I don`t think we would be stealing the thread since the info has to be valuable to his effort. How much was your bill at JB`s so I know what this was worth?
The outer bearings (wheel bearings) are the same OD so no issue, and the bearing retainers with the drum brake backing plate were the correct fit to clamp the 115 bearing. As a matter of fact, the inner bearing races are the same as a 115, just not as wide.
I made a test fit bearing from one of the old ones by polishing out the inner race in my lathe until it would slide over the axle smoothly. Then after all the tubes, backing plates & brake shoes were bead blasted & painted (epoxy paint) I assembled the test bearing in the temporarily assembled rear end, with the backing plates & brakes (assembled) held on by the retainer & tightened.
I could then slide the axle with drum bolted, with different shim sizes between the axle flat at the bearing to see what size would properly space the drum from the backing plate. About 2 to 3 mm would do the trick.
Doing this type of fabrication is enjoyable. Not like repairing something.
The locked 5.12 that was in it seems to be a perfect justification to convert to a wide carrier LSD rear. I have the 101 axle donor & 115 Diff housing, I`m just out of LSD clutch disk. Anybody got some to share? Need 4. I don`t do stock...
Richard J.
RJR Racing
Scuderiagiallo.com