i am in the process of swaping out the old brakes on a 69 big block to some cross drilled/slotted rotors and new pads as well.any who i have the car on jacks stands, but i cant get the damn front rotor off, i read that there are two ways to doing this..a taking a 3/8's drill bit and taking out each rivit total of 5 or taking off the whole hub...i dont really want to do the hub if i dont have to..any other ideals?

 

Drill out the rivets. Hard to believe that a 69 still has the factory rivet on rotors. Are you sure they aren't rusted to the hub? Do a search of this forum and you'll find lots of info about rotors and rivets.

Here's one I found.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...ht=rotor+rivet

 

If you have an air hammer/chisel with a pointed tool you can pop them right in and be done in a few seconds. If not, get out the drill and let er rip.

 

Drill those suckers out, stomp on them, spit on them, light them on fire, melt em down turn them into a hunk of metal and chuck into the bottom of the ocean. Stupid things I hate them.

Although this hatred maight stem from the fact that I spent 2 days trying to figure out why the stupid rotors wouldn't come off, only to get on the forum and find out in 2 minutes, that chevy in its infinte wisdom used to rivet the rotors to the spindels.

Live and learn. Now I check the forum first.

Like I said, drill them out, and if the rotor still won't come off, give one side a light tap with a sledge hammer. I know people are going to tell yo this is a terrible idea, but if you are replacing the rotors anyway, who cares.

I drilled my rivets out and they still wouldn't come off. I tried the whole dead blow hamer thing, then the 4 pound sledge with a block. When this didn't work, I picked up my 12 pound sledge, tapped one side of the rotor with almost no force, and the stupid thing just fell off.

I guess it was the intimidation of the big hammer. Does it everytime.

Remember: If it doesn't work, hit it. If it still doesn't work, HIT IT HARDER...!!..

Good luck....

Will

 

well the fronts are done...thanks guys...i ended up taking the hub cap off,(gonna buy new bearings and re pack with new grease) and using a good ol' cold cheisle, and a good size sledge hammer....took a while..the fronts are done...now as for the backs...wtf was chevy thinking, i had to remove the hard line in the rear just so i can get a socket on the 5/8's head to remove the damn bolt!!! I work on my dodge stealth R/T Twin turbo and its never this hard...anywho..gonna tackle the rear tomarow...thanks for the support and tips..and i will post pics when its done...


i was shocked to see rivits on there...i have had the car for almost 19 years..and the fronts rotors have never been changed out...but the car only sees less than 5k miles a year..