C3 Tech/Performance V8 Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Basic Tech and Maintenance for the C3 Corvette
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Brake rotor replacement

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Sep 18, 2006 | 04:34 PM
  #1  
Guru_4_hire's Avatar
Guru_4_hire
Thread Starter
Team Owner
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 62,198
Likes: 1
From: All humans are vermin in the eyes of Guru VA
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
Default Brake rotor replacement

What holds the rotor in place when you replace them? pressure from mounting the wheel?
Reply
Old Sep 18, 2006 | 04:35 PM
  #2  
IronJen's Avatar
IronJen
Abby Normal
Supporting Lifetime
20 Year Member
Veteran: Marine Corps
Community Builder
Liked
 
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 53,460
Likes: 92
From: Press "2" for English
Default

after you've drilled out the rivits? yeah.
Reply
Old Sep 18, 2006 | 04:56 PM
  #3  
Guru_4_hire's Avatar
Guru_4_hire
Thread Starter
Team Owner
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 62,198
Likes: 1
From: All humans are vermin in the eyes of Guru VA
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
Default

Is that safe?
Reply
Old Sep 18, 2006 | 05:14 PM
  #4  
80_vette's Avatar
80_vette
Racer
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 315
Likes: 0
Default

you need to drill out the rivets if you want to change the rotors.it's the only way....

Then the nuts that hold the wheels holds everything intact
Reply
Old Sep 18, 2006 | 05:15 PM
  #5  
GaryS's Avatar
GaryS
Melting Slicks
15 Year Member
 
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 2,897
Likes: 0
From: Moon Township PA
Default

Originally Posted by Guru_4_hire
Is that safe?
Yes, you can't remove the rotor unless the rivets are drilled out. I would center punch the rivet and then drill with a small bit. Increase the size of the bit until the entire rivet has been removed. In addition, mark the position of the rotor, relative to a specific position on the axle stub. I marked a lug with a spot of paint and a corresponding dab of it on the rotor. That way, you can replace the rotor in the original position. That should give you the best chance for having a balanced rotor and axle assembly.

Gary
Reply
Old Sep 18, 2006 | 05:19 PM
  #6  
Guru_4_hire's Avatar
Guru_4_hire
Thread Starter
Team Owner
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 62,198
Likes: 1
From: All humans are vermin in the eyes of Guru VA
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
Default

I have new VBP rotors.

I am more concerned about the nuts holding the tire, holding the rotor too.

Oh well. If it works it works.
Reply
Old Sep 18, 2006 | 05:28 PM
  #7  
SIXFOOTER's Avatar
SIXFOOTER
Le Mans Master
Supporting Lifetime Gold
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
Default

The reason hey are rivited in the first place is because the frame is upside down when they get installed on the frame, when it gets flipped over the rotors would fall off.
I think I also saw somewhere in here that the rotors were trued on the hub, which would mean they have to stay together and same orientation to keep from losing setup
Reply
Old Sep 18, 2006 | 05:31 PM
  #8  
Guru_4_hire's Avatar
Guru_4_hire
Thread Starter
Team Owner
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 62,198
Likes: 1
From: All humans are vermin in the eyes of Guru VA
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
Default

Ahhhh ok
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Sep 18, 2006 | 07:00 PM
  #9  
427V8's Avatar
427V8
C6 the C5 of tomorrow
Supporting Lifetime
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 6,665
Likes: 2
From: Twin Cities Minnesota
Default

No other car in the world has rotors riveted to the hubs.
It's not magic!
Reply
Old Sep 18, 2006 | 09:04 PM
  #10  
JoeRags's Avatar
JoeRags
Melting Slicks
10 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,387
Likes: 2
From: Meriden CT
Default

Do a search... alot of folks here replace the rivets with countersunk hex-socket bolts, including me.

Much safer IMHO

Reply
Old Sep 18, 2006 | 09:53 PM
  #11  
Z-man's Avatar
Z-man
Race Director
25 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 10,643
Likes: 8
From: Foxfield CO 1970 Convertible
Default

Originally Posted by 427V8
No other car in the world has rotors riveted to the hubs.
It's not magic!


