favor of new Olds/Pontiac flanges, which will take up residence where the old flanges once were.
After the edges of the tubes...
After the edges of the tubes were beveled for better weld penetration, the new flanges were welded on using an insert to ensure the new flange is in perfect alignment with the axle tube.
The crew at DTS then installed...
The crew at DTS then installed the 4.10 ring gear and pressed the new bearing on our Eaton Detroit Locker differential.
The bearing is then pressed...
The bearing is then pressed onto the pinion.