sucker4coupes

g'day all
i got myself a XA hardtop the other week. a fairmont model i believe that came with factory 9inch 'disc brake' diff. so it has 4 wheel disc brakes and the car does stop well. i have a set of 17inch wheels that i currently dress my EF fairmont with that i wish to put on the xa... would they fit? and how do i go about cross-drilling my brakes for that sporty look?

apart from wanting my brakes to look better i would prefer if my daily driver stuck to the road more. i'm not into drifting & i find myself losing alot of traction. in the wet it's really bad. so bad that i prefer catching the train to work.
do sway bars help? how can i help my car stick to the road when taking corners.

xbgs351

17" wheels will fit, although they will be a bit narrow. You will want to put XC-XF front discs on as the "locating hole" in the centre of the wheels is bigger than on the XA and XB. The rear axle can have a "ring" shrink fitted onto the locating step.

No advantage in crossdrilled. They just make you look loke an idiot with more money than brains.

There is much that can be done to make your car handle better. The only real way to do this is to understand what the car does and what are the design compromises/flaws. Purchase Fred Puhn's "How to make your car handle" and Carrol Smith's "Engineer to win". Read them and UNDERSTAND them.

You may need to budget for around $3000 to $6000 if you want to do it properly.


Edit for spelling

XR8 Lamah

Oh, and IMO there is no way you should even consider DIY cross drilling. If you would like cross drilled (or even just slotted), I'd just grab some new rotors. Try www.discpads.com.au - I think they should have slotted for around $130 per corner...

RevHeadRon

i was informed today that cross drilling is pointless compared to slotted, due to the fact that the disc rotor can actually crack because of the holes near the outer edge of the rotor. go for slotted rotors as these reduce the heat in the rotor far better anyway.

sucker4coupes

thanks guys, the advice is much appreciated.

so the wheel stud pattern of a xa is the same of that of an ef?

which looks better? opinion please...
15" with fat wide rubber or 17" with low profile?

Mike Gayner

Definately the 15s with big rubber mate :)

XR8 Lamah

I'd have to second the 15's and fat rubber look :)
I can't really recall seeing them any other way, and I think that the drag style look suits them anyway...

EB2Ghia

I own a XB coupe and just went through the same dramas...

brakes i installed slotted and drilled rotors ... (more money than brains... not really) big difference worth the money. and the center hole prob on my mags was fixed

Suspension
Every bush changed to urithane
Koni adjustables
lovell superlow front springs
Fat Front and rear swaybars
Rear leaf springs reset and xtra leaf added.
... my god was it worth it

all up parts cost me 1000 bucks.(trade/mates rates)

rear leaf reset cost me 400 bucks

did all the front myself with my bro(mechanic)

http://www.fordforums.com/attachment...chmentid=19140

i'm running 17x8 and 17x10 simmons 245's + 275's

__________________
EB2GHIA Long Gone


1973 XB Coupe Fairmont 302, koni shocks, lovell super low fronts, extra leaf and reset leaf spings, dual exhaust, advance headers. Resprayed Vivid Blue Pearl. 17x8 & 17x10 inch FR Simmons.

XR8 Lamah

Nice . . . any side on pics ?

tony xa

Regarding upgrading brake systems, Hoppers Stoppers have a complete kit that will fit the xa. It uses 300mm rotors with au series 2 calaipers .Check out the website www.hoppers.com.au they are very helpful .