So, I'm replacing the front brakes on my 85' GSL. In previous posts I made we discovered the previous owners had converted to the smaller bearings from the 79-83 model years. I don't understand why, but they did. Regardless, I'm trying to put everything back to how it should be, so I've bought all new bearings, races, rotors, etc... The bearings/races that I ordered all fit in the new rotors perfectly. No issues there. HOWEVER, when I seat the rotor on the spindle and then try to tighten the nut to set pre-load, the rotor is really loose no matter how tight I go and I think I know why. From what I can tell after playing with it for the better part of two hours yesterday, it looks like the inside diameter of outer bearing is contacting the spindle where it tapers larger and that is preventing the bearing from being fully seated in the race. The outer bearing is about 2-3mm from fully seating in the race which means the rotor can wobble quite a bit. I've triple checked that everything is pressed in fully and that the wheel seals are on correctly too. I'm lost as to why my shiny new parts don't fit, but I have a theory...

Since we established that the previous owners "converted" my car to smaller bearings, is it possible that the spindles are different too? Is there a slight difference in the taper and diameter of the spindles between model years such that my 47mm outer bearings just barely won't slide all the way in?

I'm desperate for help, guys. If it isn't the spindles being different then don't understand what the issue is...

 

Can you post a photo from the front and side?
The spindle can't be changed without finding a compatible strut and spring, that deters a lot of people from adapting non-FB parts.

 

Yeah. I'm at work right now but I will when I get home if it isn't still raining. For what it's worth, I did measure from the start of the spindle to where it begins to taper out and it was 40mm exactly. I then went to a friend's shop to measure the spindle on his 1980 model, which was the same length and design. No discernable difference between the two. I searched for steering knuckles/spindles for an 84-85 GSL online and couldn't find anything, but most of the components around that area on my car are newer and less worn which leads me to believe someone not very long ago replaced all these bits, but replaced them with bits from an older model year since they're more readily available or WERE more readily available when the work was done...

 

Sorry about not sending the photos. Been an eventful couple weeks... anyway, I ended up selling the "big bearing" brake parts I bought to a friend with a few FBs laying around. He couldn't figure out what the deal was so he's gonna try to see if they'll fit his 84. I bought some parts for an 83' and the appropriate small bearings and they went on without any fuss. I completely forgot to take pictures while I was doing the job, but at least I have functional brakes now.