Need help for a decision, my new front suspension / hubs / brakes

[snarpee]

Hey there fella Z Brothers, have a look at my new front suspension I put together from this and that...

 

The car is a 71 240z, 350SBC, and 35 year old suspension (well, till now).

 

This car will be my street / occasional road race track day car so I wanted to update the suspension and freshin it up a bit.

 

Ok, here is what I have dont up to this point:

 

Powder coated crossmenber, lower contriol arms, struts

Cut off factory spring perch's

TIG on new perch stops for coil over sleeve

Installed Tokio 5 way's

Techno Tunning strut rods

Energy suspension poly bushings everwhere

AZC 12.2" vented rotors

AZC / Wilwood 6 pistion calipers (I know over kill, hehehe)

280ZXT 5 lug hubs

1-1/8" front swaybar

Stainless brake lines

Hypercoil springs 10" 200LBS

New rack and pinion from 280Z

 

 

So, where I need help deciding what to do is this:

 

Originaly I wanted to go with the steel (STEEL) 5 lug hubs because they are STEEL!!! (being in the mechanical engineering world, I dont like 6061 for its fatigue strength on critical parts). I know they push the front out 3/4" but I thought that be ok.

 

Note: AZC does not offer a brake kit for use with the 5 lug 280Z hubs, never the less I bought the kit with the parts they (AZC) suggested to get me as close as possible. AZC said that I may have to make new mounting brackets to fit the caliper over the rotor mounted to the 280z 5 lug hibs.

 

Now, wanting to get the front done ASAP, Im contemplating calling AZC up and getting his 5 lug hubs (even though they are 6061 ALU) because they will keep the wheel mounting plane in the original location (no 3/4" offset), and I could just bolt everything together instead of having to model up new caliper brackets and go cut them on the CNC.

 

So Im in kind of a funny spot, what would you do in my shoes???

 

Thanks ALL!!!!!!!!

[johnc]

So Im in kind of a funny spot, what would you do in my shoes???

 

Buy new shoes.

 

The aluminum hubs are fine from a strength standpoint. Nothing to worry about.

[JMortensen]

For the record, I thought the first ZX to get 5 lug hubs was the 85 300ZX.

[Mayolives]

I've been using AZC's five lug alumnium race hubs on my track car for a couple of years. I originally bought them because they were alumnium and would help to lower the rotating mass number. They are a quality part but I did manage to spin a few of the long wheel studs in the hubs. They are on a road race car and see many tire/wheel changes. I reinstalled new studs and set them in JB Weld and have had no problems since. I'll point out that I also spun a few of the rear wheel studs in the steel axles. I then spot welded those in place. This problem could have been caused by poor splines on the ARP studs. But........All is well that ends well.

[Clifton]

The AZC 5 lug moves the front about .500". I know he was messing with a Z31 kit. Are you using Z31 hubs? They look like Z31T hubs from the pic.

[snarpee]

Clifton, yes Im using the Z31 5 lug hubs, sorry for the confusion.

 

So, the AZC hubs push each front wheel out .5"???

 

If that the case, I'll stick with the Steel Z31 5 lug hubs, and create a Soliworks model for a new caliper bracket, cut in on the CNC and be done.

 

By they way Clifton, your car rocks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Thanks

 

Pete

[Clifton]

Thanks. I'm pretty sure it was .5 on his 5 lug. It has been a while since I put them on.It was less than the Z31 though. I think Z31's n/a are .75" or around there. I know the Z31T hubs use a slip on rotor were the n/a bolts on the back. I recall him selling a kit to someone with a Z31t hub like yours so he might have what you need. I don't know if you are buying a kit from him and then designing bracket because you have to or designing it because you want to.

[Vintage]

For the record, I thought the first ZX to get 5 lug hubs was the 85 300ZX.

Actually, the 84T was the first Z with 5 lugs, all 84-85 NAs had 4, 5s were standard on turbos and became standard for all in 86.

[Clifton]

Thanks. I'm pretty sure it was .5 on his 5 lug. It has been a while since I put them on.It was less than the Z31 though. I think Z31's n/a are .75" or around there. I know the Z31T hubs use a slip on rotor were the n/a bolts on the back. I recall him selling a kit to someone with a Z31t hub like yours so he might have what you need. I don't know if you are buying a kit from him and then designing bracket because you have to or designing it because you want to.

 

It's the 87+ turbo's that used the slip on 5 lug, not the bolt on.