Back in the game! - Suspension, Wheel Bearings, Rotors

Big thanks to Nick and Bryan for getting me off my ass and back up and working on my Z. Also, big thanks to Zeead for coming over this weekend to help me out. Couldn't have got this done w/o you.

Your builds inspire me yo.

So in case you don't remember I left off having just finished assembling my rear hubs with new wheel bearings and extended lug studs.

From Z3

So next up was the front wheel bearings.

I hammered in the extended studs to the hub.

From Z3

And attached the front brake rotors.

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I stuffed the wheel bearings in a bag with the grease to lube them up without getting the bearings dirty or getting myself covered in grease.

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Heavy lubing the races.

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Install inner bearing and seal. More lube.

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Then I installed them to the front hubs.

From Z3

From Z3

Then install the outer wheel bearing and more grease.

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Torque down the castle nut and hammer in the cotter pin. Bang the grease cap on and you're done.

Here is a pic with the spring and strut cartridge installed.

From Z3

From Z3

More to come.
Time for bed!

Back to work

Finally pulled off the exhaust and cut out that GHETTO fuel line, zip ties and all.

From Z

One less fire hazard.

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Got in my dirt cheap OEM replacement Brake master cylinder from RockAuto.

From Z

And my OEM replacement Re-manufactured Sumitomo 2-piston calipers.

From Z

I know a lot of people go with the 84 Toyota 4Runner brake upgrade because it is a 4-piston set, but just as many people say that the stock brakes were good enough up to approximately 300+ WHP. Since I am absolutely nowhere near that, I decided to see for myself.

I will be running the Sumitomo stockies on slotted and vented rotors with EBC green stuff pads, all new lines and cylinders.

We will see how she does, and make any further modifications and upgrades based on that as a braking performance base-line.

Brake shopping

Finally picked up a proper flare-nut wrench set from Sears yesterday and was able to blast my 40 year old brake lines off of my half seized calipers.

From Z

Only a few more hard lines to do before they are all 100% new.

From Z

The word on the street is that the stock 240z calipers were built to sustain much more horsepower than the car originally produces, eventhough it is only a two piston caliper.

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That, paired with the weight/cost of a major brake upgrade has convinced me to replace with re-manufactured stockies.

Found a good source for stock replacement calipers and master-cylinders.
I will post them up if the transaction goes smoothly.

Brake/Fix

After realizing my brake lines were DEEP into borrowed time I decided to start cutting the 37 year old braking system out of the car.

This is what they looked like:

From ZCCNE Charity Inspection

From Z

YIKES!!!

So, I scurried down to my local Advance Auto Parts store and pick up a pile of pre-cut/flanged/fitted lines and a bending tool. They came in straight lengths that were all just about close enough to the stock lengths to work. Give or take an inch or two.

Jacked her up and started cuttin' and guttin'!

From Z

From Z

From Z

After approx 3 hours of work I finally got the original lines out of the rear end of the car.

Thankfully, the new lines went in much much easier.

From Z

From Z

From Z

Having bled brake lines in the past using the "Pumping Friend" method, I cannot urge you enough to go out and buy a vacuum bleeder kit. I bought this Mity-Vac at Harbor freight for about $25, and it is by far the most efficient way I have ever seen to bleed lines by yourself. See below.

From Z

I would NEVER do another brake job with out it.
After about 30 minutes of vacuuming and filling DOT 3, I was off and running testing my new lines on the street.

Mint.

Broken Brakes

As you could see from my Inspection, my brake lines are on their way out. I am trying to keep my driving to a minimum until I get them sorted.

Today I stumbled across a deal that I just could not pass up!

$20!

From Z

Can't wait!