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.
With the differential and...
With the differential and gear set installed, yellow paint is applied to the teeth of the ring gear. When the differential is spun, the wear pattern will leave its imprint in the paint. Once the imprint is in the paint, DTS will make the gears mesh properly.
With everything complete,...
With everything complete, the caps are torqued down.
DTS installed 31-spline Moser...
DTS installed 31-spline Moser axles in our 8.8. The bearings are pressed onto the axles, and the brake caliper brackets lock the axle into place.
DTS finishes the build by...
DTS finishes the build by bolting on one of its differential covers with preload bolts to add some extra strength to the main caps on the carrier.
Before installing our new...
Before installing our new 8.8-inch rearend, we installed the Steeda spherical upper control arm bushings.
These aluminum bushings screw...
These aluminum bushings screw together, and greatly reduce deflection during launches and under acceleration.
After removing the stock control...
After removing the stock control arms, we inspected the torque boxes for any possible damage. Our torque boxes were in great shape, so we began installing our new suspension components. We started with Steeda's heavy duty adjustable upper control arms. These arms make adjusting pinion angle a breeze.
Next, we installed Steeda's...
Next, we installed Steeda's Weight Jacker lower control arms. These billet aluminum arms feature an adjustable spring perch, which makes fine-tuning the suspension super easy, and will help produce better results at the track.
With the rearend supported,...
With the rearend supported, we loosely installed all of the hardware to connect the upper and lower control arms to the new rearend.
Steeda's Drag Race springs...
Steeda's Drag Race springs had been given the task of supporting the weight of our '85 LX. These springs have a progressive rate for a comfortable ride on the street and great performance on the track. The Steeda spring package also gives you a 15-percent stiffer spring for the right side to limit bodyroll during launches.
With the rearend bolted in...
With the rearend bolted in the car, we installed Strange Engineering's 10-way adjustable shocks. These steel-bodied shocks offer 10 rebound adjustments, which is easily handled with a knob at the base of the shock.
Our old rearend had rusted...
Our old rearend had rusted drum brakes. With our goal for Repeat Offender well into the 9-second zone, there was no way these would work.
Aerospace Components sent...
Aerospace Components sent us a set of its four-piston rear disc brakes. We opted for the red-anodized finish on the calipers and also got a set for the front so they all match.
First, we installed the caliper...
First, we installed the caliper mounting brackets. These not only give the calipers a place to mount, but they lock the axle in place by sandwiching the bearing against the axle flange on the rearend.
After bolting the rotor and...
After bolting the rotor and hat together, the rotor assembly slides onto the axle...
...next the caliper bolts...
...next the caliper bolts onto the mounting bracket.
Once the brakes were complete,...
Once the brakes were complete, we jacked the rearend up and began installing the Steeda Hardcore Street antiroll bar. The bar welds in between the rear framerails and has two links, which connect it to the rearend.
With the antiroll bar welded...
With the antiroll bar welded in place, attach the adjustable links. We used a level to ensure the mounting tabs for the rearend would be straight under the antiroll bar. The tabs are then welded to the rearend and the links are connected.
Our finished product is a...
Our finished product is a rear suspension that is ready to hit the track, and hit it hard!
To finish the rear suspension,...
To finish the rear suspension, Dennis Ramsey of Ramsey's Performance mounted our new 275/50R15 Mickey Thompson drag radials onto our Weld Racing wheels. The wheels fit perfectly over the Aerospace brakes and look great with the red-anodized calipers.
Back on the ground, you can...
Back on the ground, you can see the racecar looks beginning to emerge from Repeat Offender. Now all we need is some power. Who knows what next month will bring!