J30 rear knuckle on 240sx install

[cody180sx]

So awhile back i came across j30 in a junk yard and pulled the the front brakes and the whole suspension front and rear. I've googled and searched hours on nicoclub about using the rear hubs and sadly realized they were pressed in not bolt on but i made another discovery the j30 knuckle and 240sx knuckle look close so i pulled the 240 and sat in next to the j30 HOLY CRAP they are almost identical. the only thing different is the mounting for the shock.

this is the stock knuckle (sorry if i used your picture i'll try and get some tonight of the other side haven't done that one yet) you can see that brass colored piece that sticks out is what the strut bolts to with a washer and a nut. The j30 is the same shape except it uses a bolt tread through the center i just went to lowes and matched a shorter bolt it was slightly to long so i used another washer. I'll get some more pictures tonight for a better picture

[Razi]

Hubs come off when you undo those 4 bolts in the back.Dunno if J30 hubs bolt up to the 240 hubs though.

[heartofaskyline]

^^ lol. i think the spline count is different

[S133P3R]

so what is gained from this?5 lugs?

[koukis4teen]

Are you trying to convert them because they are aluminum like the Z32? I was unaware the J30 had this but cool. Yeah you can use them if you get coilovers that have adaptable sleeves. I know megan makes them. Other companies make them but i dunno who they are off hand. Also it is helpful to get a spherical bushing because when installed on the 240 they are put at an awkward angle. A company makes these as well. Hope this helps.

[Chris28]

J30 and 240 spline count is the same. At least I hope it is, cause I'm running J30 axles

[heartofaskyline]

here, i searched and found the answer. thats amazing zerothread/333501

[cody180sx]

not the hub the whole knuckle with the hub like you do with a z32 swap but instead of the hub bolted to the knuckle it is pressed in and the e-brake is a drum brake just like the z32 and yes it is for 5 lug. I imagine if you wanted to you could some how convert to the drum style e-brake i'm retaining the rear brakes so i just took off the drum brake parts man i wish i had some pictures. Like in the picture the entire knuckle is switched out all the suspension parts bolt to the knuckle, i pulled the parts off a 93 J30 and my cv-axle slide right in no problem so all axles will fit that have the stock spline count

whats circled is the only thing different on the j30 knuckle witch can be pressed out and the 240 one put in

again if i used your photo sorryall of these line up along with the ball joint

Modified by cody180sx at 8:53 PM 4/29/2009
Modified by cody180sx at 9:08 PM 4/29/2009

[diggles240]

I am curious as to why the J30 knuckle itself is so important. Is it, in fact, aluminum? If so, the swap value could be valid. Anyway, why not swap the J30 hub into the stock 240 knuckle as long as the 4-bolt mounting spacing is identical for each? This would allow you to retain the integrated caliper e-brake as desired. Post some pics that you feel will fully explain what exactly your questions is and we can be of more assistance?

[Razi]

The hub is NOT pressed into the knuckle, wtf.1. Take those 4 bolts off the knuckle, remove hub.2. Do the same for your car's knuckle.3. Put 5 lug hubs onto your car's knuckle. I have no clue if J30 hubs line up on a 240's knuckle though.4. Get your stock rear rotors drilled to 5 lug.5. Put your rear brakes back on, bolt everything down.6. DONE. You keep your stock e-brake setup, you keep your stock brakes, but you are 5 lug. congrats.

[diggles240]

1. Take those 4 bolts off the knuckle, remove hub.2. Do the same for your car's knuckle.3. Put 5 lug hubs onto your car's knuckle. I have no clue if J30 hubs line up on a 240's knuckle though.4. Get your stock rear rotors drilled to 5 lug.5. Put your rear brakes back on, bolt everything down.6. DONE. You keep your stock e-brake setup, you keep your stock brakes, but you are 5 lug. congrats.

Except I say get new 5-lug blank rotors. I did not think it sounded that difficult either. Good lookin out Razi.

[Razi]

No problem.I don't know what 5 lug rotors fit for a stock rear brake setup, I just got mine redrilled to 5 lug for about 30 bucks I think.

[cody180sx]

okay one more time the hub is pressed into the j30 knuckle not bolted like the stock 240sx knuckle. so you can't just put it on the 240sx knuckle as far as i know.

So both knuckles are are identical except what i circled in the pictureboth of these can be pressed out if you desire i just went to lowes and found a bolt to work

after hours trying to kind some pictures, damn my friend for having the only pictures, hereif you match it to the s13 it's identical whats circled is what is different and as you can see the j30 hub has no bolts

[Razi]

Ohh, having pictures of an actual J30 hub would've helped me understand better.

I understand now.

Why not just find a Z32 or S14 with 5 lug and grab their hubs?Much easier in my opinion.

[Chris28]

As a reminder, don't use the j30 hubs for the front. There is a c clip that needs to be put in to retain the bearing and the s13 bearings are too big to fit the clip in...something like that. The front hubs are subjected to extreme lateral forces during cornering so you really need that clip in there.

Isn't there a quick method to getting 5 lug up front by redrilling the stock hub? All you need is a machine shop to drill the new pattern and new lugs/studs/whatever they are called.

[diggles240]

Now that makes more sense. I thought you were repping the pic of the spindle with the 4-bolt for the j30 spindle. I scanned over the fact that you said 'this is a pic of the stock knuckle' Carry on.

