!#@$& Rotor removal!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 350
Likes: 0
From: Louisville KY
!#@$& Rotor removal!
Geez....I've been working on trying to get ONE of my original rotors off on and off (every 5-6 days or so) and I've followed multiple recommendations for ways to get them off, but to no avail....
I've drilled off the rivet heads, sprayed it all with PB, beat on it from both the front and back...No sign of budging even a little. I figure the entire thing must be rusted together somehow, and that it just isn't ready to let go! Down below you'll see some pics of some of the work I've done on this rotor, so any opinions/observations would, of course, be greatly appreciated! Oh, and just for your viewing pleasure, I'll include a couple of shots of what I found when I got the wheel off the RF...It was really something.
I've drilled off the rivet heads, sprayed it all with PB, beat on it from both the front and back...No sign of budging even a little. I figure the entire thing must be rusted together somehow, and that it just isn't ready to let go! Down below you'll see some pics of some of the work I've done on this rotor, so any opinions/observations would, of course, be greatly appreciated! Oh, and just for your viewing pleasure, I'll include a couple of shots of what I found when I got the wheel off the RF...It was really something.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 155
Likes: 0
From: Apple Valley MN
I had the same trouble with my rotors. Even with the heads off the rivets, the rotors wouldn't come off. I ended up having to drill through the rivet shaft halfway and then pound the rivet out using a round punch. I think that the rivet shaft expands to the size of the hole when the rivet is set, making it stuck in the holes in the rotor and hub.
Once I got all the rivets out, I used a rubber mallet to work the rotor to get it off. It takes a lot of sweat to get the whole job done but it's do-able.
Once I got all the rivets out, I used a rubber mallet to work the rotor to get it off. It takes a lot of sweat to get the whole job done but it's do-able.
Senior Member since 1492
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 87,922
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From: Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean people aren't out to get me...
St. Jude Donor '09
I had the same trouble with my rotors. Even with the heads off the rivets, the rotors wouldn't come off. I ended up having to drill through the rivet shaft halfway and then pound the rivet out using a round punch. I think that the rivet shaft expands to the size of the hole when the rivet is set, making it stuck in the holes in the rotor and hub.
Once I got all the rivets out, I used a rubber mallet to work the rotor to get it off. It takes a lot of sweat to get the whole job done but it's do-able.
Once I got all the rivets out, I used a rubber mallet to work the rotor to get it off. It takes a lot of sweat to get the whole job done but it's do-able.
exactly. I think I used a 5/16" bit.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 6,350
Likes: 422
From: Seattle Area WA
You need to totally remove those rivets, Oversize that hole and remove the entire rivet head and punch out the rivet shank. What you show is just a start, there is enough material there to hold them on.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 589
Likes: 0
I had to drill the whole thing out. There was just a tiny wall of rivet left touching the rotor wall and they wouldnt move. Drill a biggr hole then chizzle them away from the rotor wall. Its a pain.
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Racer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 366
Likes: 1
From: Houston Texas
After drilling the rivets and a wd40 spray, I used a gear puller like this:
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...7323_200337323
a few taps with a rubber mallet at each turn, and the rotors popped right off.
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...7323_200337323
a few taps with a rubber mallet at each turn, and the rotors popped right off.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,547
Likes: 12
From: Carbondale Pa.
Like everyone else has said you need to get them M'F'n rivets completely out of the rotor and even then the rotor could be rusted to the spindle so you'll need to spray some snake oil & let it soak a while and in addition you could have the parking brake themselves holding the rotor on, even tho the parking brake rarely functions as designed they are the fly in the ointment when they prevent the rotor from coming past the shoes. Good Luck, Peace,,,,Moosie 
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 350
Likes: 0
From: Louisville KY
Thanks much for all the great suggestions so far...I actually have drilled the holes out much more now than when those initial pics were taken...So far, I've got three of the heads completely off, still working on those other two.....I tried using a puller some, but I was afraid that I'd end up damaging the hub/bearing areas during the pull....Maybe I'm not using the correct puller? (hadn't looked at the link above yet)...I'll keep working on those bad boys, and keep you all posted...Oh, and by all means, keep those suggestions coming
Racer
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 420
Likes: 0
From: Yerington NV
Make sure all the rivet is out - then beat the **** out of it, like redvert said .... I did mine with the largest mallet I could find, and after the sweat was pouring, IT POPPED OFF ...... I thought it wasn't coming off .... "is this thing welded on here or something??"
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,802
Likes: 61
From: Wichita KS
After drilling the rivets and a wd40 spray, I used a gear puller like this:
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...7323_200337323
a few taps with a rubber mallet at each turn, and the rotors popped right off.
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...7323_200337323
a few taps with a rubber mallet at each turn, and the rotors popped right off.
That's what we used on mine. Giant gear puller works like magic.cc
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,359
Likes: 116
From: AUSTIN Tx
I saw the link to this thread on the C2 forum, and just felt compelled to comment. Unless I am seeing this rotor wrong, this is the Right FRONT rotor. Why would you not just pull the entrie hub and rotor and put it up on the work bench where you could drill and beat the rivets out a lot easier? it would be a lot easier than trying to do it on the car, and would only take 5 minutes to pull the hub and rotor. Hell, you might even clean and repack the bearings while you have it apart!
Regards, John McGraw
Regards, John McGraw
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 22,164
Likes: 4,172
From: Kannapolis NC
I saw the link to this thread on the C2 forum, and just felt compelled to comment. Unless I am seeing this rotor wrong, this is the Right FRONT rotor. Why would you not just pull the entrie hub and rotor and put it up on the work bench where you could drill and beat the rivets out a lot easier? it would be a lot easier than trying to do it on the car, and would only take 5 minutes to pull the hub and rotor. Hell, you might even clean and repack the bearings while you have it apart!
Regards, John McGraw
Regards, John McGraw
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,387
Likes: 2
From: Meriden CT