Rear Brake Caliper Question

[plainzwalker]

I found out this morning that my rear brake calipers are frozen. So I have two options.

A) Just but remanufactured ones and throw them onorB) I have a pair of Z32 rear calipers already, but I was wondering if I can keep the stock e-brake setup? I know a lot of people have to replace it, just not sure why. But if I go with the Z32 calipers, and can keep the e-brake setup, I do know that I will need bigger rims (not an issue since I want new ones anyways).

If I can get a quick answer that would be great, I kind of want to get my 240 back on the road soon.

Thanks

[gumby74]

Replace the frozen caliper as using the Z setup is not complicated, it does require you to have all your ducks in a row. Here is where someone tells you to "search", but I am waiting on the dryer at the moment so here goes. The Z32 rear assembly consists of a 2 piston caliper for drive braking and an integrated drum brake for parking. This means that at the very least, you will need the Z calipers and brake rotors (early 90's J30 rotors are the same size), the Z brake lines from chassis to caliper, and the appropriate lug pattern/hubs. This will net you Z rear brakes, BUT you will not have use of the parking brake!!! Some guys do this, and park in gear, turn the wheels and things of that nature. DO NOT GO THIS ROUTE. Do it right. Find you some Z aluminum spindles with parking brake cables, you will need these, bearing hubs, pretty much the whole damn thing un- assembled. Looking at it from the back side you will see 4 17mm (or 19mm, cant remember) bolts securing the hub to the spindle and one huge over an inch nut. This nut holds the parking brake assembly to the hub. Its a nylock nut which means you will probably drop one of your own trying to get this s.o.b. off. You then remove all this good stuff from the Z spindle, remove your stock gear, and replace it with the Z gear. It is a drum parking brake so pay attention to all those springs, levers and crap that will fly out at you. The cables for the parking brake can be made to work in different ways, ask and I will tell you how I did mine. The only problem I see with this is that you will need to upgrade the front brakes. Bigger rears on a stock set up will cause the rears to lock first. That is not a good thing. Front brakes are bigger for a reason. That should occupy you for a few minutes, I think my socks and drawers are dry, so I hope this was useful to you.

[plainzwalker]

Sorry I should of stated I knew about the whole z brake upgrade part already, I've just never seen why the e-brake couldn't be used. If I were to do this, then luckily someone is actually seeing the WHOLE rear assemblies on ebay right now for a couple hundred. Hubs, rotors, calipers and all.

But I think I will just go ahead and order the remanufactured ones then. Little easier that way.

Thanks