I'm having a hard time believing the repair shop is right. What do you think? The shop said that all 4 of my 1979 280ZX rotors are beyond machining. I'm confident one is beyond machining because the caliper didn't work right and scored the surface pretty bad. The car only has 56,000 miles. It hasn't had a brake job before. I never heard of a ZX that needed all rotors replaced at that low a mileage. (I know the mileage is right because I drove the car home from the showroom in 1979).

Also, since I had a bad front caliper, do you think I should I have both front calipers replaced as a precaution?

 

When was the last time you had any brake work done? Still running on the original rotors?

 

They're the original rotors. There hasn't ben any brake work.

 

I work in a local brake shop down here. Because your car is a 79 and has the 5-digit odo, the shop probably thought your car has 156,000. I find it unlikely that you would need ALL FOUR rotors at only 56,000 miles. As far as the caliper goes, its always in your best interest to replace hydraulics in pairs, but its not necessary.

 

You could always MEASURE the rotors yourself.

Specs:

 

Doesn't the 79 have drums in the rear?

 

Thanks gang,

Mine has 4 wheel disks.

As to measuring the rotors myself - I trust myself to work on what makes the car go but I have a pathological fear of working on what makes it stop.

 

All 280zx's came w/ 4 wheel disc... the S30 (70-78 240z-280z) had rear drums.

You aren't "working" on the brakes by taking a simple measurement. You asked if the shop is right... I'm telling you that if you have two hands and at least a metric tape measure (measuring caliper is better), then you can know if the shop is trying to take you.

Or you could just ask the shop what the measurements are, and compare to that spec sheet I just posted (front minimum is 18mm, rear is 8.6mm).

 

.... typically rotors are just replaced now. Turning them down increase the chance of warping and the cost for turning/labor is almost the same as putting brand new one on instead (or less - get them cheap at www.rockauto.com)

 

I ended up getting a second and third opinion about my brakes. Here are the conclusions. 280ZX rotors don't fail after 56,000 miles under normal conditions. All my rotors had a lot of meat left and could all be turned. My rear brakes actually didn't need any work.

My first brake guy I went to must have been mistaken about me needing all new rotors. I called him to let him know that his measurements of the rotors weren't consistent with the others. I wasn't impressed with his professionalism when he heard the findings. I don't think I'll be going to his shop again.

Thanks y'all for your excellent information and thoughts.

 

I don't know where you go, but around here rotors are turned $15 a pair.

 

I doubt you could get them to put ONE on the lathe for $15 around here. Shop hourly rate is at least $90 here.

 

What about your local parts store? Napa & Kragen will turn them here in the US for $12-$15 each... still, for most cars you can get a new rotor for $25-$30, so it really isn't worth it.

 

yeah where i work we charge the re&re time plus 30 per rotor to turn. its robbery. i had a 280zx come in yesterday believe it or not, needless to say he now has my card

 

Honestly ...........1979?? Jimmy carter was pres, The Pittsburgh pirates won the world series my 50 year old father graduated high school. UM really ? not to be a dick but really your fighting to save maybe 400.00 in a total parts to replace everything on a low mileage z. Hows the rubber chassis parts hows the lines 32 yr old brake fluid. Sometimes you just do it and since your the original owner im sure you have the funding to store the car out of the weather and moisture since a z will quickly fall apart. Think you being a little cheap But eh do what ya like.....32 yr old wheel bearing grease??? since it hasn't been serviced. hope you don't drive it with dry grease in the wheel bearings Best to let the professional decide what is safe and what needs serviced before you push them to say its fine , you restore the car to daily service and you kill someone and act clueless why your 32 yr old non serviced car is on the street PERIOD! Had a local guy kill a man when his Bias 35 yr old tire on a chevelle blew pulling the car into on coming traffic!! Wasnt the driver who got arrested it was the 9.00 mechanic who inspected the car. Just my childish thoughts

 

^^^ Whoa... slow down there turbo... Apparently you read WAY more than what was said in this thread. Apparently if this was you, you would have gladly paid a crooked shop $400 for a brake job that didn't need to be done.

 

.... and it should be the $9.00 mechanic who got arrested. He's the profesional who was trained and certified to deterimine if the vehicle is safe. He has all the power to say pass or fail and he said that an unsafe car was OK. Where I get my cars inspected they don't let ANYTHING past because it's their job/life on the line when they sign that it's OK.

There is a fine balance between doing nothing with a car you know nothing about and a complete restoration. Personally I have the Provincial safety inspection done and I replace the brake fluid, transmission, diff and engine oils so I know where I'm at with the life of those. I also know what the quality is as well. I've drained what looks like brand new fluid more than once but I don't worry about it after I'm done. As long as the vehicle passes a valid safety inspection you should be good to go. If not fix the stuff that needs fixing. The issue for the OP is that the mechanic claimed a pile of work needed to be done that simply wasn't required. Yes the brakes need fixing but there was no reason to spend $400.

My first 280ZX needed new ball joints and fix the exhaust leak at the manifold (broken stud needed to remove the whole exhaust manifold and intake so I just had a header installed when they put it back together since I was already into it for the labour). Last car needed steering boots, new front brake lines (good excuse to replace with stainless braided and at $11 a piece it's a no brainer...) mickey mouse ignition fixed (switch wired to the starter directly), wheel bearings (axel was damaged as well once we pulled the bearings), defrost (rebuilt the whole climate control system), TC rod bushings, reverse lights (switch), licence plate lights, signal lights (bulbs) and a cracked marker lens. That's all stuff the Provincial inspection picked up. We replaced the bearings so we obviously greased them when they were replaced. If you've got a bearing that doesn't have any grease its going to be noisy well before it wears out so you've got some indication that you've got a problem.

 

I know I know........Just my farmer logic. I bought many piles of nissans well 3 and 3/4 of the 280zx's You own a great low mil Z that has never had the brakes serviced....just makes my *** pucker. your talking very little cash. If the car is this old and your placing it into service. You should just pay the 200.00 in rotors. as well as have the car inspected bumper to bumper. Thread sounded as someone was pushing worn rotors past a garage im a machinist. Yea I can cheat leave a VERY loose feel on the mic to pass it. and im sure you take it to enough places you will get a person to say the same. Bottom line take it to a a.s.e shop they say replace replace. Being a 79 as mine the car really does not like front end issues as I learned from a blow out. Get a caliper stuck or have a bearing lock or any other failure at highway speed you may just take a dirt nap. So my input is based on these z's not being a "Volvo" in safety. and you should never skimp on what stops you and keeps you on the road. " Tires and Brakes" My apologies