2016 Dodge Grand Caravan - front brake rotor rusted on

[Number_35]

On Japanese rotors there are two threaded holes on the rotor hat that accept threaded bolts that allow penetrating oil and exert force on the hub face.

Yup, I was hoping for those, but there are none on this van.

 

[Astro14]

Yup, I was hoping for those, but there are none on this van.

This thing is still stuck a week and a half later?

Yikes!

Time for the “multitude of small efforts that equal big results” approach.

• Put some more tension on your “Jacking screws”.
• Penetrant around the studs.
• Cut the rotor (seriously, cut it with a die grinder, or angle grinder, it’s soft iron, it will cut easily) to get a big slot in the rotor.
• Cut that slot as deep as you can, from edge towards the hat, without hitting the hub or caliper bracket.
• Heat the heck out of the rotor hat - propane is not enough unless you apply several torches at once.
• Put your biggest chisel into the slot - drive it towards the hub.
• Keep applying hammer blows to the slot you cut, and heat to the hat.

Your goal is to crack the rotor through the hat, which will break it loose.

 

[KrisZ]

The problem is getting the penetrating oil in to where it needs to be to work. With the one stud out, we have tried to spray a lot into that area.

The problem is that you somehow think penetrating oil will loosen this rotor, it will not. Weeks of fruitless soaking should’ve been a clue.

Rust creates a bond that needs to be physically broken and judging by the rust pics, you will need to employ several methods to tackle this problem.

 

[vwmaniaman]

I had one stuck on my 07 Ram 1500. Used a piece of 4x4 cut to the right length against the frame rail. Started it up and the power steering did the rest "POP". It was on the floor.

 

[Nukeman7]

I'd give this unique approach a try. Never tried it myself, but it can't hurt to give it a shot if you have an air hammer..

 

[Number_35]

This thing is still stuck a week and a half later?

Yikes!

Time for the “multitude of small efforts that equal big results” approach.

• Put some more tension on your “Jacking screws”.
• Penetrant around the studs.
• Cut the rotor (seriously, cut it with a die grinder, or angle grinder, it’s soft iron, it will cut easily) to get a big slot in the rotor.
• Cut that slot as deep as you can, from edge towards the hat, without hitting the hub or caliper bracket.
• Heat the heck out of the rotor hat - propane is not enough unless you apply several torches at once.
• Put your biggest chisel into the slot - drive it towards the hub.
• Keep applying hammer blows to the slot you cut, and heat to the hat.

Your goal is to crack the rotor through the hat, which will break it loose.

We haven't put a lot of time into it yet - the focus has been on the owner's Chevy Sonic, which is now good to go.

Agreed, though, t is time to try some other methods on the Grand Caravan's rotor.

 

[notharry]

So do you see the 2 hole there? if yours has them they are threaded. Find a bolt near by and remove it and see if it fits in the hole. If not put it back in and try another. they are ment to push the rotor off the hub without ruining everything. If you hit the hub and bering assembly hard enough, it will damage the bearing inside.

 

[Number_35]

So do you see the 2 hole there? if yours has them they are threaded. Find a bolt near by and remove it and see if it fits in the hole. If not put it back in and try another. they are ment to push the rotor off the hub without ruining everything. If you hit the hub and bering assembly hard enough, it will damage the bearing inside.

My friend gave up on it and sold it to a wrecker. I should have offered him $100 more and repaired it, but I was tied up with lots of other stuff, so it would have been sitting in my driveway until spring.

Base model (Canada Value Package), so steel wheels, fixed windows in the sliding doors, no spare, no roof rack, middle bench (instead of Stow and Go), nasty valve train noise, and c. 275,000 km. However, roadworthy and safety-inspected, it would have still been worth at least C$4000.