Hey Guys, Does the 300zx handbrake operate from the rear brakes only? I called a workshop recently and he and I weren't sure if this was the case..... Reason being he said brembo, Alcon, and AP to name a few do not operate the standard rear handbrake. I'd never heard of this before and got off the phone a little confused can anyone confirm or correct this advice.
Answers Im rebuilding a NA rear at the moment, the hand brake shoes are in the rear only and live inside the rotor. Brembo need a larger diameter rotor than stock (dont quote me im not 100% sure) but as long as everything else is identical to the stock rotors except the diamteter, it should be fine. Also if the Rotors are larger then the stock stone guard will become and issue and may need to be removed/modified.
Yep I will be increasing the rotor size. To balance the brake bias with a larger front brake upgrade. Also I'm pretty sure it's illegal to drive around in a car with out a handbrake.
Yeah handbrakes are on the rear. You won't be able to use the stock handbrake system with a Brembo/AP/Alcon rear brake kit... The stock rear rotors are actually already bigger than the fronts if you didn't know. They are something like 296mm.
confused? as long as the inside diamter of the rotor (the bit where the hub/hand brake shoes live) is the same width, same height and the stud holes are the same it doesnt matter the diameter of the 'meat' of the rotor as long as the caliper can clear it and sit right.
I read somewhere... ...that the 90' N/A has a drum brake assy for the handbrake, inside the hub itself and is separate from the caliper system. (maybe why handbrake won't work on non original hub!)
if you get a kit that was designed for a Nissan then they should give you the correct rear rotor with a drum that allows you to use OEM handbrake. I am pretty sure that Z32/R32/R33 and early R34 used the same diameter handbrake drum, 350Z and late R34 went to a larger drum. If you are buying a kit that isn't made for a Nissan or using a rotor without a drum then you may need to get another small caliper for the handbrake (I have seen Wilwood selling them) so you run 2 calipers on the rear rotor. Much easier/cleaner to just get a kit for a Nissan.
