nope Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 I bought a Arizona Z Car's 5-lug wilwood brake kit a while back and just by transporting my car on and off trailers there is significant damage to the front rotors. The stock LCA rubs the rotor hard, especially with the wheels turned. I tried fixing this temporarily by grinding away LCA material until I just about broke through. They rub less, but still rub. Has anyone had a similar issue? The damage is pretty much identical on both front rotors. I thought I'd post up here before contacting Dave at AZC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boy from Oz Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 Make sure you are using the 260Z hubs and not the 240Z ones Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nope Posted February 3, 2008 Author Share Posted February 3, 2008 The hubs are the custom aluminum ones he includes in the 5-lug kit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikelly Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 You really need to contact Dave. These are custom parts and likely that nobody else has had the issue or it would have been found in a previous post. And don't drve the car... That'll destroy those rotors. They don't look "bad" yet. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nope Posted February 3, 2008 Author Share Posted February 3, 2008 My engine doesn't even run yet. Still swapping.. That damage is just from pushing it around. I'll call Dave soon but even with new rotors, the same crap will happen. I've thoroughly checked how everything lines up and there are no errors in assembly. It's like have to buy his LCA's now. I've noticed that the part of the stock LCA that's rubbing doesn't exist on the AZC LCA's. They stop right at the ball joint. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerryb Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 Im pretty sure that Dave mentioned to me that this needs to be an area of attention. He warned me that this could be a problem and grinding might be required. Mine turned out to be fine. Better call him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RB26powered74zcar Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 Mine did that to... I really didn't notice the rubbing at first due to the engine noise, but by the time I had, there was a nice grove wore into the rotor. I really noticed the rubbing sound while turning the wheel left/right while driving, due to the wheel bearing nut not being torqued to spec. I ended up removing the wheels and grinding that lip on the LCA down for clearance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madkaw Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 From the AZC web site - Front Brake Installation Note: the outboard edge of the lower control arm may need to be trimmed or ground down so it will not rub the inside face of the rotor (see red arrow), you must check for adequate clearance BEFORE DRIVING! and with the car on the ground with the suspension under full load! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HB280ZT Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 To make the Arizona Z big brake kit work you "MUST" grind the nose of the LCA. What I did on mine was mount the rotor and then turn the wheel from lock to lock and mark how far the rotor comes around the nose of the LCA. Then I broke out the grinder and pretty much ground it away until the rollover lip was gone at the nose of the LCA. Here is a good picture: Also pay very good attention to the material on the side of the LCA because if you do not remove enough around the edge it will damage the rotor when you make a hard turn, don't ask me how I know!! Also if you take your car to the track take a bit more off just in case!! I hope this helps you out! HB208ZT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikelly Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 Sooooo That's pretty well explained on Dave's site. Following/ Reading directions from the manufacturer is always a safe bet! Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerryb Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 Unfortunate...I trust we all learn from our mistakes. But it sucks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EMWHYR0HEN Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 Always read directions first! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RB26powered74zcar Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 Bummer is, I bought the front and rear kit used from a HybridZ member, and didn't think about asking/ needing installation directions.... (I was wrong ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nope Posted February 3, 2008 Author Share Posted February 3, 2008 Yeah, I had them ground down enough to remove that front lip exactly like he shows in the installation instruction CD. That jacked up the rotors like instantly. Then I ground them down as thin as I felt cool with and they still rub. The problem is that I'd have to grind completely through that front LCA face (which is what gives the end of the stock LCA its stiffness) to keep it from grinding. HB280ZT, have you noticed any issues grinding yours that far back? Have you autox'ed or tracked like that? I feel slightly stupid right now for trusting the instruction pictures alone, but still annoyed that I'll have to grind completely through to avoid having to buy a $600 LCA kit, and probably some new rotors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savage42 Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 I've seen several sets of LCA that have the ends ground off and look very similar to the billet LCAs as shown above. It really doesn't affect them by cutting off the end, as they are attached with the 4 bolts, so you'd have to have loose bolts to ever really have an issue and you'd most like hear or feel that. I'd grind them way back, if I had that issue, but that's just me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikelly Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 HB280ZT, have you noticed any issues grinding yours that far back? Have you autox'ed or tracked like that? HB280ZT does high speed driving events on road courses in his car. It's safe. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimZ Posted February 3, 2008 Share Posted February 3, 2008 I bought my AZ Zcar Wilwood brake setup back in the late '80s - I was one of the first. Exact same problem. As others have mentioned, I ground material away from the LCA until it no longer interfered. Been running that way ever since with no issues. I do autocross the car, although infrequently. Do the bolts that fasten the rear disc to its hat still interfere with the caliper mounting bracket, too? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nope Posted February 4, 2008 Author Share Posted February 4, 2008 TimZ, I haven't noticed anything in the rear but given what's going on up front, I'll definitely check it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JIM73240Z Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 my brake kit fell together. the rear kit comes with a couple of sets of washers and had to use one between the calipers and the struts to keep the rotor centered in the calipers. no problems. i do have his lca's. jimbo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cygnusx1 Posted February 4, 2008 Share Posted February 4, 2008 Yeah but how would you know if they grind unless...they actually grind! Mine did, so I beat the end of the LCA in with a mallet (a little). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.