i have -se front rotors and was wondering what else would be needed to convert my gs to the -se to use the rotors. i was thinking i needed the -se front calipers at least but wasnt sure what else was different.

 

You will also need the spindles (strut towers). The GSL and GSL-SE have the same front spindles.

 

is the steering setup the same?

 

You need to have 84-85 big bearing spindles (GS, GSL, GSLSE are the same for those years). You will also need the gslse backplates, rotors, calipers, and pads.

 

so if i have 84 gs i just need the backing plate calipers rotors and pads? because its already the large spindle?

 

How much larger are the GSL-SE brakes? Are they worth the effort? Can you still put 13" wheels on them? Aren't the calipers better too?

 

If you have a gsl I wouldnt swap, but if you have a base with rear drums I would do a full swap front and rear. If you swap you can put alot more wheels on it considering you will have a common bolt pattern . but you wont be able to use your current wheels.

 

yeah i knew that and im working on swaping the rear already so i figured might as well just do the front also.

 

Are you swapping the rear to an SE or GSL?

I used a GSL rear end, so I could keep the same wheel bolt pattern. Then I threw on some new cheap rotors on all four corners (like 15 bucks each from Rockauto). With a set of Hawk pads on, the whole braking system works great. And of course, the LSD makes a huge difference when racing.

In my opinion, its not worth the effort for the SE swap.



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converting the rear to an se. and have the rotors for all 4 wheels for an se already so just wanted to see how to change the fronts also and have the same bolt pattern all arround again

 

Simple answer, swap the entire SE front strut assembly including the brakes.

 

Yep, grab the complete strut spindle, brakes, and all.

 

well i have the 84 size spindle so i just need the brakes and backplate right?

 

Yeah, but if you have access to a donor SE, it would be easier to just take off the wheel, undo the brake line, undo the two large 17mm steering knuckle bolts, and the top 4 14mm strut tower bolts and moving the entire strut assembly with plate, rotor, and caliper all still attached.

The way you'd have to do it if you want to keep your current strut assemblies would be to remove the two 14mm bolts on the caliper (the lower one is ANNOYINGLY positioned), undo the brake line, remove the dust cap off of the hub, pull out the cotter pin, take off the 21mm nut holding in the bearings, remove the hub, and bearings, clean the grease of the spindle, pack 2 new bearings with grease, grease up the spindle, fill the new hub cavity with grease and then install it all over again. It's much harder.

 

Since you already have a 84 GSL, the only part you don't need is the front spindles and rear end housing. You will need everything else from the SE (calipers, rotor, backing plate). For the rear, you will need at a minimum axles, caliper, rotor.

I'm doing this swap myself.

 

i just have a gs....which needed wheel bearings anyway so taking it off doesnt make much of a difference