I’ve been wanting to do this swap for a long time, so after destroying countless PMU rear brake pads from failing rear calipers it’s finally time to upgrade.
My goal for this swap is to keep my ichiba 5 lug hubs and retain a functioning e-brake. I currently have a hydro e-brake setup but it’s an in-line setup. So when the hydro is pulled the brake pedal moves as well. Not quite ideal.
Notes
Fort my install i'm using a PBM rear drop knuckle
Some pictures may show the opposite side from what was previously shown — the process is the same either way
1991 (left) · 1990 (right)
1991 (left) · 1990 (right)
GK tech 2+2 Cables, extension bracket, and s13 to z32 brake hoses/ PBM spacer/
PBM rear Z32 calipers w/pads
Project U D1 Spec Z32/ R32 rear shoes
Before and after sandblasting
Sandblasted and fixed the bent dust shields. Now it’s time to trim them to fit before powder coating them.
Trimmed and powdercoated backplates
You will need to trim directly around the inner lip to gain adiquate clearance to expose the caliper mounting holes.
PBM Rear Drop Knuckle — Cable Warning
If you are using PBM rear drop knuckles you must install the cables crossed:
Left cable → Right side
Right cable → Left side
This is because the backing plates are mounted upside down on the drop knuckles.
The cables will need to be installed on top of the conversion plate in order to work, this is due to the cables being flipped.
Cable install and conversion bracket is pretty easy, simply bolt the bracket on the chassis then install the cables on top.
Cables and conversion bracket installed
Foam pads installed
Pro Tip
Verify the anchor bolts line up to all the holes on the knuckle and the backing plate before installing.
Guide pin doesn't line up with hole in knuckle
This was annoying to see, the holes in the knuckles don’t line up with the anchor bolt holes. It happened on both sides, one side worse than the other. I had to open up the holes with a cone bit on the anchor bolts, PBM spacer, and the backing plate.
Widened hole to fit on guide pin bolt
Modified backing plate
Modified anchor bolt test fit
Just when you think you’re done with modifications
Essential Step
This next part is essential to make this work.
The anchor bolt nut will need to be ground down on the back side to make it thinner
Ground to form a slight taper at the top of the nut
To do all of this. I put the nut in a vice, exposing about 1/8″ of the back of the nut then took a angle grinder to it to shave the exposed section down flat to the vice jaws. After that maybe let it cool, its going to be hot.
Once done, cleaned it up with a polish wheel to get rid of all the burrs.
Now take the nut and for a slight taper at the top similar to what you would see on all the nuts from the rear suspension arms you took off. I used a bench grinder for this.
Shoutout to my friend Brendon for giving me the idea to grind the nut down over trying to find a replacement.
Modified anchor bolt nut
Now that the anchor bolts, anchor bolt nuts, and backing plates are modified to fit we can finally move on to the install.
27mm thin wrench used to tighten nut
Ebrake cable installed
Anchor bolt nut clearance
Once the anchor bolt is in, we can install the brake shoes and hardware.
🎥 Reference Video
Rear Brake Shoes, Ebrake, Hardware Install, and adjustment
This is a great video if you don’t have any reference pictures for putting everything back together.
Your going to need to swap the ebrake levers from the old shoes to the new shoes. It’s done by simply removing the “U” clip and washer. Taking the lever off and installing it on the new brake shoe using the new hardware provided in the drum hardware kit. You’ll know which drum shoe to use for this as only two of them will have the mounting pins installed on them.
Brake shoe e-brake levers swapped over
E-brake cable attached (This picture is from the right (passenger) side)
Brake shoes and hardware installed
Hub installed
GK Tech conversion brake Line installed
Install the brake hose on the caliper before you install it. Then route the hose to the hard lne.
Rotor and caliper installed
Now adjust the handbrake via the hole in the rotor and your done!
