300zx Brake Swap, Revisited!

[importnut]

The revised importnut 300zx Brake Swap page (http://importnut.net/300zxbrakeswap.htm)

I've been talking about a thorough update to my 300zx brake swap page and I finally finished it.

I've added a few sections.

I have a fairly complete listing of part numbers for front and rear calipers, hubs, MC's and so on.

I added an alternative brake swap section as well.

The e-brake section has been updated with better solutions and the thoughts on my "spliced" cable idea.

There are updates to the MC upgrade as well.

I feel that the page is more thorough than it was before and offers more suggestions and ideas to do the job right.

Please let me know what you think!

-Alex S.

[Mugen13]

everytime i go to your site i want 300zx brakes more and more.

[mellojoe]

I'm about to get a set of q45 calipers and rotors. It would be real nice if you had the part numbers for those. I'll swing by O'Riley's and see what I can come up with part number wise.

[OptionZero]

Q45 rotors: Go to Autozone, they are $50 + core (see if u can trade in your stock 240 ones)

Brembo blanks : Nopi.com or GroupBuyCenter.com (couple group buys all the time)

Stainless Steel brake lines: www.takamotorsports.com ($65)

Brake Pads: ~$55ish for Axxis Metal Masters

I also spent $5 on DOT 3/4 brake fluid and $5 for caliper paint

I bought some junkyard q45 rotors for $35each, without intending to swap 'em for newlyt rebuilt ones...but they were too ganky to really use...so that cost me a bit extra, hope you can avoid that

[OptionZero]

Question: You can bleed the brakes at anytime during the swap, right? As long as you get the fluid out before attatching the new SS lines? Or should i do it *After* installing the new SS lines?

This is on Q45 swap, but presumably it doesn't matter...

[importnut]

Question: You can bleed the brakes at anytime during the swap, right? As long as you get the fluid out before attatching the new SS lines? Or should i do it *After* installing the new SS lines?

This is on Q45 swap, but presumably it doesn't matter...

What do you mean, "at any time"? As long as the system is closed, you can bleed it. That meaning, all of the lines are attached. During my swap process, I must have bled the system 6 times. Once when I did the fronts...when I swapped the front lines to SS, then when I installed the rears and then a couple more times when I swapped the MC. If you are playing with different ideas, use some cheap dot 3 until you are ready to flush the system with some good fluid (motul, ATE, etc)

[importnut]

I'm about to get a set of q45 calipers and rotors. It would be real nice if you had the part numbers for those. I'll swing by O'Riley's and see what I can come up with part number wise.

Sorry, when I was wrapping up my work on the update, I thought, "maybe I should get some part numbers for the Q calipers".

Call any infinity dealer and you should be able to get the info. I'm guessing that any Q within the same years as the 300ZX should be fine. I didn't really delve into that swap.

As for the rest of the parts, OptionZero is right. Just pick up some Autozone rotors or Brembo blanks. Junk yard calipers, if cheap enough, can be good cores for rebuilt units. If you are lucky, you can find a clean pair and won't have to worry about rebuilding them.

-Alex S.

[OptionZero]

I saw another write up that bled the brakes before installing the new rotors, while yours had it at the end of the process, which led to some questions.

I'm still waiting for brake pads to arrive, then I can do some more detailed explanations. I'll try to take pix and do a little write up if possible, although I haven't attempted that much mechanical work (most complex was '91 camshafts with much assistance from a more tech-savvy friend who did much of the work)

[importnut]

I saw another write up that bled the brakes before installing the new rotors, while yours had it at the end of the process, which led to some questions.

I'm still waiting for brake pads to arrive, then I can do some more detailed explanations. I'll try to take pix and do a little write up if possible, although I haven't attempted that much mechanical work (most complex was '91 camshafts with much assistance from a more tech-savvy friend who did much of the work)

Hmm...I'm all my years of tinkering, I've never heard of anyone bleeding the brakes before the rotors were installed. If you think about it, the hydraulic system doesn't care what's going outside of the closed system. Old rotors, new rotors...no rotors (provided that you do not push the pistons out!).

