300ZX (Z32) Forums Dedicated to 90-96 ZCars otherwize known as the Z32's

Inexpensive front brake rotors

Old Sep 21, 2009 | 12:21 PM
  #1  
jgn77's Avatar
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Inexpensive front brake rotors

Does anyone have experience with the EBAY cheapies. They have slotted and cross drilled for 100 bucks shipped. Are they worth a damn? I dont have the money to spend on big time brakes because there are other things needed that are more important such as exhaust and tires. But the rotors are warped and need replacing.

Last edited by NismoPick; Sep 21, 2009 at 12:35 PM. Reason: IT'S BRAKES, NOT BREAKS
Old Sep 21, 2009 | 12:27 PM
  #2  
skib's Avatar
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you usually get what you pay for, and I wouldnt risk it on something important like brakes
Old Sep 21, 2009 | 12:32 PM
  #3  
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If you dont do anything with the car, except drive it to work or go cruising on the weekends, then i wouldnt bother with anything but stock, replacements.
Old Sep 21, 2009 | 08:17 PM
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I've got a set from brakemotive76 off Ebay and they have worked great for the several months i've had them. They also had them in stock so they were shipped quickly. Some of those Ebay brake sellers take weeks to get you the stuff.
Old Sep 21, 2009 | 08:40 PM
  #5  
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that's not really even all that cheap. google shopping returns rotors for $28 + shipping. i don't quite trust those though. even the brembos are $38 i believe. each that is. i'm trusting the brembos when i finally get around to buying some.

there are lots of misconceptions going around on the z32 brakes though. here are the facts, as research on numerous websites along with personal experience of my own and of others has provided me:
1990 n/a models have 26mm rotors whereas the rest of the z32's have 30mm's. therefore, are more prone to warping. if your car is a 1990, you'll want to upgrade to a 30mm brake system on the front to prevent future premature warping. nextly, a common cause of premature warping is that the hub begins to wear and the "run out" falls out of spec. this allows the rotor to wobble between the pads and cause thin spots, extra stress, and premature warping. so, to sum it all up, you have to get your hub run out checked before you bother putting new rotors on. i've been quoted at $15 per side to check that run out. if it's more than 3 1000ths out, you have to replace the hubs. these go for $150 each + shipping and they have to be professionally installed, as they are pressed in, unless you are an extremely mechanically inclined and balsy person.
rotors on these cars also cannot be turned off the car. you have to go to special shop or dealer where they can turn the rotors while they are on the car. i used to be able to explain why but i forgot. this brings up the question of if you should get your new rotors turned on the car as soon as you get them. i don't know. can't find a good answer to that. i wouldn't worry about it. people do do successful brake jobs without that.

so yes, just to get your front brakes to stop shaking can cost upwards of $800. welcome to z32 ownership. if you don't believe me, come take a ride in my car in which i had the rotors turned just for them to warp to a state worse than before after just 2 average stops.
Old Sep 23, 2009 | 08:22 AM
  #6  
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tks for sharing your experience here. It's quite well if some illustrations were following here.
Old Sep 23, 2009 | 06:32 PM
  #7  
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From: Horsham, PA
I've used the cheapies from Autozone on my '99 Civic ($12 each!!) and they've been fine for years. As such, I just put a set of the $28 each on my Z32. Granted, I don't race the car, so for my purposes I think they'll be fine.
Old Sep 23, 2009 | 08:01 PM
  #8  
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From: ElDorado Springs, MO
With the kits from brakemotive76 you get drilled and slotted front rotors and pads for $99 with free shipping. They are also zinc coated so the hubs haven't started rusting.

I've got the cheap Autozone rotors on my Pathfinder and they also work fine but I did crossdrill them myself. At the time I couldn't find any Ebay sellers that actually stocked the Pathfinder rotors and couldn't find any local stores that stocked the Z rotors.
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