Rotor Not Coming Off - What to Try Next...??

[cbear]

Originally Posted By: GMBoy
Could you lower that wheel on the ground and turn the steering wheel left to right a bit to knock it free? Sounds crazy, but seems like you tried everything else!


Same idea basically. with the car on a jack, place blocks under the rotor and lower the car on the blocks. See if the car's weight will break it free. Just don't remove the jack, so it's there if it lets go.

I couldn't get a rotor off my wife's 01 Cougar, and ended up using a puller. Had to do it multiple times, because the disc would just break. Once I was down to just the middle, I had enough meat to pull it off.

 

[willix]

Put the lugs on backwards & knock out the studs.

 

[IndyIan]

I had one very stuck on my Tracker, hammered at it for far too long, tried driving on it with loose lug nut and stomping on the brakes... Finally what I did was drill a hole to tap a thread for a half inch fine bolt. Then threaded in a bolt against the hub and it grudgingly popped off the rotor with a few taps of the hammer.

 

[willix]

Originally Posted By: IndyIan
I had one very stuck on my Tracker, hammered at it for far too long, tried driving on it with loose lug nut and stomping on the brakes... Finally what I did was drill a hole to tap a thread for a half inch fine bolt. Then threaded in a bolt against the hub and it grudgingly popped off the rotor with a few taps of the hammer.
Some drums & rotors have drilled & tapped holes already in them to lift it off the hub.

 

[rpn453]

Have you tried hammering from the outside? With drums, I find that works much better than going from the inside. You can get a much harder swing.

 

[wymi516]

Rotor Removal Video

 

[4ever4d]

Check for a lock ring on one or more of the lug studs.I have seen these on various makes especially if it happens to be a factory or oem rotor.Beat myself silly on a Crown Vic a couple years back and only upon close examination and a lot of frustration plus some choice words did i see a lock ring pushed up against the rotor on two of the studs,after removeing the lock rings rotor almost fell off on it's own.

 

[Frbl]

Is there any way you can get a bottle jack (sideways) in there - even with a block of wood to fill in the gap between the rotor and whatever solid "base" you can use. Obviously, you'll want to to be very careful about what you use to push off from (i.e., subframe, knuckle, etc.).

 

[Turk]

Originally Posted By: rpn453
Have you tried hammering from the outside? With drums, I find that works much better than going from the inside. You can get a much harder swing.


Yep, slammed it with the maul from the front several times.

There are no lock washers on the studs.

I successfully tapped 5/16-18 threads this morning & will run to Menards screw in bolts after work today.

 

[The_Jeff]

I know this is a drum so bear with me.

At least it's off a saturn s-car.

Get in there with a cutting wheel to relieve pressure on the hub hole.

I can +1 the huge jaw puller idea. It worked on a 6 year old pontiac vibe front rotor. Beware the pullers are made of cheap cast metal. I like to tighten the center bolt to only about 30 ft lbs (they shatter easily!) then hammer on the object being pulled, then retorque the center bolt (usually about a 1/4 turn) and repeat.

I think the holes are intended to be tapped by 8mm, 5/16" is 7.9 mm....

 

[Turk]

Yep -- this is what Road Salt does to vehicles.

My next used cars will be from the South!

 

[Volvo_ST1]

I have never in my life seen anything like it.

 

[IndyIan]

Originally Posted By: willix
Originally Posted By: IndyIan
I had one very stuck on my Tracker, hammered at it for far too long, tried driving on it with loose lug nut and stomping on the brakes... Finally what I did was drill a hole to tap a thread for a half inch fine bolt. Then threaded in a bolt against the hub and it grudgingly popped off the rotor with a few taps of the hammer.
Some drums & rotors have drilled & tapped holes already in them to lift it off the hub.

The factory discs did have small threaded holes but all I had was a grade 2 useless bolt which promptly snapped off in the hole... hence going to the biggest tap I had a grade 8 bolt for.

 

[beast3300]

Originally Posted By: Volvo_ST1
I have never in my life seen anything like it.

You must not be in the rust belt, such as Ohio! I deal with this constantly at work.

 

[Turk]

Ugh -- there is not enough room behind the rotor to tap the holes with...

Looks like it'll be the Hacksaw/Roto-Tool tomorrow.

 

[Big_Kat]

try this...

 

[Rick in PA]

Nice video, I like how they used commonly available (and inexpensive) stuff to break the rotor free. I have to remember that trick.

 

[MNgopher]

That is exactly the trick I used on my '99 F150. Works like a charm and in a few minutes tops. Very satisfying when it does let go!

 

[cbear]

Thanks for the video, now I feel dumb.

 

[Kestas]

How interesting. I just used that technique yesterday to remove a rusted pulley from a shaft on my snowthrower, where a hammer would not work!