FULL PRODUCT VERSION :
java version "1.8.0_40"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.8.0_40-b26)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 25.40-b25, mixed mode)

ADDITIONAL OS VERSION INFORMATION :
Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7601]

A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM :
Since Java 8 when generating API documentation with javadoc parentheses () for anchor names in links to external API are replaced by hyphens --

The problem is, the hyphens are also generated if I'm linking to Java 7 API which still has parentheses.

F.e. if I use

@see java.io.BufferedInputStream#close()

in comment text and source level is 1.7, a link

http://docs.oracle.com/javase/7/docs/api/java/io/BufferedInputStream.html?is-external=true#close--

is generated, which will not work, because the API docs still have anchor name "close()"

REGRESSION. Last worked in version 7u80

STEPS TO FOLLOW TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM :
Create a Java class with a comment like

/**
 * @see java.io.BufferedInputStream#close()
 */

Run javadoc with a source level 1.7

EXPECTED VERSUS ACTUAL BEHAVIOR :
EXPECTED -
A valid link

http://docs.oracle.com/javase/7/docs/api/java/io/BufferedInputStream.html?is-external=true#close()
ACTUAL -
An invalid link

http://docs.oracle.com/javase/7/docs/api/java/io/BufferedInputStream.html?is-external=true#close--

REPRODUCIBILITY :
This bug can be reproduced always.

---------- BEGIN SOURCE ----------
public class DummyClass {

/**
* @see java.io.BufferedInputStream#close()
*/
public void close() {
}
}
---------- END SOURCE ----------