Does anybody have any pics of a mounted GSL-SE rear caliper?
 

I've been searching for awhile for pics of an SE's rear caliper mounted, and I can't seem to find any. I know I'm using the right hardware, but the rubber parts that came on the car and the ones that came with the remanufactured calipers are what's confusing me. I can't seem to get the lower caliper bolt in with the rubber pieces in place, and there's no hole in the rubber boots for the bolt to slide into. I should've taken pics when I disassembled it, but I'm usually pretty good with brakes-this just has me stumped...

And has anybody else had issues fitting new rotors and new hawk HPS rear pads on their SE rear axle? I found the pads to be too thick with new rotors and had to remove material from one pad on each side (I used a belt sander and even pressure across the pad to insure that it would remove material evenly)...

Thanks for your time, help, and cooperation guys...

Hmmm. Sounds odd to me. I just replaced a rotor and rear wheel a couple weeks ago and it was no problem. the caliper is held in place by two capscrews with 14mm heads, one up high and one down low. The only rubber stuff I can think of would be on the hydraulics.

But it is a little trick to put the pieces together. It helps if you have 3 hands, but I don't.

I started with the caliper unscrewed, slipped the rotor between the pads when it was partly on the flange (but not screwed into place) and then manipulated the caliper onto the mounting flange and got one screw going, swiveled the top of the caliper into place and started the top screw, seated the rotor properly and then tightened everything down.

Oh yeah, it's a bear to open the pads enough to slide the rotor between them. You can buy a patent pad spreader at a good auto store, but I think they're more trouble than they're worth. I used an external C-ring (retainer ring) pliers as a spreader, which worked good after a couple tries. If that had failed I would have used some styrofoam to block the pads apart, then eased the rotor into place displacing the foam.

Yeah, you gotta fumble with those dinky pad-locating springs, too. A nuisance.

The whole thing took me an hour. But I had sat around figuring out exactly what to do for a couple hours while I watched TV.

I looked thru my picture and can't find any, but post some pictures and I'm sure something will be worked out.

If the rubber parts are what is causing issues... re-use the rubbers from the old caliper, but keep the new ones aside just in case. As long as the rubbers aren't orn then they are fine to reuse.

Next you had to shave down your pads... the rear calper is a pain because you have to spin the piston and compress it at the same time. I think it must be spun clock wise. It is a bit tricky... there is a special tool for this.

That sucks that you shaved down hawk pads, but atleast you got them on there.

Good luck.

Here's the tool you need to retract the piston back into the caliper:

http://www.etoolcart.com/index.asp?P...OD&ProdID=7710

Most parts stores have them.

I'm installing mine tonight so I'll take some pics of the install for you.
Before and after install ok?

yup thats the tool to press the pistons back in

Thanks for your help guys, but I'm still unsure of the lower mounting details of the caliper. I've retained the original hardware and I've got the new rubber bushings/boots that came with the remanufactured calipers I got from Pepboy's (the pieces that SOMEHOW-I can't figure it out-fit between the mounting bolt on the bottom of the caliper-closest hole to the ground-and the hole in the caliper's mounting point itself). All the calipers are in new, rebuilt condition as are the rotors (dimpled and slotted), and the pads (which, unfortunately had to be shaved to fit)...

I tried to use a similar tool to that, one that applies pressure to the piston itself as it turns it clockwise to no avail. The piston is retracted as far as it's going to go in the caliper's bore...

The upper caliper mount is a non-threaded stud that allows the caliper to pivot as the lower mounting bolt is removed. I have applied a liberal dose of anti-seize to the pivot mount and the fit of the caliper over it is great. No problems there. My problem is with mounting either the new or old rubber bushings/boots between the lower caliper mounting bolt and the hole in the caliper's mounting point. The rubber pieces fit in the caliper's hole, but only one side has a hole in it-the other side is a huge (1.25" or so OD) flatter disc without a hole for the mounting bolt to enter/exit. The original lower caliper mounting bolts are about 2" long with a 12mm hex head, are only threaded about 3/4" up the bolt, and protrude from the center of the caliper's mounting hole almost 3/4" when completely torqued with the caliper mounted. I can't seem to find a logical way to correctly use the rubber bushings/boots in the calipers. It just doesn't seem right to me...

By the way, all the rubber bushings/boots I have for the rear are identical, both the stock older pieces and the new pieces that came with the new calipers. It's been almost eight or nine months since I removed the rear calipers and rotors from the GSL-SE axle and I didn't record/write/draw any information or pics of how they're installed. I labeled and marked almost everything else on the car that was removed/disassembled, but for some reason I figured I'd remember how these were supposed to go. I'm really mechanically-inclined, but just stumpted on this...

