Forks, Brakes, and Front wheels...Upgrade, upgrade, upgrade

[mijohnso]

I have been trying to collect the parts necessary to upgrade my 1986 FJ's front end to a 1989, and I have been following this great write up http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=659.msg4785#msg4785

I have a lot of questions...
First, do I have to keep my 1986 upper fork tubes? Can I just take '89 forks and plug them into my triple tree's (I can't see a reason why i shouldn't be able to). This would save me quite a bit of work...

Do I need a new front fender to accommodate the bigger wheel?

I got some r6 calipers, do I need to get an r6 master cylinder (can i just use the one from my '86)?

Can I use r6 rotors, or should I get a wheel with rotors on it? For that matter, can I use the '86 rotors?

Anybody selling an '89 front wheel with axel, spacers, and rotors?

I have done some investigating my own, and I can't seem to find the answers to these questions. Thank you all for your time!

-Mike

[mijohnso]

Also, Is there a way to upgrade the brakes on the '86 without upgrading anything else?

[Travis398]

I believe the fenders and fork tubes are the same, but the 86 rotors (and calipers) won't fit later model wheels (and forks)

[SlowOldGuy]

Don't bother just upgrading your '86 brakes.  Do the 17" front wheel, it will transform the handling.

'89 forks will slip right in.  No need to mix pieces unless your '86 tubes happen to be in better shape.

New fender not required.  Even though it's a 17" front wheel/tire, the aspect ratio drops from an 80 to a 70.  The 10" wheel/tire diameter is esentially identical tot eh 16".

'89 (or later) rotors are required for the '89 ( or later) front wheel.  '86 rotors will not fit an '89 (or later) wheel.

R6 master cylinder is not "required" but it will make the overall brake performance better.  I'm still using the stock FJ master with my monoblock calipers, but then I'm not a big fan of super sensitive front brakes.

DavidR.

[Mark Olson]

I have been trying to collect the parts necessary to upgrade my 1986 FJ's front end to a 1989, and I have been following this great write up http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=659.msg4785#msg4785

I have a lot of questions...
First, do I have to keep my 1986 upper fork tubes? Can I just take '89 forks and plug them into my triple tree's (I can't see a reason why i shouldn't be able to). This would save me quite a bit of work...
no the later forks slip right in
Do I need a new front fender to accommodate the bigger wheel?
no you can use your stock fender
I got some r6 calipers, do I need to get an r6 master cylinder (can i just use the one from my '86)?
no , but you should for a better brake feel and two finger braking
Can I use r6 rotors, or should I get a wheel with rotors on it? For that matter, can I use the '86 rotors?
no , you need 89 or later rotors
Anybody selling an '89 front wheel with axel, spacers, and rotors?

I have done some investigating my own, and I can't seem to find the answers to these questions. Thank you all for your time!

-Mike

Mike , how big of a hurry are you in to do this ?  I know of a wheel available and maybe some rotors and possibly some 90 lower legs that will be available this winter.

[mijohnso]

This will most likely be my winter project. I am heeding the advice of others and trying to collect things slowly. When would these parts become available? I guess I would like to avoid having to my current forks apart (I would like uppers and lowers together), but if the price is right, how can I refuse? I would definitely be interested in a wheel and some rotors though... Doing some upgrading yourself?
-Mike

[carsick]

I have been trying to collect the parts necessary to upgrade my 1986 FJ's front end to a 1989, and I have been following this great write up http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=659.msg4785#msg4785

I have a lot of questions...
Anybody selling an '89 front wheel with axel, spacers, and rotors?
-Mike

I have the wheel!! Not the bits!
Doug

[Mark Olson]

This will most likely be my winter project. I am heeding the advice of others and trying to collect things slowly. When would these parts become available? I guess I would like to avoid having to my current forks apart (I would like uppers and lowers together), but if the price is right, how can I refuse? I would definitely be interested in a wheel and some rotors though... Doing some upgrading yourself?
-Mike

I will check on the wheel price and rotors. send you a pm.

As for me upgrading my fj, It is a sickness and a disorder know as moditis . Every time I draw that line in the sand and say "no more mods"  the tide comes in and moves the line just a bit.

[mijohnso]

Does anyone have an axle from an 88'+ lying around? Also, any tire suggestions for my new '89 front wheel?

Thanks,

[andyb]

What's on the back?  What kind of riding do you do?  etc.

(And once you get the back done, then you can try nearly everything!)

[Mark Olson]

Does anyone have an axle from an 88'+ lying around? Also, any tire suggestions for my new '89 front wheel?

Thanks,

pilot power 120/70/17 is the ticket.

[craigo]

I am a Dunlop kinda guy and I love my new Roadsmart tire.  Nothing sticks and turns like that tire.

Just my opinion,

CraigO
90FJ1200

[carsick]

Does anyone have an axle from an 88'+ lying around? Also, any tire suggestions for my new '89 front wheel?

Thanks,

pilot power 120/70/17 is the ticket.

+1, that was what my bike had when you rode it, even though it was about 4K old.

[SlowOldGuy]

+1 on the Dunlop Roadsmart.  I have no complaints.

DavidR.

[mijohnso]

So I upgraded my front end to an '89 wheel, forks, and some gold dot R1 calipers. 

I have a couple of questions:
1) I am using the stock master cylinder, and I can feel what can best be described as pulsating through the brake lever. The brakes stop better than with my old setup, but it pulsates, almost like anti-lock brakes on a car, but I obviously don't have antilock brakes... does that sound dangerous to you guys?
2) A possibly related issue, when I pull the brakes, it makes a "buzzing" noise, almost like the pads are dragging on the little vent holes in the disk brakes.
3) the front end is MUCH softer than my 86' forks. I know that the new springs are softer, has anyone tried to put the older springs in the newer fork leg?
4) how in the world do you adjust the damping? No matter what I do, it doesn't seem to change anything. (I adjusted the preload to the maximum by pushing down the flathead and turning, then i tried to turn the damping adjuster to feel a difference, and I could not detect one) Is the damping adjustment supposed to spin forever without a hard stop? (the preload has 3 distinct positions, the damping seems to have infinite). Please don't tell me I need emulators, my wife might have a hart attack.

Thanks!