Drilling out rivets on rotors?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 265
Likes: 0
From: Bowie MD
Drilling out rivets on rotors?
I was planning on pulling out the suspension today but I am stuck. The GM shop manual says to drill out the rivets (I assume the rivets are the five rivets between the wheel studs). I tried some drill bits with an electric power drill, but no luck. What kind of a drill bit do I need, and what is the optimal width?
When putting the rotors back on, how are the rivets re-inserted? Do you hammer them in? Are those the only thing holding the wheel onto the car?
Thanks
When putting the rotors back on, how are the rivets re-inserted? Do you hammer them in? Are those the only thing holding the wheel onto the car?
Thanks
Drifting
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,909
Likes: 6
From: Lake Arrowhead - Georgia > 72 Base Coupe & 74 BB Roadster
Don't remember for sure....been a while. Will the disk and hub come off as one piece, if you remove the outer bearing. ??? Only remove the rivets IF you need to get the disk turned for a brake job.
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Somebody help us out here!
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I am a bit puzzled with my 74...."appears" to have 106,654 miles, but the factory rivets are still there. Disks are true and "like new". Odo shows 06654.00 miles. Don't make any sense to me.
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Somebody help us out here!
-------------------------------------
I am a bit puzzled with my 74...."appears" to have 106,654 miles, but the factory rivets are still there. Disks are true and "like new". Odo shows 06654.00 miles. Don't make any sense to me.
Last edited by fotyfobravo; Aug 26, 2006 at 06:04 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,959
Likes: 1
From: North Bend Ohio
Originally Posted by nihil
I was planning on pulling out the suspension today but I am stuck. The GM shop manual says to drill out the rivets (I assume the rivets are the five rivets between the wheel studs). I tried some drill bits with an electric power drill, but no luck. What kind of a drill bit do I need, and what is the optimal width?
When putting the rotors back on, how are the rivets re-inserted? Do you hammer them in? Are those the only thing holding the wheel onto the car?
Thanks
When putting the rotors back on, how are the rivets re-inserted? Do you hammer them in? Are those the only thing holding the wheel onto the car?
Thanks
BigBlockk
Later.....
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
I did it with a set of cheapo drill bits. I did it in 3 sizes though. Start out small then increase to a larger one. Slower speed with some cutting oil worked well. I had the fronts in a drill press also. Take off the hub assembly and put it in the drill press. Much easier.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,269
Likes: 54
From: Orlando Florida
St. Jude Donor '05
Regular 'el cheapo' drill bits will get the job done. Use a centerpunch and drill a small hole first. You don't have to drill all the way thru, as soon as you drilled the rivet's head off you can punch the rest out. Use oil to cool the drill bit.....
You may find shims between the rotor and axle, these are to align the rotor (to reduce runout)
You may find shims between the rotor and axle, these are to align the rotor (to reduce runout)
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,938
Likes: 2
From: Arkansas
Since i was replacing my rotors anyways I used a angle grinder to grind the rivets about 1/16" into the rotors to break the rivet lip, then I used my air impact hammer gun and a pointy attachment to knock the rivet out from behind.
I tried the "drill bit" method at first and this was WAY easier for me.
I tried the "drill bit" method at first and this was WAY easier for me.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,951
Likes: 1
From: Shore NJ
Originally Posted by nihil
Ahh, thanks for the info. Is it standard not to replace the rivets?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 265
Likes: 0
From: Bowie MD
Well, I drilled the center out of all five rivets and couldn't pop any of them out.
However, I discovered after taking the time to drill every rivet, there was this thing called the wheel hub and bearing, and after removing them in about five minutes the rotor slipped right out. Live and learn I guess. Rebuilding everything with no prior automotive repair experience has led to some interesting mistakes and a few thrown wrenches.
After looking at the rotors... what in the heck do the rivets accomplish? They don't seem to have any functional value as they don't appear to attach to anything.
However, I discovered after taking the time to drill every rivet, there was this thing called the wheel hub and bearing, and after removing them in about five minutes the rotor slipped right out. Live and learn I guess. Rebuilding everything with no prior automotive repair experience has led to some interesting mistakes and a few thrown wrenches.
After looking at the rotors... what in the heck do the rivets accomplish? They don't seem to have any functional value as they don't appear to attach to anything.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 627
Likes: 1
From: Naperville IL
the rivets hold the rotor to the hub with the tire off. they used them in the factory so they could flip the frame over on the line without the rotors falling off(so I've heard). This also makes it easier to set the runout on the rotors-true up assembly instead of trueing both hub and rotor seperate.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 265
Likes: 0
From: Bowie MD
Weird. Within the hub there was a large nut that held in the rotor bearing. A cotter pin was fitted through the nut. Once the nut and bearing were removed, the rotor slipped off. The rivets were connected to absolutely nothing and simply went through the rotor thickness. The rivets I was looking at were on the rotor itself, between the lug nut bolts.
I couldn't identify anything holding the wheel on other than the nut and bearing. Perhaps what I was thinking were "the" rivets were not there, and the rotor has been replaced some time ago?
I couldn't identify anything holding the wheel on other than the nut and bearing. Perhaps what I was thinking were "the" rivets were not there, and the rotor has been replaced some time ago?
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
Your working on the front-thought you were talking about the rear.The rotors were riveted frt and rear because they were assemblys.The frt hubs and rear spindle flanges were not always 0 runout.The rotors were turned while riveted to the hubs or spindle.When you brake them apart and put on a new rotor you have to face the rotor if not lower than .005 runout-thats easy on the front-not on the rear.Once the large nut on the spindle has been torqued to spec the center for lathe turning is tweaked.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,812
Likes: 4
From: Gig Harbor Wa
Originally Posted by nihil
Weird. Within the hub there was a large nut that held in the rotor bearing. A cotter pin was fitted through the nut. Once the nut and bearing were removed, the rotor slipped off. The rivets were connected to absolutely nothing and simply went through the rotor thickness. The rivets I was looking at were on the rotor itself, between the lug nut bolts.
I couldn't identify anything holding the wheel on other than the nut and bearing. Perhaps what I was thinking were "the" rivets were not there, and the rotor has been replaced some time ago?
I couldn't identify anything holding the wheel on other than the nut and bearing. Perhaps what I was thinking were "the" rivets were not there, and the rotor has been replaced some time ago?
Here is a picture that shows the rivets for everyone.
Here is a front hub minus rotor and studs. You can see where the rivets attach.
And here is a rear hub minus rotor.
Hope this helps clear everything up.
Drifting
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,909
Likes: 6
From: Lake Arrowhead - Georgia > 72 Base Coupe & 74 BB Roadster
Originally Posted by nihil
Weird. Within the hub there was a large nut that held in the rotor bearing. A cotter pin was fitted through the nut. Once the nut and bearing were removed, the rotor slipped off. The rivets were connected to absolutely nothing and simply went through the rotor thickness. The rivets I was looking at were on the rotor itself, between the lug nut bolts.
I couldn't identify anything holding the wheel on other than the nut and bearing. Perhaps what I was thinking were "the" rivets were not there, and the rotor has been replaced some time ago?
I couldn't identify anything holding the wheel on other than the nut and bearing. Perhaps what I was thinking were "the" rivets were not there, and the rotor has been replaced some time ago?
