After destroying countless PMU rear brake pads from failing rear calipers it’s 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.
I purchased two full rear Z32 knuckle assemblies. One of which was a 1991 N/A assembly the other ended up being a 1990 N/A (It was listed as 1990-1996 so it was a gamble which one I got). As I started disassembling them I noted some major differences between the hubs and the anchor bolts.
1990 (Pictured on the Right): The anchor bolt has extra material on it to space the anchor bolt outwards for the shoes to anchor to.
1991 (Pictured on the Left): The anchor bolt is shorter, missing the extra material
1990 Hub (Pictured on the Right): It does NOT include a flange.
You’ll know immediately upon disassembly if you have a 1990 hub, because you’ll be able to remove the hub without taking off the brake shoes.
1991 Hub (Pictured on the Left): Includes a flange that the anchor bolt sits on an acts as a spacer.
With all this being said, if you buy a 1991+ assembly and don’t plan on running the Z32 hubs, you will need to buy spacers that Part Shop Max makes ($37) or buy the anchor bolts that Z1 Mototorsports makes ($150)
PBM Spacers: https://store.partsshopmax.com/shop/silvia/Brakes/RKNUCDBS.html
Z1 Anchor bolts: https://www.z1motorsports.com/z1-products/z1-motorsports/z1-300zx-90-na-parking-brake-anchor-bolt-pair-p-32365.html
Started sandblasting and fixing the bent dust shields. I plan on mocking them up and trimming them to fit before I powder coat them.
Here are the parts i’m using for the swap.
GK tech ebrake cables (Z32 2+2), GK Tech ebrake cable conversion plate (must be used in conjunction with the 2+2 cables), PBM anchor bolt spacer, GK Tech s13 to Z32 brake line conversion, PBM rear calipers, PMU D1 Spec brake shoes
Fun Fact: Z32 and R32 Shoes are interchangeable. I’d have to dig a little deeper to see what else is as well.