every time i look for adjustable shocks, the sites/stores/and vb catalogs only have front adjustables for 81-85 but i have a 79. does any one know if mazda decided to change the front suspension for the s2 and s3 models?will the 81-85 shocks work in a 79?does anyone know where to get adjustable shocks for a 79? and last but not least can I/will i be able to swap the front control arms and all that crap from an 81+ to a 79 so as to use the adjustables. please help me bring clairity to this issue. thx

 

AFAIK nobody makes adjustables for '79-80.

The SA's had a different length strut body than the FB's. I forget which is longer.

Fortunately for you, you just need to locate some Series 2 strut housings and use those. Your existing brakes and rotors will go right on. If you can source some '80 calipers, you can use them with the S2 backing plates. (The FB calipers have a different hydraulic thread than SA, but the '80 calipers are the same style as the FB, instead of what you have on your car now. '80 calipers don't require hydraulic adapters like the FB calipers would but they function the same, meaning better than the '79 stuff)

The control arms and everything else are the same for all 1st-gens. All you need to worry about is the strut housing.

Additionally, I only recommend S2 housings because they use the same wheel bearings and brake rotors as S1's. S3's have the same size brakes but they have larger wheel bearings, and the spindle is different. The S3 setup is better, but it means you'll also need to buy new rotors since when was the last time you ever saw useable rotors from a junkyard?

 

not completely sure about the first part, but i dont think it would work.

to get it to work, all you need is the strut housings, i know because thats what i have, i have 85gsl brakes and strut housngs with illuminas, on 80 control arms.

there's other differences, like the thread pitch on the brakes, 79-80 used 10mmx1.25 thread pitch, 81-85 used 10mmx1.00 thread pitch (the common metric thread pitch).

damn peejay, beat me to it... i used to run s2 housing w/ 80 rotors and calipers, but i got a great deal on brand new 85 housings/calipers/rotors, so i decided i might as well use them

 

ahhhh exactly what i was looking for. thank god my father works for a towing company that has lots of good donor cars in their "parts" yard. i guess its time to do some part robbing. thanks a whole lot for the info, it saved me from a lot of bitching and moaning