How-to; DIY 2 pot brakeupgrade

[300BHPZE]

OK so the 5 lug swap thread has brought me back to this thread. I don't want to convert to 5 lug, but according to that thread, the 00'-04' MPV front spindle swapped straight on to a 323 BF brakes and all.

Now I'm not totally familiar with the BF chassis, but it seems to me it should swap onto a BG as well or very close shouldn't it? I'm thinking that the ball joint shaft might be different but that would just require the correct selection of ball joint.

My research also suggests that the 01' Kia Sephia uses the same wheel bearing and should have the same splines and would be a suitable 4 lug hub for the MPV spindle.

So I'm thinking 00'-04' MPV spindle + 01' Sephia hub + Mini Cooper 276mm rotor (same diameter as MPV but with the same height/bolt pattern/height of a BG rotor) and then either a Subaru/GD caliper and bracket combo or some other caliper and adapter.

Anyone wanna check my work on this?

[Mazda_Powered]

depending on what the interchangeability is with the 1G mx6/probe/626 front spindles (i've seen someone do it a couple yrs ago on an f2t protege gt...cant recall all the details) you can bolt the subaru 2 piston calipers on as a direct replacement along with the pads...and for keeping it 4x100 you may be able to swap out the hub out in exchange for the mx6/probe...

i say hit up an auto wreckers and check your ideas! I wish i had a more accessible auto wreckers here lol, they're not a fan of you swapping around parts and not really buying anything...

[projectmx]

*crossing my fingers*

[300BHPZE]

I checked the 1G 626 spindles last year and they are clearly way different.

Based on information in the 5 lug conversion thread and lots of searching and comparing I think this has a real chance of working. For those who want to go 5 lug the same guy said that with the addition of a small spacer or something, the P5 rear hub worked...which is the same as the MPV hub. So if you wanted to go to 5 lugs, you can literally just swap all four spindles off an MPV and you get the improved brakes as a bonus.

[Mazda_Powered]

yea i know there's a bit more work than just the spindles in the front, but your idea sounds solid man. I say trip to the auto wreckers should tell you lots

[dave0r]

you can do this two pot upgrade on the BF chassie with some playing around ..as some of the BF guys in Australia use the BA lantis hubs and push out the 4x114 stuff and put in the 4x100 gear

so you could use the MPV stuff if what you read is correct

its really easy to go to a junk yard...spend 2-3 hrs and swap stuff around between cars like i did to figure out its true.

[300BHPZE]

The problem with these parts is that they're all sort of too new for the junk yards. 00'-04' MPV, 01' Sephia are not going to be in the DIY yards. There is a high end place that has the knuckles so I'm gonig to take a look this morning. I have a dimentioned drawing of a BA Lantis knuckle to compare it to so I'll be able to tell quite easily if it'll fit.

I'll get a picture so you can all see it.

[300BHPZE]

I just got back from inspecting the driver's side spindle of an 01' MPV and I believe it is perfect.

323F/Lantis spindle with dimensions courtesy or Marcdh from mx-3.com...


MPV spindle



It's definitely the same spindle. The tie rod end, ball joint and caliper mounts are all the same. The strut mount is the same. It's the same. According to rockauto they have different wheel bearings though but it shares a wheel bearing with the Kia Sephia which is the same spline count as us so that hub should go straight in and boom you're back to 4 lugs but now, you can mount a 2 piston brake caliper with ease.

I'm going to the pick n' pull this weekend to see if I can find them cheaper. The place I was at today wants $140 each including the calipers and stuff. Not bad but if I can find it at pnp it'll be cheaper.

[KAinjection]

Wow thats good news. It does look like the MPV ball joint is offset slightly compared to the Lantis though, but I see they both use the larger style balljoint

[300BHPZE]

I was talking about that with Marc. His photo was taken with a zoom lens from a distance to flatten the image. If you look at the splined hole in his pic vs mine I think it's closer than it seems.

I'm going to try fitting one on Saturday at the pick n pull. I feel
confident.

[Turpro]

Great info. So for us that want 5 lug this is perfect. The wifes mpv(for being as heavy as it is and having rear drums) stops on a dime. Now to figure out the back for 5 lug(I know I know, wrong thread )

[300BHPZE]

I'm not so confident now. Looking at the picks throughout the thread of 323F and BG spindles I think the ball joint is somewhat off center. I'll just have to try it and see.

[projectmx]

can a camber plate adjust the offset?

[300BHPZE]

No. The ball joint being in that position would have the effect of moving the wheel to the basck of the car about 5-10mm from the way it looks. That would REALLY affect the car's handling. I would have to find a way to counteract that offset. I fear this may not pan out.

[dave0r]

i see a possible issue! look at the neck on the MVP hub
looks a lot thicker compared to the Lantis hub so will not bolt to the strut untill its milled down somewhat

thats also what i found with the larger mazda hubs, they all have thicker strut mounts