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84' gl wagon 4wd rear disc brake swap

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I have a stock 1984 4wd gl wagon i want to put rear disc brakes onto instead of the stock drums. should i swap other suspension components along as well or will certain later subaru rear disc hubs bolt on? 

  • 2 months later...
  • 2 months later...

I have a stock 1984 4wd gl wagon i want to put rear disc brakes onto instead of the stock drums. should i swap other suspension components along as well or will certain later subaru rear disc hubs bolt on?

 

You need to swap the hubs and possibly knuckle. Also for that you will need to change springs. Ive seen custom coil overs with ea top ends and ej bottoms. Ill try to dig up the info

It's been a few years, but I did that swap on my '83 wagon.  Just make sure you match the driveline types.  What I mean is if your '84 is 4WD, the donor EA82 car has to also be 4WD.  Rotors, calipers, backing plates are all that was needed.  Once installed, you may have to CAREFULLY modify the brake lines leading to your new calipers, otherwise they will snag or rub (can't remember).

 

There is a good step by step guide: Scroll way down to "The ultimate Subaru Repair Manual" section from the home page.  A little more to "Transmission, Axle and Brakes". Click on that.  On page 2, down to  "Rear Disc Conversion on EA81 & EA82's".  Click.

 

There ya go. :-)

Edited by NV Zeno

  • 3 months later...

hello there. many mods under my belt including this one.

 

did it to my 85 gl wagon. 1.8l ea81 4spd 4wd dual range.

 

parts car was a 94 sedan, was totaled and most car was unrecognizable. was a turbo ea82 single port.  4door sedan with 5spd single range 4wd button style. 

you will need the rear backing plate out. the plate the rotor caliper and the line up to the body. pads.

 

all bolts from there. a small piece will need to be crafted from the old line from the original car . cut and reflange it. should be easy to see after parts are bolted on,

 

issues i did have, the backing plate bolts. 3 of them one with a nut. the 2 that do not have nut have a tendecey to break off. so have a spare rear arm or a welder handy.

 i welded the left side backing plate on my car. 2 bolts broke off and my spare was same story. 30kplus miles and welds work. 

 

bones theirs a massive breaking power difference, my thought is that he pressure required to make rear caliper break is less then that of a wheel cylinder giving you overkill pressure and amazing break power

 

 

no need for massive rear over hall. can be done in 2 hours or less. one man tell a helper to bleed system

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