Rear wheel cylinder question - difference between left and right

[lking240]

Hello all,

I've been lurking for a year or so since I bought a 2/72 z and I've come up with a question that after searching the site don't seem to see an answer so sorry if I missed a previous post that answers this.

The issue is I'm replacing the rear wheel cylinders and the rear right is of a different design than the rear left. I Humble's book he says that the design was changed in 9/72, but he doesn't say that this change was specific to only one side. The person I purchased the new cylinders from said he never heard of just one side being different.

MSA said that the rear right is different so I'm just doing a bit more due diligence to work this out with the person I bought the cylinders from.

Thanks,

[lking240]

meant to attach page from Humble. The "former" design is on the right wheel and the "new" is on the left.

Brake Page from Humble.pdf

[blue 72]

Trying to wrap my head around your question. Okay, lets establish some facts. Then, maybe with some more info I can better answer your question.

1: The 240Z rear wheel cylinder designs were changed around 9/72. Or 7/72 if you trust Autozone.com.

2: The rear wheel cylinders are made specifically for either the left or right side of the vehicle (passenger and driver side).

3: You purchased new rear wheel cylinders from "a man" to replace your worn out ones.

4: You contacted MSA and asked them questions about wheel cylinders.

I think that so far I'm on the same page.

My questions:

Who was the man you purchased the replacement wheel cylinders from? A friend, a business, a Z enthusiast, an auto parts store employee?

Did you purchase them from MSA, or was your phone call a completely separate incident?

Are the wheel cylinders that you purchased from "a man" of a different design than the ones that are currently on your vehicle? Is just one different?

I just couldn't make out from your post what the exact problem is.

And now my answer based on what I think the question was:

Around 9/72 both the right and left cylinders were re-designed, so neither is compatible with the other. If either of the cylinders that you purchased are of different designs than those on your vehicle, then you need a refund or exchange from "a man".

An auto parts store with Worldpac access should be able to locate official Nissan rear wheel cylinders for around $70 or so. Carquest is who I ordered mine through, and was quite surprised to find new Nissan parts on the counter a few days later. No fitment problems on my 02/72.

Edited October 2, 2008 by blue 72

[lking240]

Thanks for your reply.

I bought it from Redat on Ebay. He sells a ton of z stuff, has been ok in previous purchases, but I made the mistake of not calling around first...The description was they would fit between 70 and 76 but now discovering that's not the case. Lesson learned...

Call to MSA was separate, after I discovered the cylinders were different. I've attached a pic of the ones I pulled from the car.

The two I purchased are both like the one on the left. The "New" design according to description in Humble. I think I have a case with getting a return on both as from what it says in Humble, prior to 9/72 the "former" design was used on both.

I checked with the guy I bought the car from (second owner) and he said that he never modified them. I suppose something might have happened to the left one that lead the original owner to modify.

Thanks again.

[blue 72]

Interesting find. I went through my photos from when I changed my brakes, but unfortunately didn't take any pictures specifically of the cylinders themselves. I do know that mine were the same type though, just mirror images of each other. I even went outside just now to have a second look and make sure.

Quite odd that you have two different ones. Especially as the Original owner doesn't remember having ever modified them. One possible explanation could be that perhaps some time in the past, when it was a relatively new car, it was taken to a dealer for service. Maybe then one side of the car was updated, backing plate and all, because damage was found? I'm just throwing out a guess there.

As per Humble's book, I would check the backing plates and rest of the brake assembly to see if they are the same, or different. If they are also different, then you either need two different wheel cylinders like the ones you removed (one early, one late), or you would probably need to find a backing plate and assembly from an early Z to swap on.

Or just scrap it all and go to disks or some other expensive thing.

[blue 72]

Oh, and by coincidence, our cars are less than 400 numbers apart as far a VIN's are concerned. Interesting happenstance I thought.

[lking240]

Thanks again. Do you remember if yours were the "former" or "new" style. I think I have a case for an exchange or return because as I understand it, both should be the "former" type, but the ones I bought although labeled for 70-76, are of the "new" type.

Very interesting re: the VINs. How did you know that? The registry?

[blue 72]

Okay, I finally got a moment to crawl under my Z (it snowed on Saturday), and mine are indeed just like they should be, the early or "former" style. Brake hard line at the front, bolt and copper washer in the blind plug hole, and bleeder at the back end.

I stumbled on the registry through another thread, and then tried searching through the member list to find your name before finding out I was already posting to you. Funny coincidence.

[lking240]

that's great, thanks for checking. I think I'm going to ask for a refund or at least exchange for something else, then order the 2 from MSA so that at least I'll have the same manufacturer for both.