i have a 82 with rear discs, and looking to do some up grading to some better brakes in the future.

as the GSL-SE rear diffs are kind of scarce i had a random thought to see if anyone knew the answer.

say i redrilled my current axles to 4x4 1/2 then got GSL-SE rear discs would the GSL-SE rear calipers bolt onto my axle?

or am i stuck just having to find a whole GSL-SE rear axle?

thanks

 

and by calipers meant the caliper/bracket assembly.

 

Can't give you a 100% answer as i never test fitted SE calipers to the year you are asking about.

You would have to use the backing plates from the SE as they are different than the other models which means you would have to have your axle bearings removed and replace them in order to put the SE backing plates onto your axles.

I don't remember if the bolt pattern that attaches the backing plate to the axle housing is the same between the SE disc rear end and the GSL rear end?

Sounds like a lot of hassle and re-drilling your axles yourself is not the safest thing to do either.

I would not attempt this and would wait until you either found the SE suspension swap parts as you would need the front spindle/strut housings also to switch over to the same bolt pattern on the front.

This is your best bet at upgrading.

http://mrcmfg.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=112_22_73

 

it's all going on my rally car so my goals are fc front subframe with 4 lug hubs. i know they are the same size brakes as the SE but you get such a better front end with the fc, + rack and pinion steering.

as for the rear my rear end is already heavily gusseted because of bending problems in the past. so my hope was to keep my rear end but move to bigger brakes. and the SEs being the best choice that can fit under 14" rims it's what i'm shooting for.

as for redrilling my axles i was going to have someone do it (not really something i want to tackle). but it makes finding spare axles much easier.

going this route would just make it so much easier for spare parts.


one more question maybe you would know. i know from asking that my current 3rd member would fit into a large bearing/axle if i swapped to a large axle lsd. so i'm assuming it would do the same in a SE rear end if i swapped the matching lsd.

the reasoning why is because i have a set of mazda speed 4.88s i'm not getting rid of.

 

the rear end housings are the same between the gsl and gsl-se. the difference is that the -SE uses different axles, disc rotors, calipers and backing plate.

i know that you can swap the spider gears in the diff to go between small and big axle.

 

Will not work.

A few points on the SE axles verses GSL, SE axles are aprox 1/2" longer from the bearing seat outboard. This means your SE rotors would sit further in and hit the caliper. Next the hub/wheel centric rings are built onto the rotor for GSL and on the axle for SE. So your SE rotors on GSL axles would not be hub centric. They would be only located by the studs. Also, the SE axle is 6" OD (GSL is smaller than this) and the the 4x4.5 bolt pattern barley fits within the smaller diameter of the GSL axles.

You are better off finding a 84-85 big bearing housing and SE axles.

-billy

 

so there was no difference between 84-85 GSL and SE axle housing?

because i have a spare GSL 12a large bearing axle laying around.

so i guess the last of the equation would be the axles and all the brake bits. not impossible to find but probably more of them laying around then whole rear axle

 

Yep, all 84-85 disk housings are the same. Axles, backing plates, calipers and rotors are whats different.

 

cool thanks