Z31 5 lug for my 280z

[Toysport]

Hey guys – I did researched but couldn’t find a direct topic regarding the above subjet…not using Ross’s aluminum 5 lug hubs but coming off of a z31 in my junkyard. Can someone please tell me if it’s possible? If so, what rotors and calipers should I use?

 

Thanks,

John

[Guest JAMIE T]

You're kidding right? Nothing turned up on the search? Is it working?

 

This is about the second most talked about subject on HybridZ.

 

Yes, they will work.

 

You can use a spacer sold by a number of online retailers to use the Toyota 4wd calipers.

 

Good luck.

[Toysport]

You're kidding right? Nothing turned up on the search? Is it working?

 

This is about the second most talked about subject on HybridZ.

 

Yes' date=' they will work.

 

You can use a spacer sold by a number of online retailers to use the Toyota 4wd calipers.

 

Good luck.[/quote']

 

There are numbers of topic concerning z31 upgrades but coudn't find anything that applies to 280z. Correct me if I'm wrong but the 240z and 260z are different from 280z.

 

What year Toyota 4wd calipers? What rotors should I use? Thanks Jamie!

[Guest JAMIE T]

It's all the same. The Toyota 4 runner calipers are the ones to get. Later model ones. Or you can use Wilwood's or something.

[BleachZee]

I did that search yesturday too (note my recent post) and also I found tidbits on the subject. Mostly promoting Modern Motorsports and telling people to run a search!

 

However, someone posted a quote on ZCAR.COM that had a short article written by C Ross of Modern Motorsports. Is there a tech article or a specific post telling the entire process here too? I saved the article on my home computer

 

Likewise, I know the Toyota calipers bolt onto the 240Z/280Z struts, but nowhere did anyone mention how the Z31 rotors are a larger diameter. Isn't that an issue with bolting on the toyota calipers?

 

Yes the 240Z, 260Z, and 280Z suspension is all the same.

 

For me its only slightly different as I'm doing this on a 280ZX.

 

From Ross::

The 5-lug swap is quite easy, the most difficult part will be getting the

caliper-disk spacing correct. I have done this swap on several 510's and it

works really well.

 

Get the front hubs and rotors off an 84-89 300ZX Turbo, or an 86-89

non-turbo 300ZX. Remove the hubs and rotors off of your 280ZX struts and

slide the 300ZX hub onto the spindle. You will note that the spacing for the

rotor does not match the caliper. You will need to make or fabricate a

spacer to match the difference between the rotor and where the caliper

mounts to the strut. Another way to do this is to seperate the disk from the

rotor and make a spacer that fits between the hub and rotor.

 

This is also an excellent opportunity to upgrade to a better front brake

caliper. The 300ZX disks are 11" diameter and vented-- even bigger than your

280ZX disks. One swap that I saw that worked really well was the use of

Toyota four-piston truck calipers on the 300ZX disks. The Toyota calipers

are very common and easy to find. They are however, very heavy as they are

made from iron.

 

Another brake caliper to use is the one off of the 86+ Mazda Turbo II's.

This is an all-aluminum, four piston caliper, and can be found quite easily.

The RX-7 caliper is very light, and there are plenty of performance pads to

be found for them. This is the setup that I am using on my 510. You will

have to build a spacer to use these calipers (but you have to do that

anyway) and you will need to match the RX-7's caliper bolt pattern (easy to do).

 

** note from Ross: these pads are ~4x3", a huge pad by any standards!**

 

The rear disks are easy to convert to five-lug. I am using 280ZX rear

trailing arms so I have direct experience with this part of the project.

First remove the four-lug disk, caliper, and stub axle from the control arm.

You will need a large impact wrench to remove the stub axle, they have a

single, very large nut that requires an impact to remove it. Slide the stub

axle out of the control arm and use a press to remove three of the four

studs. Since the four lug pattern is 4x4.5, and the 5-lug pattern is 5x4.5,

one of the studs is in the correct place. I had a spare 5-lug disk that I

used as my pattern. Slide the disk over the remaining stud and center the

disk onto the stub axle. Once you are sure that the disk is centered, mark

the other four holes. Use a drill press to drill the holes just barely

larger than the new studs that you are going to install. You want the studs

to just fit through the hole. Using the press again, press the other four

studs splined ends into the stub axle. One of the studs will be close to the

edge of the stub axle because of the 5-lug pattern. We determined there is

enough material to support it, but if you are concerned you can easily add

more material.

 

You can redrill your rear disks for a 5-lug pattern, which would be nice

because then your rear caliper would work, or use the 300ZX turbo rear disks

and calipers, but they are a larger diameter so you will need to make a new

caliper mount.

 

- - - - - - - -

as you can see this is a good article. Not every detail is there and this was written for the 240Z/280Z suspension. If or when I ever do this swap I will document with pictures and write up my own article online. At least then you guys can point people somewhere to see what to do on a 280ZX. If I make brackets to hold a caliper on, maybe I'll make duplicates to sell. ?

[Mikelly]

I have a set of Ross' aluminum five lug 300ZX front hubs WITH some 13inch two piece rotors I'll sell you VERY reaosnable... See the forsale ad I posted... Bearings, studs, everything you need except the caliper and bracket... I think I can get the bracket from Jamie for $50 as well...

 

dat74z@yahoo.com

MIke