28i legs set up

[johnmc67]

me again !!! are any of you using 28i front legs on your cars as ive purchased some new old stock ones if any of you are! could you please let me know what set up you have got (ie)full legs ,discs ,and calipers hubs etc etc thanks again to all of you who have given me advice cheers john

[rscapriman]

Hi John, if you go this route you will need lowered front springs, I fitted these years ago to my old RS3100 way too high at the front think I used 2 inch lowered springs, but a long time ago about 21 years ago.
Regards Len.

[johnmc67]

thanks len i know its not the way really as keeping them as original as poss is best! but the way things are regarding getting the correct parts these days, mine will never get built i wish i could of bought one 25yrs ago that no ones messed with regards john

[rscapriman]

I know what you mean John, there are many RS3100's out there running the 2.8i set up simply because the discs for the RS are absolutely impossible to obtain and without them the strut is useless.
Len.

[garethb]

I heard at the NEC last year that the owner of PFR111M (Modena Green I think?) had a set of the correct discs made locally to him. I think he lives somewhere in the London area.

The owner did call me from time to time, but his number was always withheld and he would never give it to me. He was always asking how to identify which struts he was running so he knew what brake set-up to have.

Len do you have the owners contact details to confirm if this is the case?

He might be running the 2.8i setup.

[johnmc67]

thanks gareth i will get there in the end just need the correct info cheers john

[vernon240]

Hi John, it all depends what you want to do here and what you have.

People, feel free to correct me, so here goes!

Std set up.
You need the original struts. These will be bilstein and will have this inscribed in them along with the RS part number 9052013 and 2014. Pretty sure there are other numbers, but would have to check. I'm fairly sure the hubs are 3 ltr hubs. I heard they had a 905 part number and were always an RS part number, but not really confirmed that. To be 100% original, you'd need the ATE calipers, which as we've discussed, you should be able to lay your hands on, a funny little pipe braket that has no discernable function that is retained by the caliper bolts (many cars have lost these over the years) and then of course the brake disc. This is probably the biggest stumbling block. This is the same as the later mk 2/3 X pack capris (X pack cars had RS3100 suspension) and I know of one owner who got replacement discs made. I'll try and contact him and find more details. The RS3100 strut used very early capri mk 1 top spring cups, wheras the rest of the facelift range moved to the later top cup which survived all the way through to the capri 280 etc. The early cup had a flatter profile, so that may account for Len sugesting shorter springs if you use the 2.8i set up.

If you go to the 2.8i set up..and new struts now is indeed a good find, you just need everything from the later car, so the struts themselves, the hubs, discs, upper spring cup and the top mount (the bit that actually goes through the inner wing). The hubs were not unique to the 2.8i so any 2.8i or 4 cylinder capri hubs will do the job and capri 2.8i front discs are, I believe, freely available. The top mount is easily available as well, but I think you'll find that the later top mounts had studs and so will need nuts to hold them in place, while the earlier top mounts for the original RS3100 struts I think (need to check) had a different sized hole for the damper rod and had nuts welded to the top mount, so you needed bolts going down into these to hold the top mounts in place. Then it's just a case of getting 2.8i calipers, but any M16 spaced caliper will do the job, while the likes of Hi Spec will do you direct replacement alloy versions which may give you better stopping power into the bargain. Or should I say 'may give you stopping power into the bargain' ;D! so once again, these should be freely available. As len said, the only issue will be getting the spring right, as your car may sit too high. but this isn't rocket science. I'm running 2.8i on anoter capri and ended up with -2 inch springs to get the ride height where I wanted it...which believe it or not is not stupidly low!

Really up to you the way you go, but the feasability of using the original set up will be determined by you being able to get the unique RS3100 brake disc. No one will be seriously giving you a hard time if you go the 2.8i route. Now joking with you, expect to get stick whatever you do! ;D

OK, since I had to go into Photo Bouqet anyway, here are some informative pictures.

complete struts. Not mine, but these are from Phils car. Being as he never goes on here anymore, he'll never know I posted these. But if he does, thanks Phil! ;D You can see the funny pipe brakets on Phils, so he's a liucky boy!





Calipers, both sides. The most significant differentiator is the central fluid inlet in the second photo.





top spring cups

Late on the left, early (inc RS3100) on the right.





THis is what you should see on the strut:



and if they still have stickers on, this is what you'll see:



and finally, discs. here you can see one with the hub



here I was experimenting with derusting using electricity. Before and after!




so there ya go, hope it helps!

And when you meet Gareth, don't steal anythung, as I'll get the blame!

[rscapriman]

Well said Vernon, except that funny little bracket with no discernable function held in place by the caliper bolts, does in fact the have the locking tabs for the caliper bolts as part of it unless yours are broken off, this is a Granada item and I believe should hold a clip to retain the brake pipe.
If this is missing please use a conventional locking tab as I knew of someones car that failed the MOT because no locking tabs were used.
Len.

[johnmc67]

hi vernon very helpful thank you really appreciate it i think iwill go with the 28i set up ive got both sets of spring cups ive got 3 sets of bilstein hubs ive got some lockeed 4 pots i had on aset of bilsteins for an escort discs you can get anywhere ....only problem ive got then is getting wheels to fit hopefully it might be just a case of swoping wheel studs and if the right bits come along later on i can always change it back again .....just a quick 1 on ebay ive seen vented discs for mk1 30ltr from ebc would they not be similar to rs 3100?....also i bought a broadspeed last year and the guy shown me a rs 2600 shell with suspension on that he was building a race car out of it ,this was a early preface one would any of them bits be any use to me ? cheers again john

[vernon240]

Thanks Len, forgot about the lock tabs! I know I have these plates, but not sure what will happento the tabs when I take the calipers off on mine!

John, interesting if ebc do a vented disc for a mk 1 capri. If ity's purely for a mk 1 capri and nothing else, it could be the right one, BUT I would be very suprised if it was. I've just looked on ebay and EBC do indeed list a disc for the mk 1, but it's solid (ignore the picture, it's the same picture in all their listings) Could this be the one you saw?

I'm not sure on the earlt facelift RS2600, as I'm fairly sure they didn't have the vented discs, but i'm suire Len or someone else will know for sure!

[garethb]

May 2, 2012 15:49:36 GMT vernon240 said:

And when you meet Gareth, don't steal anythung, as I'll get the blame!

Vernon's a bit of a vulture, whenever we see him, we all lock the car doors, shut the bonnet and keep a close eye on him. Even if it is bolted down, he'll have parts off your car before you know it

[rscapriman]

You have nothing to worry about Gareth, after all TBL crushed you at AVO National Day last year so doubt Vernon would need any bits off your car ;D

[rscapriman]

John it would depend on the year of the pre facelift RS2600, if it were built after Oct 1971 and had its correct suspension it would be ok for your car any earlier then it would have solid discs.
Len.

[johnmc67]

thanks len i will let you know what the outcome is when i get hold of the guy thanks for all your help cheers john

[vernon240]

;D ;D

May 3, 2012 15:43:31 GMT rscapriman said:

You have nothing to worry about Gareth, after all TBL crushed you at AVO National Day last year so doubt Vernon would need any bits off your car ;D

Yea, it was a white wash! ;D ;D ;D

the only reason I'm not turning up is to give Gareth a chance! ;D