I know I need to post pics, but I haven't had a chance to take any yet and still haven't figured out how to post them in either a PM or a reply to a thread on this site yet. I'll try to remember to bring my camera and laptop tomorrow so I can get some pics and at least post links to them on photobucket or something. Once again, thanks for all your time, help, and cooperation guys...

What you describe doesn't sound at all like what I encountered in my SE or the SE at the Pick n Pull from which I got a rotor. Hmmmm. Don't know how to explain that.

Attachment 291803

Attachment 291804

Thank you, Fatman. The stock and new rubber bushings/boots that I have are a bit different than the ones in your pic (on the lower mounting bolt, not the pivot stud), but I'm sure I can make them work with a bit of trimming. I'll try to run home soon and get my camera and laptop (I forgot the damn things today) so I can show you guys what I'm working with. That pic that Fatman posted makes me feel a bit better about what I'm doing now-my rubber pieces are different but everything else seems to be in order. Again, thanks for all your time, help, and cooperation...

How strange! Could it be that there are two different mounts for the SE rear brakes? Mine is an 85 and looks very different, and so did the SE at the JY.

Rear Rotors?
 

Fatman, noticed your rear rotors are solid. On my '85 SE they are vented, and therefore much thicker than yours. Wouldn't this have an impact on how far caliper has to travel to have pads make contact with rotor?

RXforspeed, are your rears also solid? Could I somehow have wrong ones? (they fit and work, and calipers look same as Fatman's):Wconfused

When I took those pics this morning, the rotors were actually laying on the garage floor. They are in fact vented. The car, by the way, is an '84 GSL-SE.

MSTR X, I think you've discovered the problem of why I had such a hard time fitting my pads. I do believe that the factory rotors were solid, but my dimpled and slotted rotors are vented, and the remanufactured calipers were for the stock '84 SE (solid rotors I'm sure) as are the hawk pads. I've taken some pics, but I have to download them on my laptop then to photobucket to post them-so it could be later this evening or possibly tomorrow before I get them posted. None-the-less, I'll get them up so I can show you guys exactly what I've been referring to...Thanks again for everyone's time, help, and cooperation...

GLS-SE rear rotors were vented from factory.
GSL rear rotors were solid.

Wouldnt the bolt pattern be different on the rotors also........... Measure them

Now I'm really confused. The rear rotor on my 85SE was not ventilated, and the caliper was mounted with 2 threaded screws with 14mm heads. It was the same for the 85SE at the JY. And I transplanted the JY rotor to my 85SE with no problem.

But it sounds like you guys are finding SE rear rotors that are ventilated and caliper mounts that are different.

Are there two different SE rear brakes?

All SE rear brakes are vented and are larger than the solid rear disc units found in the GSLs. No changes in the rear calipers or discs between 84/85 SE models (all the same).

If you are finding solid discs on an SE, they must be aftermarket. Don't know how to explain the different caliper mounting that you are seeing, though.

How do you know?

Doesn't compute. Not here, at least.

When I was researching the rear brake assembly here on the forum one of the guys described exactly what I have on my 85SE, even down to the 14mm heads on the 2 retainer screws.

And the rear brake caliper and rotor on the 85SE at the PnP was exactly the same. Solid rotor, 2 screws retaining the caliper with 14mm heads.

What am I missing?

Mazda parts fiche for 84/85 North American models :) :

http://foxed.ca/rx7manual/manuals/parts_manuals/84-85/

Look in the chassis section.

If there was a change mid-stream, two part numbers would be given along with the VIN split. There is only a 12A number for the caliper/rotor and a 13B number. No changes in either one between 84 and 85. You can also reference brochures, magazines, etc. All will say that the SE is equiped with vented disc brakes on a 4 corners. The GSLs are solid discs on the rear.

I haven't played with my rear calipers in some time on my 84, but I can maybe pull a tire and take a pic tomorrow. I KNOW that I have vented discs all around.

How strange. Could it be that SOME SEs were sold in 85 with the old GSL rear disk brakes? And that mine, the one at the PnP and the one owned by (somebody else on rx7club) were coincidentally so equipped?

I suppose I should pop a rear wheel on my 85GSL (12A) to ascertain that it is the same. Because the GSL has different rear brakes from the SE. But that raises the question of the wheel lug spacing, since the SE (with sunburst rims) has different bolt circle dimensions.

My head is starting to hurt.

Does anyone actually have solid rears on their SE?

Do you mean 'anyone else'?

yes

My 85SE (the one with solid rotor) has the sunburst wheels, so it has the 113mm lug spacing rather than the 110mm of a GSL.

Therefore, I conclude, the Mazda parts list does not tell the whole truth, since it just shows a ventilated rotor for the 13B and a solid rotor for the 12A. They ought to show the 113mm solid rotor such as I have.

If the Mazda parts list doesn't show this solid 113mm rotor, it seems likely they are not showing other things, too.