HZ Ryder

I am in the process of upgrading my stock 280zx calipers to S12W. I have read several "upgrade" threads on this topic, however, I seem to have run into a problem. I bought a set of S12W calipers which are suppose to bolt on; no counting the spacers ,etc; yet it appears that the S12W calipers are not threaded, so I can't bolt them on. The stock calipers are threaded for the mounting bolts for the front strut... I am missing something??? Do I need to buy some mounting brackets for the S12W on a 280zx.. P.S. the car is a 1979 280zx 2+2....

HELP>>>>>

NismoPick

Welcome to ZDriver!

Click: https://www.zdriver.com/forums/showt...049#post272049

You need the S12 or S12+8 calipers.

PurePontiacKid

So wait, you're sayin that the NON-Vented calipers are the ones to use?

NismoPick

Yes, unless you are going to run wheel adapters and Honda (30+ offset) wheels.

A good read (mainly for S30's, but much S130 discussion too): http://forums.hybridz.org/index.php/...or-s30-z-cars/

HZ Ryder

OK thank you for the information... So, let me get this right... i hope as I already bought another set of calipers.. the S12+8 calipers are threaded and will bolt right in place of the old stock.. 280zx setup., yes. The SW12 are not threaded, my mistake $$ and cannot be used. So for me to do the whole conversion on the front I will need need to follow other threads recommendation to: trim the dust plate, buy 300zx rotors, which are larger..., buy the spacers, and a new proportioning valve. My guess is that the parts between all these calipers are interchangable ( pads, pins etc)or at least I hope..... Is there any other place that I can order the spacers, and rotors from, as I think that modern motorsports is a little pricy, not to mention non-responsive to my emails.

P.S. will this setup work with slotted / drilled rotters as I would like to keep the same look that the car has now; I picked up "Dave's V8 1979 280zx 2+2 Project car"


THANKS for your help...

HZ Ryder

I MUST REALLY BE MISSING something... I bought S12+8 and came up with the same results... These calipers are not threaded same problem.... I can't mount them on a 280zx strut. The bolt must go through the rear of the strut and bolt onto the caliper... so if the caliper is not threaded I cannot moun / use the calipers......

hoov100

It's not difficult to tap the holes for the correct bolt. Also you have to worry about using a thicker rotor or making spacers as the s12W and the s13W are made for a thicker vented rotor then the regular s12+8.

KHCreason

I read through a bunch of the HybridZ link...

It says the toyota 4x4 is a direct bolt on for the S30... but does not specify S130 or not... any ideas or knowledge? I would love some cheap stopping power upgrades!

NismoPick

Hum... if the S12 / S12+8 calipers aren't threaded, then you need to fab a bracket (like I had previously posted a link to: https://www.zdriver.com/forums/showt...042#post272042), or if there is enough space between the mounting ears and rotor / hub, just weld on nuts to receive the bolts.

EDIT... at this point, I personally wouldn't just upgrade the caliper and leave the stock rotors. If you want better stopping power, you need to increase the diameter of the rotor... which quickly becomes complicated do to the need of hub / spindle spacers, caliper brackets, and wheels big enough to fit over the bigger setup.

NismoPick

I finally had time to hit the junk yard to mock up the Toyota calipers.

Result: The main issue is mounting (discussed below). None of the 4piston calipers are a direct fit for the 280ZX. The S12 / S12+8 non vented disc calipers are too thin for vented, though they are the right thickness to run the stock wheels.

The S12W vented caliper is wide enough for the rotor, but too wide for stock wheels. As stated, the main issue is mounting. These 4piston caliper mounts aren't threaded, AND are centered at the same spot as the 280ZX mounting ears. Any farther left or right will not work. So the solution would be to fabricate brackets to hold the caliper on the top of the 280ZX ears, which would also push out the caliper placement, making it a perfect choice for bigger rotors.

So the next step is to find 2" bigger rotors that will mount on the 280ZX spindle, and we're golden!

Cell phone pics:

NismoPick

I'm still thinking about this... Since the Toyota calipers would require a bracket, really any caliper is an option as long as it will line up correctly to the rotor... but then which rotor?

I plan to get my car on the track (Miller Motorsports Park) next year, and I have a feeling my stock brakes just aren't going to hold up to 10-20 min of heavy braking, several times in one day.

I was checking out Jeff P's 280ZXT brakes (http://www.angelfire.com/extreme/280zxt/page20.html) and noticed he was using bigger discs on what looks to be stock hubs, and using spacers & longer wheel studs to push out the wheel enough to clear the caliper.

Coleman rotors & Outlaw calipers...

PurePontiacKid

if I were you, and was gonna keep the stock strut/spindle, I'd have the outside edge of the hub milled down a bit, just enough to fit inside a regular Nissan slip on rotor, and that way you could get rotors way easier.

I know the common upgrade for Z31 guys is to use the Z32TT 30mm calipers with the 350Z track rotors (12.5" diameter) and that is plenty for most of the guys in that realm

so basically, it'd be alot of machine work at first, you'd have to have the hubs milled, brackets fabbed up, and then have the rotors redrilled to 4 lug. (or be super cool and convert to 5 lug)

just an option I found lol

NismoPick

That's the major issue... there is no hub on a 280zx. The rotor sits on the spindle.

I've been researching the 300ZX caliper / 350Z rotor swap for a few days now. I think the 300ZX caliper will work if the mounting bracket will fit on the 280ZX strut mounting ears, but I'm still working on the rotors.



On a 240SX strut:

PurePontiacKid

the Z31's/240SX's have different bolt spacing, so bolting those adaptors on won't work.

This is what I'm talking about(early Z31 parts, but it's the same **** as S130 stuff)

The picture with only one rotor in the picture, but two hubs shows exactly the same hub, but the one on the left has been machined down so that the slip-on rotor (shown in the other picture) will actually slip on. The only thing you'd have to do besides that would be to put in slightly longer wheelstuds (like 1/4" since that's pretty much how thick the rotor is there).

hopefully you get what I'm saying?

NismoPick

Ah... gotcha, but what hubs are those?

PurePontiacKid

They're '84/'85 Z31 NA hubs, but the same principle applies to using your S130 hubs

01gmc5.3

So are there any bolt on brake up grades ?

NismoPick

^^^ Welcome to ZDriver!

Did you read this thread?

01gmc5.3

well the only real bolt on I see is the kit from Arizona Z Car unless you make brackets right ? I was wanting to try and buy most of the stuff from a parts house so I could but replacement parts later and I wouldn't we stuck with aftermarket. Plz tell me if I'm wrong

NismoPick

There's no easy / cheap solution for 280zx brake upgrades. And unless you plan on doing some heavy full course track time, it's not worth the time, money, and effort to upgrade. A good set of pads (ceramic or Porterfields) will work great for daily driving and street rodding.

01gmc5.3

thank you sir thats the answers I was looking for

evandubya

I recently got the semi-metallic pads from msa, well worth the $$.

http://www.thezstore.com/page/TZS/PROD/PBC01/24-5504

FricFrac

KVRs are also a very good replacement for the S30 and S130... they run around $40 a pair

Yeajimi

Lol... always read the full thread. Read the first few posts, bought s12w calipers and z31 rotors... for my ZX.

Sorry to bring up the dead but YOLO