They are just there during the mfg. process.
Reply
Old Sep 18, 2006 | 09:56 PM
  #12  
turtlevette's Avatar
turtlevette
Melting Slicks
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,053
Likes: 4
St. Jude Donor '03,'11
Default

Originally Posted by GaryS
I would center punch the rivet and then drill with a small bit. Increase the size of the bit until the entire rivet has been removed.
yea, if you want to frig with it all day.

if i had it to do over again i'd burn them out with a toch or electric welder or even use a grinding wheel.

i just don't have endless time to screw with this car anymore.
Reply
Old Sep 18, 2006 | 10:00 PM
  #13  
turtlevette's Avatar
turtlevette
Melting Slicks
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,053
Likes: 4
St. Jude Donor '03,'11
Default

Originally Posted by JoeRags
Much safer IMHO

if you are worried about safe you shouldn't be driving a C3.
Reply
Old Sep 18, 2006 | 10:03 PM
  #14  
IronJen's Avatar
IronJen
Abby Normal
Supporting Lifetime
20 Year Member
Veteran: Marine Corps
Community Builder
Liked
 
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 53,460
Likes: 92
From: Press "2" for English
Default

Is that safe?
you planning on the wheel falling off? rotor can't go anywhere with the wheel in place. even with the wheel off the caliper holds it on the rotor, albeit loosely.
Reply
Old Sep 18, 2006 | 10:36 PM
  #15  
JoeRags's Avatar
JoeRags
Melting Slicks
10 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,387
Likes: 2
From: Meriden CT
Default

Originally Posted by turtlevette
if you are worried about safe you shouldn't be driving a C3.


sad but true
Reply
Old Sep 19, 2006 | 05:24 AM
  #16  
Guru_4_hire's Avatar
Guru_4_hire
Thread Starter
Team Owner
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 62,198
Likes: 1
From: All humans are vermin in the eyes of Guru VA
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
Default

Originally Posted by clutchdust
you planning on the wheel falling off? rotor can't go anywhere with the wheel in place. even with the wheel off the caliper holds it on the rotor, albeit loosely.
I was thinking more along the lines of sheering.
Reply
Old Sep 19, 2006 | 11:08 AM
  #17  
Z-man's Avatar
Z-man
Race Director
25 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 10,643
Likes: 8
From: Foxfield CO 1970 Convertible
Default

Originally Posted by Guru_4_hire
I was thinking more along the lines of sheering.
Here's how Vette wheels work:
As the rotor is pressed into place, the center of the wheel contacts and fits tightly on the center of the hub. All weight of the car on each wheel is born by the hub at its center. The lugs and lug nuts just keep the rotor held firmly against the hub. The lugs themselves are not load bearing.

Note: if you purchase an incorrect wheel that does not fit the hub correctly, then the weight is placed on the lugs. Somewhere along the line your wheel will fall off...
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Brake rotor replacement

Old Sep 19, 2006 | 02:08 PM
  #18  
Van Steel's Avatar
Van Steel
Premium Supporting Vendor
25 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 4,312
Likes: 70
From: Clearwater FL
Default

Make sure you dial the rotors in so you don't have a high rotor runout. You'll need a dial indicator.
Reply
Old Sep 19, 2006 | 03:02 PM
  #19  
I'm Batman's Avatar
I'm Batman
Team Owner
Supporting Lifetime
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
Default

Originally Posted by Z-man
Here's how Vette wheels work:
As the rotor is pressed into place, the center of the wheel contacts and fits tightly on the center of the hub. All weight of the car on each wheel is born by the hub at its center. The lugs and lug nuts just keep the rotor held firmly against the hub. The lugs themselves are not load bearing.

Note: if you purchase an incorrect wheel that does not fit the hub correctly, then the weight is placed on the lugs. Somewhere along the line your wheel will fall off...
There are a lot of people running lug-centric aluminum wheels on C3s. That said, this is the exact reason why I'm upgrading to 1/2" studs.
Reply
Old Sep 19, 2006 | 04:56 PM
  #20  
GTR1999's Avatar
GTR1999
Tech Contributor
25 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,175
Likes: 3,990
From: Connecticut, USA
Default

Well this has been discussed here many times but this is how I do them. It takes more time but it's a better job. Dan is correct the runout is the issue. I've measured the runout by just bolting the rotors on with the lug nuts and it changes everytime. Sometimes by only a few thousands other times much more.
The hubs and spindles were riveted then faced so the brake surface is perpendicular to the spindle center and runout in under .001"
If you have a lathe larger then 12" then you can do this with the rears, the fronts can be done on a properly setup brake lathe.
I prefer to bolt them on then shim to correct the runout and be done with them. If you break the flat heads loose then you'll have to recheck the runout.

Here's my car with 300 miles on them.Runout was set to .002" Endplay at .0015-.002" Brakes work great- no O rings.

Right Front



Left rear


Reply




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 04:22 PM.

story-0
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-8
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE