The rotors on your 300ZX are an essential part of the brake system. As you depress the brake pedal, the brake pads grasp onto the rotors to effectively stop the car. Badly worn rotors will produce a hard grinding sound every time the brakes are applied. Defective rotors will also increase the car's overall stopping distance. You can remove the passenger or driver's side rear rotor with a few tools right at home. If it requires replacement, you should always replace the corresponding rotor as well.
Instructions
- 1
Place a wheel block in the front of both driver and passenger's side front tires.
2Loosen the lug nuts on the rear driver's side tire a half turn counterclockwise with a lug wrench. Raise the 300ZX just in front of the tire with a hydraulic jack. Place a jack stand on the left of the hydraulic jack to help support the weight of the car. The bottom of the tire should be no more than 8 inches from the ground.
3Remove the lug nuts and slide the tire off the wheel studs. Roll the tire to the side of your work area and place the lug nuts with the tire so you don't lose them.
4Remove the two bolts at the rear of the brake caliper that hold it in place on the mounting bracket with your socket wrench. If you look at the caliper, you should see four other bolts. Do not remove them because they hold the brake caliper together.
5Place a 5-gallon bucket right next to the brake caliper within the wheel well. Lift the brake caliper--only--off the mounting bracket and set it down on the bucket. Do not remove the brake pads from the bracket.
6Rotate the caliper piston clockwise with a pair of 12-inch adjustable pliers. It has to completely retract back down into the bore hole on the brake caliper. Once it has been fully retracted remount the caliper back over the brake pads.
7Return both of the brake calipers mounting bolts by hand to assure proper threading. Set your 3/8-inch drive torque wrench to 35 foot-lbs. and secure both of the bolts in place.
8Remove the two inner upper and lower mounting bracket bolts with your socket wrench. Lift the entire assembly with the caliper attached, off the rotor and set it down on the bucket. The mounting bracket connects to the steering knuckle and is what the brake pads were sitting in when you had the caliper removed.
9Remove the rotor by pulling it toward you evenly off the wheel studs.