I've always done brake bleeding once everything is in place. I've used several methods and most work well. Some cars are harder to bleed than others. The 240 isn't too bad, not as bad as rear disk equipped civics!!

Alex S.

[thx247]

so there is absolutely NO place you can purchase that little plug from for the MC is there? Seems silly to tear apart a perfectly good MC for a little bit of metal plug

[OptionZero]

I got some Russel Speed Bleeders from PDM-Racing, which should make it easier and quicker.
The rest of the install seems nothing more than turning a wrench and mounting stuff...and pouring the new brake fluid into the reservior.

One potential snag: the Earl's stainless steel brake lines for the 240sx do not seem to want to go on the Q45 caliper.
I know that stock 240sx lines are supposed to work with it, which i'm worried about.
The newly rebuilt calipers came with a screw to bolt the brakelines on. I take off the screw, put the old q45 line on , and am able to rescrew it back on, attaching the line to the caliper.
I then take off the screw thingie, put the new SS 240sx line, and the cannot screw it back on, because the 240sx brakeline head is simply too thick to allow the screw to get into the hole and catch the thread. (sorry the description is pretty bad, if you don't understand, i'll try to get pix)

I am hoping the 240sx screw from the old caliper will have a longer end so everything bolts up nice and simple.

[OptionZero]

Here are some pix, its harder than it seems to take pictures of these damn things. Glare and reflection of the SS...dammit...

black is stock q45, other is SS 240sx line

Anyways, i was trying to say the head of the stock q45 line is thinner than the earl's 240sx line, therefore the screw does not extend as far through. With the q45 head, I get about 2.5-3 pitch, with about the SS 240sx line, i get about .5-1. Not nearly enough to attatch it to the caliper.

The only solution i see is if the 240sx screw on the stock caliper is about 5mm longer.

I suppose i could also use the stock 240sx lines...but what a waste of $65 on SS lines...

[ryan hagen]

do you need to use 300zx rear hubs? i didnt see, i know they have that extra large hole for the ebrake bolt on the flange. does the s13 upright have the hole for that ebrake bolt, i got my splash sheild/ebrake, and rear rotors, now i just need to get 5 lug rear hubs, so i was asking so i could select the right hubs....

[importnut]

do you need to use 300zx rear hubs? i didnt see, i know they have that extra large hole for the ebrake bolt on the flange. does the s13 upright have the hole for that ebrake bolt, i got my splash sheild/ebrake, and rear rotors, now i just need to get 5 lug rear hubs, so i was asking so i could select the right hubs....

Not at all. I ended up using the 300zx hubs that I picked up since they didn't have the same 200k miles as my 240 hubs :)

The S13 knuckle is the same as the S14 as far as the hole and mounting is concerned.

Alex S.

[ryan hagen]

ok i wasnt sure because of that hole in the hub base, wasnt sure itd work with s14 hub bases or if i needed the z, this makes it alot easier....thanks

[mmdb]

I have a question regarding the master cylinder swap. I'm concerned about using the old master cylinder fitting from the 240 and inserting it into the 300zx master cylinder because of the chance it might leak. Have you had any problems with it? Here's the excerpt.


"Take the fitting that you just pulled from the old master cylinder and carefully insert it into the 300ZX master cylinder. Using a small punch, tap the fitting into the master cylinder."

[Kid Zelda]

I have a question regarding the master cylinder swap. I'm concerned about using the old master cylinder fitting from the 240 and inserting it into the 300zx master cylinder because of the chance it might leak. Have you had any problems with it? Here's the excerpt.


"Take the fitting that you just pulled from the old master cylinder and carefully insert it into the 300ZX master cylinder. Using a small punch, tap the fitting into the master cylinder."


The way the fitting FITS, it shouldn't leak

If you are really concerned try and get the M/C made by NABCO , it will already have the fitting.

[mmdb]

will do thanx.