Help replacing Les Paul Tuners / Machine heads please?

On Xmas day the dog knocked over my son's guitar, and broke two of the tuner heads. I've done a lot of googling already, learned a lot and answered many of my questions, but I still need some help please?

He has this one in a left handed model

https://www.epiphone.com/en-US/Electric … e-Sunburst

The website says my tuners are: "Epiphone Vintage Deluxe 18:1 ratio machine heads"

I wanted just to replace the two broken one's, and keep the guitar original, but would seem from some googling that I can't buy the same "Epiphone Vintage" branded tuners, they are available for warranty replacement only, not retail spares.

I do not want to have to drill the guitar, whatever I buy has to be a direct replacement, same size, with all the holes needed in the same place.

I found ones that look the same branded Gibson, Kluson, Grover and Wilkinson, i will post links below, because this only allows one link.

Or I could upgrade to something better, and I have found Gotoh SD90-MGT (again will post a link after). But I have no idea how to tell if they are a direct replacement in terms of size and holes.

So my questions are:

1. Are the Gibson/Grover/Kluson/Wilkinson ones exactly the same as the Epiphone branded tuners I have now?
2. If not what measurements do I need to do to make sure any replacement I buy is a direct fit?
3. What about the upgrade? Will the Gotoh SD90-MGT fit? Any others you'd recommend that are a direct fit?
4. Will my son notice any differnce if I change the ratio from the 18:1 he has now, to for instance the 15:1 of the Gotoh?

Thank you!!