Hey all,

Ive got my 84 GSL and a 85 GSL-SE Parts car.
I want to end up with my GSL LSD and Gear Ratio. But I want the SE rear brakes/ 114.3. Is it possible for me to just take the brakes from the SE rear and bolt them to my GSL carrier? i.e. Can I just re-drill my GSL axles and use the SE caliper and rotor on my current rear end?

My dad is a machinist, so the re-drilling would be no charge.

I've see that the SE axles will not fit in my Carrier, but if need be, the GSL gears will obviously bolt right into the SE carrier.

Also, the SE brake master is the same as my GSL, correct? looks like all the Disc cars use the same diameter.

I've been searching for a long time now, and i think the brake swap should work, but im not positive, and My garage time is limited for the winter, so I want to make sure im ready to go.

 

Doesn't the 85 GSL-SE have the 3.9 final drive? I think only the 84 have the 4.1. The only difference would be the GSL diff, since it has more clutch plates.

 

right, but the major question here is do the brakes fit the GSL carrier if i drill the axles to 4x114.3?

 

The GSL and GSL-SE are both large axles with the same splines. Hence you can keep your GSL carrier(by the way the 85 SE and your GSL have the same gear ratio).

What I don't remember is if the SE calipers bolt on to the GSL mounting points or not. If they do then you just need to take all of the SE components including the E-Brake cables and swap them over along with the SE axles.

The SE axles will fit your GSL carrier.

The master cylinders are different but there is no need really to swap the SE one over to the GSL since they are both 4 wheel disc systems.

 

Ok, thanks for the info. If anyone else knows for a fact if it does/doesnt work, post up... if not, ill be trying this next week sometime...

 

I have done this swap the best way is to change the axles and all hardware then it is a bolt in installation, the center and housing will work without modification.

Remember the SE park brakes lines are different to the GSL.

By the way the GSL-SE has the same amount of clutches but they are spread differently (3:1 vs 2:2) inside the unit.

 

so, I can leave the GSL rear in the car, take out the axles/brakes then just install the SE Brakes and Axles onto my GSL Carrier?

 

If you want the GSL diff, you can just swap the GSL diff over to the SE carrier. That sounds the simplest way to me.

 

Yep, what he said. ^

 

so, instead of swapping all the SE stuff to the GSL carrier, think if would be easier to just swap in the GSL diff to SE???

Just seems like to me that swapping axles and brakes into my GSL carier would be faster than swapping the whole carrier... exp. since Both would need new axle bearings

 

Maybe I should take the SE rear end off, and strip it down/ repaint it... living in VA all its life has added a "little bit" of rust you could say...
Just gonna turn into a big project if I do...

 

I just swapped out the axles from the se rear end to the gsl with no problem. The brake caliper assemblies bolted right up. saved me the hassle of swapping complete rear end housing cuz I have a panhard bar setup tha I would have had to cut off and reweld to the other housing. I did notice that the se axles were loger just from the bearing to the wheel flange so it may cause tire rub? I'm gonna be using fender flares so it doesn't matter in my case. good luck.

 

Are you saying you where able to use the GSL brakes calipers on the GSL-SE axles? Did you also use the backing plates from the GSL? That would be good news for me.

 

thats the same question im wanting to know for sure... seems like the answer is yes...

 

I have a 85 GSL, as well as a full SE suspension setup laying around. I was going to just swap in the whole rear, but if the GSL has a better diff, and they have the same gears, I might just swap over the brakes. I always thought the SE had 4.07gears. Not sure of the year rear that I have, guess I'll have to do some counting. Also didn't realize there was a difference in the LSD units. Learn something new every day.

Jason

 

started to pull my SE brakes today, and of course, the top bolt on the caliper bracket is seized in, so not much progress as Im waiting for PB blaster to set in (tried for about 30min) tomorrow ill get the heat out if need be.

 

Don't forget to take the spare tire out of the donor SE. Your spare won't fit anymore, and you won't remember until it's too late. Ask me how I know

 

Wow, I'm Bringing this back from the not so dead.

It seems the consensus is that the SE calipers will bolt right up to the GSL mounting points and still fit over the large SE discs correct? Or is the mounting bracket off of a SE required?'

Another assumption is that if the discs were to be redrilled to 4x110, I assume the brake disc does not even fit within the non SE wheels?