Help identifying struts and brakes?

[SimpleIsBest]

Apologies if this is a pretty basic question or it's been covered, but I haven't managed to find much info on the thing. Local 510 guys also seemed to have never seen this type before...

These struts pretty much need a complete overhaul - calipers need to be rebuilt, pads need replacing, discs are wearing out, and the shocks are either completely wrong for the application or are worn out. I'm looking to identify them to get a caliper rebuild kit and replace the discs and pads. They look a bit like 240Z struts, but they fit 13 inch wheels so I'm not sure what they are (also think 240Z struts don't really work?).

Bit of background, this car was extensively modified (quite poorly usually) by a fellow in South Africa before it was imported into New Zealand, and pretty much all his "improvements" have remained. I'm trying to go through the whole car to fix things wrong with it, and the front struts happen to be one of them.

Thanks!

Jim

[Heinrich]

IIRC my SSS also came with the same setup .( i am south african)
i believe that is stock brakes , i may be wrong .

[SimpleIsBest]

IIRC my SSS also came with the same setup .( i am south african)
i believe that is stock brakes , i may be wrong .

Hmmm ok, yeah the guys here haven't seen anything like it (we usually get NZ, Australian, and Japanese market 510s). My concern is the calipers especially look quite different to what we normally get, do you know if any old caliper rebuild kit off ebay would work? Like these:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/DATSUN-510-BLU ... Sw8GtZVt5C

Thanks for your input! I might have a number of questions relating to SA version differences, but one step at a time...

[Byron510]

The calipers look more late model than what Japan and NA got. We got a single piston, angled pad sliding plate caliper design. At first glance I thought it may be S30, or S110, but the casting quality looks newer. Any part numbers?

Byron

[SimpleIsBest]

I think that's the same setup as our NZ cars, but yeah. They looked a lot like S30 calipers, but they're not quite the same. A guy here mentioned they looked a bit British and they sort of do resemble the Lockheed brakes on my old MGB...

I'll get some better pics later when I get the wheel off again and have a look out for numbers.

[SimpleIsBest]

Took the wheel off to have another look, here's the markings on the caliper. Didn't see any on the back. They seem to be very similar to S30 calipers in construction, although casting is different. Unsure what logo that is, doesn't seem to be Sumitomo?

EDIT: After doing a very quick google search with the part no. they appear to be Girling magnesium brake calipers. Any idea where bits can be found for them?

[Heinrich]

i believe it is manufactured by Girling. Same as old jaguar's.

you would probably need to take them apart and measure all the relevant places and then take a parts catalog and search for something that will fit(i am almost certain that is what my SSS had, would have to dig them up )


will ask my datsun parts supplier if he has any more info.

[SimpleIsBest]

Yeah, I have a feeling they might be hard to source here as Datsuns with these calipers never really came here. Will ask at the local brake specialist, but any specific info will definitely be helpful if you can dig some up, I have a feeling I'll have to order some in from overseas...

I did find these on ebay, which might be worth a shot?
https://www.ebay.ie/itm/FRONT-CALIPER-K ... 1308974935

[Heinrich]

it is cheap enough to try.
why not look for a set of local struts?

[SimpleIsBest]

That's true, it's just difficult to spend any money when I'm not 100% sure, student life is suffering!

I considered converting to local "standard" struts, and they're pretty available (including a lot of 280ZX struts), but I guess I'd like to keep these if it's practical. The ones I got offered also needed caliper rebuilds and probably more work too though, plus I'd be downgrading from a 2 piston to a single piston setup, but yeah those options are certainly on the table.

[yenpit]

That big "G" is Girling. You might identify by pulling the pads, comparing a tracing of the brake pad metal backing plate & pad compound shape to the various British pads, which could then lead you to an application. You will likely need to pull the caliper & measure the piston diameter to also verify............

The old Girling paper catalogs had brake pad drawings with dimensions etc. Do you have an old school British resto/parts shop nearby, that might be willing to let you look thru their old Girling catalogs? I have them, but they are all packed tightly away, cuz I've been OUT of the British parts industry for some years now!

TJ