Rear rotor install help please
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 165
Likes: 0
From: Vernon Hills IL
Rear rotor install help please
I must be doing something wrong.
I purchased a set of new rotors for 04 C5. The rear do not want to clear the parking brake. I beat one on and now it of course will not turn at all. I'm going to have a very difficult time removing it as well (left side).
I tried a new rotor on the rear right then. It wouldn't fit over either but I didn't force this one.
So I grabbed the original rotors and I could barely get one of those on and it really doesn't turn all the way, like the parking brake is engaged (it seems to catch at a certain point in the rotation).
So I am guessing there are some adjustments on the parking brake to 'pull' them in a bit so my rotors clear them?
I purchased a set of new rotors for 04 C5. The rear do not want to clear the parking brake. I beat one on and now it of course will not turn at all. I'm going to have a very difficult time removing it as well (left side).
I tried a new rotor on the rear right then. It wouldn't fit over either but I didn't force this one.
So I grabbed the original rotors and I could barely get one of those on and it really doesn't turn all the way, like the parking brake is engaged (it seems to catch at a certain point in the rotation).
So I am guessing there are some adjustments on the parking brake to 'pull' them in a bit so my rotors clear them?
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,737
Likes: 0
From: Northern VA
Look closely, there is a "star wheel" adjuster that allows you to set the shoes where they need to be. It is often frozen, so that it cannot move. You need to free it up if so (I used a small torch). This assumes that the park brake cable is fully released.
I can't offer any help in getting them off, sorry.
See "my corvette photos" in my profile for a pic
I can't offer any help in getting them off, sorry.
See "my corvette photos" in my profile for a pic
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,737
Likes: 0
From: Northern VA
Note in the picture that the frozen part simply floats in the adjuster housing. The wheel may trun, but it is not changing length. You'll see when you get it apart. I was able to remove it on one side without removing the shoes. Just popped it in a vise, heated lightly and removed. I wasn't so lucky on the other side. Getting that bent wire retainer that holds the shoes to the backing plate back on was a bitch. Make sure and put some anti-seize on after you get her free. You may well damage something when trying to get those rotors back off. My only suggestion would be a propane torch directed at the rotor center. Wear gloves!
This is one job where a brake shoe gauge would be quite handy.
Good Luck!
This is one job where a brake shoe gauge would be quite handy.
Good Luck!
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 16,795
Likes: 62
From: Lake Havasu City, AZ
I used a slotted tip screwdriver and a light hammer....
I put the tip between two teeth and after letting the wheel soak in power blaster gave it a few sharp raps with the hammer.
You want to adjust the diameter of the shoes until the rotor 'just fits'
any less tight and the parking brake will not hold when applied.
I am assuming that your parking brake is off, i.e. the handle is down during this process....
I put the tip between two teeth and after letting the wheel soak in power blaster gave it a few sharp raps with the hammer.
You want to adjust the diameter of the shoes until the rotor 'just fits'
any less tight and the parking brake will not hold when applied.
I am assuming that your parking brake is off, i.e. the handle is down during this process....
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 165
Likes: 0
From: Vernon Hills IL
Well I was able to smack the rotor off. Unfortunately in doing so that wire retainer you spoke of, didn't break, but it did pop out of the shoe. I just spent 2 hours and I finally got it to pop back in.
Now I am back at square 1.
I got the wheel to turn but had to do so with a pair of pliers and the pliers appear to be eating the teeth on that wheel (but it did turn). So I stopped that right quick.
I am going to try the light hammer and screwdriver trick. Problem is, I am not sure which way to turn to pull the shoe in. I assume left.
Ah, I see in the pics what you mean by not changing the length, you just changing the height of the float piece.
Now I am back at square 1.
I got the wheel to turn but had to do so with a pair of pliers and the pliers appear to be eating the teeth on that wheel (but it did turn). So I stopped that right quick.
I am going to try the light hammer and screwdriver trick. Problem is, I am not sure which way to turn to pull the shoe in. I assume left.
Ah, I see in the pics what you mean by not changing the length, you just changing the height of the float piece.
Last edited by jhilb; Jun 27, 2006 at 10:20 PM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 165
Likes: 0
From: Vernon Hills IL
I was able to adjust the wheel down as far as it would go (2 full turns of the wheel). I can now put the rotor onto the hub and over the parking brake without having to force it, it also seats all the way on to the hub now.
However, when I turn the rotor the parking brakes still rub and eventually they grab and I cannot turn the rotor any more.
I figured bad new rotors; but I put the old ones on and got the same results. I am stumped. Then adjuster has no more adjuster left in it, it's bottomed out.
Argh. I am guessing I need to maybe grind the end of the shoe, the piece that sits on the floating adjuster. It's the only thing I can think of next to machining the rotors.
However, when I turn the rotor the parking brakes still rub and eventually they grab and I cannot turn the rotor any more.
I figured bad new rotors; but I put the old ones on and got the same results. I am stumped. Then adjuster has no more adjuster left in it, it's bottomed out.
Argh. I am guessing I need to maybe grind the end of the shoe, the piece that sits on the floating adjuster. It's the only thing I can think of next to machining the rotors.
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Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 16,795
Likes: 62
From: Lake Havasu City, AZ
no don't grind.... you should be fine.... just put the wheel on and drive it... when you adjust the wheel manually and bang things with a hammer the shoes are usually moved off center i.e. the two are not perfectly circular.
When you drive it, reverse and forward they will adjust for concentricity but not for diameter... if they do not bind somewhat at the stage you are , once the car is driven there will be too much slack and the parking brake will not hold.
When you drive it, reverse and forward they will adjust for concentricity but not for diameter... if they do not bind somewhat at the stage you are , once the car is driven there will be too much slack and the parking brake will not hold.