[diggles240]

What about the rear setup Chris? E-brake etc. IMO axles and stuff are not really an issue. Just the damn e-brake type difference.

[cody180sx]

not really these bolt right in compared to the z32 you have to have to have a special mounting bracket for z32 and i don't have money for coilovers right now these bolt right in and i just used a bolt to fasten it and s14 hubs are hard to find also and expensive. I paid 250 bucks for the front and rear hubs and brakes and the only reason i spent that much is i didn't take a 32 and 36 mm socket so i had to take shocks and all sucked but worth it for a full 5 lug swap and brake upgrade ballin on a budget
Modified by cody180sx at 12:31 AM 4/30/2009

[Chris28]

You know what? I think I'm thinking of the q45 5 lug swap. There was a thread recently concerning OEM hubs from some infiniti and putting them on an s13. I probably have them confused. Sorry for any misinformation I may have posted haha.

[cody180sx]

no big deal i just wanted to share a new discovery on a 5 lug conversion and over all cheap

[placham]

FACE PALM , some people responding dont event know what their talking about.

Remove your uprights and put the J30 ones one. Take pictures, post, and sit in amazement.

AND YES< THE SPLINE COUNT IS THE SAME ON J30 AS 240SX AND AS 300ZX N/A-nonturbo.

Where some of you people live, cave or under a rock; come on, its on the forum. Use the Search button.

And J30 hubs are pressed into the uprights, unlike 240sx and 300zx N/A or TT.

$hit you can use Z32/300zx aluminium uprights. For you weight saving freaks. And Q45 has the same uprights as 300zx aluminium. You'll just need different end for the strut. Think JIC magic coilovers, have interchangebale ends.

$hit I'm running Q45 VLSD with Q45 hubs, axle and 300zx TT axle, now if that works, why wouldnt J30 stuff work?

By the way I dont know if J30 uprights are aluminium or not, but I wouldnt be surprised if they are. But I havent looked into this.
Modified by placham at 3:03 AM 4/30/2009

[OM3GA]

No problem.I don't know what 5 lug rotors fit for a stock rear brake setup, I just got mine redrilled to 5 lug for about 30 bucks I think.

COME ON! hehe its s14 se rotors duhh lol i have them on my car RIGHT NOW

[cody180sx]

FACE PALM , some people responding dont event know what their talking about.

Remove your uprights and put the J30 ones one. Take pictures, post, and sit in amazement.

AND YES< THE SPLINE COUNT IS THE SAME ON J30 AS 240SX AND AS 300ZX N/A-nonturbo.

Where some of you people live, cave or under a rock; come on, its on the forum. Use the Search button.

And J30 hubs are pressed into the uprights, unlike 240sx and 300zx N/A or TT.

$hit you can use Z32/300zx aluminium uprights. For you weight saving freaks. And Q45 has the same uprights as 300zx aluminium. You'll just need different end for the strut. Think JIC magic coilovers, have interchangebale ends.

$hit I'm running Q45 VLSD with Q45 hubs, axle and 300zx TT axle, now if that works, why wouldnt J30 stuff work?

By the way I dont know if J30 uprights are aluminium or not, but I wouldnt be surprised if they are. But I havent looked into this.

Modified by placham at 3:03 AM 4/30/2009

i'll check and see if they are aluminum tomorrow

[placham]

Usually aluminium parts they will use washers under steel nuts/bolts, in steel/iron uprights usually they dont.

[diggles240]

OK, its seems as if all of your 'face palm issues' have been addressed just as in your recap. The only issue possibly in question is the ability to retain the stock rear brake and caliper integrated e-brake setup. This should work without issue- in theory.

There are an infinite number of small or unknow problems that can come to the surface when dealing with interchanging parts. You have been very helpful in the past with providing information regarding frequently questioned issues that can be somewhat vague (speed sensor pics, etc. for example) often due to incorrect information being posted by multiple members. It is most important to sort through all of the minor issues for everyones benefit. Afterall, we are a group of enthusiasts here to help one another. That is not to say every question needs to be answered each time somebody is too lazy to search. Thanks for your help

[koukis4teen]

I like how i posted how to install them early on and was ignored lol. Anyway good luck with your project. Oh and about the e brake. You need to use a 2+2 300zx e brake cable for that. The normal two seater cable will not be long enough. I dont think there is any getting around that since it has a drum brake set up for an e brake.

[94_240sx]

this is the stock knuckle (sorry if i used your picture i'll try and get some tonight of the other side haven't done that one yet)

It's okay to use my picture.

[diggles240]

Hey 94_240sx- I am pretty sure you can resolve the issue with retaining the stock 240 rear brake and integrated caliper e-brake with the j30 hub/spindle. Thanks.

[94_240sx]

Hey 94_240sx- I am pretty sure you can resolve the issue with retaining the stock 240 rear brake and integrated caliper e-brake with the j30 hub/spindle. Thanks.

I didn't ask any questions here. I have z32 rear brake & e-brake with stock knuckle and 4-lug hub.

[diggles240]

I didn't ask any questions here. I have z32 rear brake & e-brake with stock knuckle and 4-lug hub.

I know you did not ask any questions. I just asked you because you are one of the guys that knows stuff Based on your setup it seems reasonable that one could retain the stock 240 rear brake setup with j30 5 lug hubs and spindles. Thanks for your input.