jbc3 Posted November 18, 2004 Share Posted November 18, 2004 I want a Chevy bolt pattern so I can run 4th gen Camaro wheels on my 280 Z and larger brakes. I was looking for a relatively inexpensive option, so I started by installing an 89 F-body front hub/rotor on the front of my 280Z. The hub fits easily by just changing the outer race and bearing to the same as the Datsun. The inner bearings are the same on both. I still need a grease seal and the F-body seal is just a little large for the Datsun spindle. I couldn't find one at the local parts store (trial and error method) but I found http://www.tigerseal.com . They sell all sorts of seals and gaskets and you can get the seals by the inner dimension, outer dimension and thickness so I will likely order seals from them unless someone has located on over the counter option. I then tried the brakes from the 89 F-body and the 95 F-body and neither would easily fit. The 89 F-body brakes needed an adaptor bracket to work and at first looked as there may be hope. So I ordered a bracket from http://www.stockcarproducts.com. It is a weld on type bracket, but I was planning on drilling it and bolting it into the stock mounting holes. http://www.emsco.net/jody/zbrakes/DSCF0082.JPG Once I got the bracket and began to try and make it work, it became obvious that the brakes directly interfered with the stock caliper mounting holes. The only way to use these would be to trim the stock mounting bolt holes and weld it in... still a possibility. I should have noticed before getting the bracket, but I didn't. http://www.emsco.net/jody/zbrakes/DSCF0050.JPG http://www.emsco.net/jody/zbrakes/DSCF0085.JPG 95 Camaro brakes, interfere with the stock mounting bracket as well as the fact that the outer brake pads are retained by "wings" on the stock F-body spindle. Too bad, because I have a full set of them just collecting dust on the parts shelf. Someone (Dot) has said that he used these brakes (93-97 are basically the same) but I don't know how he handled the retainers for the pads. http://www.emsco.net/jody/zbrakes/DSCF0057.JPG http://www.emsco.net/jody/zbrakes/DSCF0061.JPG http://www.emsco.net/jody/zbrakes/DSCF0062.JPG So I then picked up a Toyota 4 piston caliper and brake pads. The width of the opening for the caliper was smaller than the F-body rotor, but the offset looked fairly close. I widened the opening of the caliper where the rotor goes and trimmed the mounts on the caliper so the offset was right (or close). http://www.emsco.net/jody/zbrakes/DSCF0095.JPG http://www.emsco.net/jody/zbrakes/DSCF0092.JPG http://www.emsco.net/jody/zbrakes/DSCF0090.JPG The only problem now was the brake pads were just a little too thick since the F-body rotor is so thick. I shaved one of the pads some and it all appears to fit fine. http://www.emsco.net/jody/zbrakes/DSCF0100.JPG http://www.emsco.net/jody/zbrakes/DSCF0103.JPG If I was planning on running wheels with no spacers, this would never work, since the 4 piston caliper is right in the way now. I need to wait until I get the coil-overs on before measuring for a spacer, but one around 2.25" should work fine and the tire/wheel should fit under the stock fender just fine. I will be getting spacers from Andris at http://www.skulte.com/adapters.html. Here's the wheel and tire just sitting on a box, 2 1/2" from the rotor. It still fits easily under the fender. http://www.emsco.net/jody/zbrakes/DSCF0104.JPG http://www.emsco.net/jody/zbrakes/DSCF0105.JPG http://www.emsco.net/jody/zbrakes/DSCF0106.JPG http://www.emsco.net/jody/zbrakes/DSCF0107.JPG For now if I want to put the car on the ground, I'll have to take the caliper off and bolt on my 3 1/2" Weld skinny tire... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zcarnut Posted November 18, 2004 Share Posted November 18, 2004 BTW, there is another 4 piston Toyota caliper that will accept a wider vented rotor. It was used on the 1992-95 Toyota 4-Runner. The casting number is S13WB. It is identical to the caliper you used except it will handle a 28mm thick rotor (rotor slot opening is 29mm). Maybe this caliper could be used without [the grinding] mods? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbc3 Posted November 18, 2004 Author Share Posted November 18, 2004 I didn't measure the initial width of the caliper opening, but I am pretty sure that this is the wider vented rotor caliper. I'll measure it when I get home. Jody Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmyntti Posted November 18, 2004 Share Posted November 18, 2004 Please keep us updated. I currently have 89 Firebird rotors mounted on my 240 and was about to get the Toyota calipers to test that out. You are saving me time and money by doing this before me and I much appreciate it. PS my 89 Firebird rims fit nicely (without spacers) without a caliper but appear that they would interfere with that caliper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wheelman Posted November 18, 2004 Share Posted November 18, 2004 Based on the pictures the Toyota calipers you've got are the larger ones. The smaller ones that work with the original Z solid rotor don't have the cooling ribs. Wheelman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NZeder Posted November 19, 2004 Share Posted November 19, 2004 Based on the pictures the Toyota calipers you've got are the larger ones. The smaller ones that work with the original Z solid rotor don't have the cooling ribs. I agree they are the larger Toy Calipers. How about having a machine shop create a spacer to go between the two halfs of the caliper? I have seen this done before - use long bolts to join the two halfs back together and the machined spacer is designed to take an o-ring on both sides to ensure a good seal etc. Pull one of the calipers apart and see if this can be done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbc3 Posted November 19, 2004 Author Share Posted November 19, 2004 I took apart the caliper to open it up and to grind the mounts, there is just 1 O-ring per side sealing the two halves, but there is plenty of meat to open them up. I only had to take .020 of brake pad off to get them to fit. My bigger concern was grinding the mounts, taking strength away from the caliper mounting points. Keeping the mounts flat and even was tough too. Jody Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twoeightythreez Posted January 8, 2007 Share Posted January 8, 2007 couldn't you just take .020 off the rotor? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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