Rotor Removal, Need help!
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,389
Likes: 9
From: Seabrook Texas
St. Jude Donor '05
Rotor Removal, Need help!
I have the origional rotors on the front of the car. They still have the rivits. How do I remove them? 
Last edited by swtato; Apr 11, 2005 at 10:33 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 117
Likes: 0
From: OKLAHOMA CITY OKLAHOMA
Well I waited an nobody else will answer you cuz someone askes this every day- to save me some typing run a foreum search useing the key word rivets-If you can't find anything ask again
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 4,255
Likes: 82
From: Brampton Ont.
With a center punch mark the center of the head of the rivets.
Start with a small drill bit (possibly 1/8 " ) and drill the center of the rivet head past the rotor .
Keep going larger untill the head of the rivet comes off.
With a larger punch hit the remaining rivet hard enough to tap the bottom half out through the spindle, at this point the whole rivet is removed.
If the rotor doesn't come out, then tap around the area where the rivets where with a hammer ( be carefull not to damage anything )
If the rotor still doesn't come off then remove the center cap and bearings and remove the whole rotor and spindle assembly and you may find it easier to work with to seperate them.
Good luck.
Start with a small drill bit (possibly 1/8 " ) and drill the center of the rivet head past the rotor .
Keep going larger untill the head of the rivet comes off.
With a larger punch hit the remaining rivet hard enough to tap the bottom half out through the spindle, at this point the whole rivet is removed.
If the rotor doesn't come out, then tap around the area where the rivets where with a hammer ( be carefull not to damage anything )
If the rotor still doesn't come off then remove the center cap and bearings and remove the whole rotor and spindle assembly and you may find it easier to work with to seperate them.
Good luck.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 3,255
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From: Manalapan FL
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 2,142
Likes: 195
From: Englewood FL
As someone else suggested, it will be easier to drill the rivets out with
the hub assembly removed from the car. This way you can put the
hub on a work bench and drill straight down on each rivet. Also if
you have to do some hammering to separate the rotor from the hub
you will not risk damaging the bearings.
While the hub is removed, would clean and reback the wheel bearings
and replace the front grease seal.
Ideally, once you install the new rotor, a dial indicator should be used
to measure rotor run out. The rotor and hub assembly were machined
as a unit at the factory. If the new rotor has too much run out when
measured, you can remove it and try it in different positions on the
hub to see if the run out is reduced.
As you have probably read in other posts, too much run out and the
calipers suck air which results in a soft pedal.
the hub assembly removed from the car. This way you can put the
hub on a work bench and drill straight down on each rivet. Also if
you have to do some hammering to separate the rotor from the hub
you will not risk damaging the bearings.
While the hub is removed, would clean and reback the wheel bearings
and replace the front grease seal.
Ideally, once you install the new rotor, a dial indicator should be used
to measure rotor run out. The rotor and hub assembly were machined
as a unit at the factory. If the new rotor has too much run out when
measured, you can remove it and try it in different positions on the
hub to see if the run out is reduced.
As you have probably read in other posts, too much run out and the
calipers suck air which results in a soft pedal.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 8,339
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From: I can walk to MA
I did mine on the bench. Use a good corded drill or a drill press.
Make sure you center punch right in the middle.
1/8" then 1/4" down into the rivet - just enough to get the
hole below the surface of the rotor. Then take a 3/8" bit
and drill until the head spins free. Once all 5 are be-headed,
use a big punch to drive the rivets out the back of the hub.
Definitely need to check for runout, unless you rivet the new
rotors to hubs and have them turned to true the assembly.
Make sure you center punch right in the middle.
1/8" then 1/4" down into the rivet - just enough to get the
hole below the surface of the rotor. Then take a 3/8" bit
and drill until the head spins free. Once all 5 are be-headed,
use a big punch to drive the rivets out the back of the hub.
Definitely need to check for runout, unless you rivet the new
rotors to hubs and have them turned to true the assembly.
Last edited by NHvette; Apr 12, 2005 at 03:00 PM.
