Front brake rotors Help!

[newstylecustoms]

I cannot get the front rotors off of my 97 Explorer to change them. I didn't have any trouble with my other explorer a year ago. These won't budge. Anyone have any tricks I can use to get them off? I don't have a socket big enough to take off the hub assembly, but that would fix the problem anyway.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Bashman]

You may just have to use a little persuasion with a hammer. They most likely are a little seized in position. Like you said, it's a '97 so you don't have to pull the hub.

 

[mrboyle]

If you are replacing them just take a BFH and beat the snot out of them till they come off.

 

[jasonb]

yeah.. i used a big rubber mallet and smacked my rotors a few times to take them off. it will come off with some help.

this is a dumb question.. but you did remove those little retainer washer things i assume?

 

[Fusion213]

When I took the rotors off my 98, I don't remember any washers... I just got a rubber mallet and got that puppy off.

 

[mattadams]

FYI I did my rear brakes last weekend and had to use a sledgehammer on one of the rotors, rubber mallet and standard hammer just werent doing the trick.

 

[Sallad420]

I just did both fronts and back last night. Mine were really easy to get off. I just unbolted those two little bolts, I had to double check the Hynes manual, because I thought they were way too loose. But I guess they are only tightened to 30 lbs. Anyways, I just removed those two bolts, placed a large screwdriver between the brake pad and the piston, pryed the piston back about 1/16", just enough to take off the tension. Then the calipers came right off. All of them were this way.

Maybe some of you guys are not taking the pressure off the caliper pistons before you are trying to take them off, because they should come off with litle to no effort. (well at least all of mine did)

 

[newstylecustoms]

I am talking about the rotors not the calipers. The calipers take about minute to get off.

 

[mattadams]

yeah the calipers are easy to get off, the rotors actually have a tendancy to get rusted to the hub.

 

[Sallad420]

oops, I read that wrong...

sorry...

 

[newstylecustoms]

A 5 pound sledge did the trick.

Thanks