Front Hub and Rear Control arm compatibility

[Royce]

Howdy,

Okay, I know a front hub cannot be swapped with a rear control arm.

But can a 280Z hub be swapped onto a 240Z axle and similarly a 280Z rear control arm be swapped onto a 240Z rear suspension?

MSA has the same part number for the front wheel bearings '70 - '78 so no difference there. But they list separate part numbers for the hubs and control arms so I am wondering what's the difference. With the control arms I could see it being the hole for a swaybar. I checked the fiche but it is hard to tell if the later numbers are compatible and replace the earlier number or if they are physically different and not interchangable.

I've got a few of them on parts cars but I haven't got them appart and haven't had a chance to compare myself. Also, I don't trust my eyes to see the difference. Has anybody been done it successfully or tried it and found it not possible?

Thanks folks!

[2ManyZs]

Darn good question. I think the front hubs will interchange but not absolutely sure.

The only difference I'm aware of in the rear control arm is the sway bar mount. They all use the same bushing, so there is no difference there. I believe the 240's and 280's all had the same rear track dimension so there shouldn't be a problem there. The only difference between the two that I know for sure of is the diameter and length of the strut housing and that has nothing to do with the control arm. I was always under the assumption that the rear control arm was actually one control arm that was just flipped over for the other side. But we all know what the first word in assume is don't we?

[Royce]

Hey 2manyZs, thanks for the response!

Yeah, you are right the control arms are the same on both sides, one is just upside down. I am almost sure they can be interchanged between 280 and 240 but I would feel more comfortable if someone who has done it could tell me.

I also feel pretty certain that the hubs can be interchanged since the rotors are the same, the bearings are the same, and the wheel bolt pattern is the same. But again would be nice to hear from someone who has done it.

Maybe, I'll give one of my local Z wrechers a call and see what they say!

Anyone else?