didn't crank it down too tight, then hit it with a dead blow, and it broke loose. The puller helped.
Drilling Brake Rotors
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 884
Likes: 128
From: Rhine Georgia
Drilling Brake Rotors
I'm getting ready to install wilwood calipers and new rotors. Only Pass side rotor is original and riveted in place. Is there any reason I can't drill out the rivets with rotor still on car or must I remove the hub and rotor to get the rivets out?
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 1,742
Likes: 289
From: Chardon Ohio
No, they can definitely be done on the car. I just did mine. Try to make sure you center the bit as close as possible to the center of the rivet. They are large and steel. I started with a 1/8 or 3/19 and then moved up to around a 5/16 which is about what the dia of the rivet is. They're on there pretty good. Unless you can put it in a drill press, it's probably easier on the car.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 3,114
Likes: 592
While I could drill the rivits out with no problem I was not able to release the rotor from the hub while on the car. Not enough room the swing the big hammer. Try first on the car. But so I didn't damage the bearings / races I removed the hub (bearings etc) from the car to remove the rotors.
2026 Loser of the Year
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 36,487
Likes: 6,967
From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
If the wheel bearings haven't been re-greased for years,
why not remove the assembly/drill out the rivets/remove the rotor/re-pack the bearings-------good for another 5 years or 50,000 miles!
why not remove the assembly/drill out the rivets/remove the rotor/re-pack the bearings-------good for another 5 years or 50,000 miles!
Last edited by doorgunner; Feb 3, 2016 at 05:10 PM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 884
Likes: 128
From: Rhine Georgia
why not remove the assembly/drill out the rivets/remove the rotor/re-pack the bearings-------good for another 5 years or 50,000 miles!
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 78
Likes: 16
From: Concord California
It definitely can be done on the car I did the rears of my 68. Be careful and don't go too deep with a larger bit (I finished with a 7/16" if I remember right) as on a couple of holes i drilled into the hub a little. The flattened head of the rivet is pretty thin, maybe only a 1/16" or so. I remember there are some good threads about this subject on the forum.
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