Can anyone tell me whether its possible to fit the VN V8 rear calipers and disc's onto a R31 skyline diff and if so, what is involved in doing this. reason being is you have access to a better range of brake pad material and the discs are larger in diameter.
Fitting VN V8 Calipers to R31 diff
Started by
_Racelx_
, Apr 01 2009 01:09 PM
19 replies to this topic
#2
View GaragePosted 01 April 2009 - 01:27 PM
The brackets will bolt to the end of the diff housing although at a different angle:
Axle flanges seem to sit at about the same length outside the housing too, however the Commodore disk is offset further inward due to the internal drum handbrake, which I think would foul on the shock. Don't most of the guys who use Commodore diffs mount the brakes at the front?
Axle flanges seem to sit at about the same length outside the housing too, however the Commodore disk is offset further inward due to the internal drum handbrake, which I think would foul on the shock. Don't most of the guys who use Commodore diffs mount the brakes at the front?
#3
_Torrie_Man_
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Posted 01 April 2009 - 10:14 PM
correct me if im wrong... but arent the skyline/pintara pads the same pads as commodore?
#4
_Racelx_
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Posted 02 April 2009 - 06:54 AM
No unfortunately they use different pads as per the bendix website. The reason why i want to go to VN calipers is due to the fact Bendix makes a race grade pad for these but do not for the skyline calipers.
#5
Posted 02 April 2009 - 07:00 AM
The Skyline pads are the same shape but have two differences:
- one pad backer has a little lug to locate in the caliper piston so that the piston doesn't turn against the pad due to the internal park brake design
- they have less friction material on a new pad as the caliper isn't quite as wide
- one pad backer has a little lug to locate in the caliper piston so that the piston doesn't turn against the pad due to the internal park brake design
- they have less friction material on a new pad as the caliper isn't quite as wide
#6
kudu
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Posted 23 March 2012 - 06:18 PM
Has anyone got any more detail on this conversion? I have the same issue. I have a Skyline diff that i want to convert into my SL/R but it has no calipers or disc. therefore i am looking for other alternatives as I cannot seem to find any standard skylines brakes. I have heard others putting XF brakes on these B/W diffs, it doesn't really worry me as i will be redrilling any discs anyway.
#7
dattoman
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Posted 23 March 2012 - 07:55 PM
Don't use XF... they are poo
#8
kudu
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Posted 30 July 2012 - 07:39 PM
Hi,
I just want to bump this thread up to squeeze out some more info. As I said I have a R31 Skyline diff with no brakes at all. I can't seem to find any skyline discs/rotors anywhere, but VN stuff is easier to get hold of. How much effort/modifying does it take to fit any holden discs/calipers to the skyline housing?
Thanks.
I just want to bump this thread up to squeeze out some more info. As I said I have a R31 Skyline diff with no brakes at all. I can't seem to find any skyline discs/rotors anywhere, but VN stuff is easier to get hold of. How much effort/modifying does it take to fit any holden discs/calipers to the skyline housing?
Thanks.
#9
dattoman
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Posted 30 July 2012 - 09:01 PM
Take a pic of the diff flange for us
Showing where the axle bolts too
And maybe some measurements... so we can see if the pattern is the same as commodore
Showing where the axle bolts too
And maybe some measurements... so we can see if the pattern is the same as commodore
#10
_evil UC hatch_
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Posted 30 July 2012 - 09:08 PM
the axle bolt flange and brake mounting points are the same on both R31 and Commodore, the falcon one I had was different (dunno what model it was ages ago)
I had one of all 3 laying about my garage 3 years ago and was looking at ditching the R31 brakes for the commodore one, mainly due to the stud pattern difference.
thats as far as I got with the R31 diff, it will end up in a Torana one day...
I had one of all 3 laying about my garage 3 years ago and was looking at ditching the R31 brakes for the commodore one, mainly due to the stud pattern difference.
thats as far as I got with the R31 diff, it will end up in a Torana one day...
#11
Posted 31 July 2012 - 08:31 AM
As above the axle tube flange is identical and the VN stuff will bolt on to that. The pic I posted is the original R31 angle, the relation of the caliper to the mounting flange is the same as Commodore, just the tube end is rotated however many degrees that is to bring the caliper up the that position.
There are two things I would be concerned about:
1) the VN disc has a deeper offset due to the internal drum park brake which will sit the caliper further inboard, I wonder if it would clear the shock
2) I don't know if the wheel mounting flange of the R31 axle has the right offset/distance from the bearing to suit the VN brakes, i.e. you might end up with the rotor not sitting centre in the caliper (if this is an issue perhaps a spacer could fix it)
Given the price of the VN brakes (next to nothing or even free) if it were me I'd get hold of some and test fit to find out.
There are two things I would be concerned about:
1) the VN disc has a deeper offset due to the internal drum park brake which will sit the caliper further inboard, I wonder if it would clear the shock
2) I don't know if the wheel mounting flange of the R31 axle has the right offset/distance from the bearing to suit the VN brakes, i.e. you might end up with the rotor not sitting centre in the caliper (if this is an issue perhaps a spacer could fix it)
Given the price of the VN brakes (next to nothing or even free) if it were me I'd get hold of some and test fit to find out.
#12
kudu
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Posted 01 August 2012 - 03:36 PM
As above the axle tube flange is identical and the VN stuff will bolt on to that. The pic I posted is the original R31 angle, the relation of the caliper to the mounting flange is the same as Commodore, just the tube end is rotated however many degrees that is to bring the caliper up the that position.
There are two things I would be concerned about:
1) the VN disc has a deeper offset due to the internal drum park brake which will sit the caliper further inboard, I wonder if it would clear the shock
2) I don't know if the wheel mounting flange of the R31 axle has the right offset/distance from the bearing to suit the VN brakes, i.e. you might end up with the rotor not sitting centre in the caliper (if this is an issue perhaps a spacer could fix it)
Given the price of the VN brakes (next to nothing or even free) if it were me I'd get hold of some and test fit to find out.
Well over here all the VN brakes I can find are pretty expensive, so not really practicle buying some to check. That is an less i get a stuffed set from wreckers just for a test fit. However it sounds like with the hassle of them being further inboard and the different type of handbrake I should stick to stock R31 brakes. The only thing is I have been looking for a long time and have yet to find any that they don't want a fortune for.
#13
Posted 01 August 2012 - 04:42 PM
Really? Normally less than $50 for a complete set and not uncommonly a giveaway item. I'll have to keep an eye out, I gave the last set I had away...
edit: the above refers to Commodore brakes. I have a pair of original R31 rotors here somewhere (still 4 stud but I think they were still reasonable), you can have them for postage if they are any use
edit: the above refers to Commodore brakes. I have a pair of original R31 rotors here somewhere (still 4 stud but I think they were still reasonable), you can have them for postage if they are any use
Edited by 76lxhatch, 01 August 2012 - 04:44 PM.
#14
TerrA LX
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Posted 01 August 2012 - 07:58 PM
Just thinking out loud here but could you redrill the calliper bracket for the housing to rotate it?
#15
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Posted 01 August 2012 - 08:06 PM
There isn't much room for re-drilling on the VN rear caliper bracket. I have a pair here, but I won't be digging them out to take a look.
#16
_Bomber Watson_
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Posted 01 August 2012 - 08:13 PM
Theres heaps of room to redrill, i may have done it 
Cheers.
Cheers.
#17
dattoman
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Posted 01 August 2012 - 08:43 PM
Commodore brakes are essentially the same from VB-VS with beam axle
So widen your search beyond "VN"
Surely the countryside is littered with shitboxes over there just like it is here ?
So widen your search beyond "VN"
Surely the countryside is littered with shitboxes over there just like it is here ?
#18
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Posted 02 August 2012 - 11:41 AM
Theres heaps of room to redrill, i may have done it
Cheers.
Then I stand corrected!
#19
kudu
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Posted 02 August 2012 - 04:53 PM
Commodore brakes are essentially the same from VB-VS with beam axle
So widen your search beyond "VN"
Surely the countryside is littered with shitboxes over there just like it is here ?
Things are getting cleaned up these days. the recycling guys are travelling around the country side in trucks with hiabs and offering people cash to let them take away their wrecks!
Anyway I'll try the R231 setup first so if anyone knows of any calipers over there for cheap can you let me know..................
#20
dattoman
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Posted 02 August 2012 - 07:54 PM
R31 calipers are getting thin on the ground here
Be cheaper for us to find and send you some Commodore ones
Be cheaper for us to find and send you some Commodore ones
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