Emergency Brake Emergency!
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 543
Likes: 1
Emergency Brake Emergency!
I need your help. I am in the process of replacing the rotors on my 2001 'vette. Everything went as expected untill I got to removing the rear rotors. They were stuck solid to the wheel hubs. I sprayed WD-40 on the hubs and after a few minutes, I got the right rotor loosened and off. On the left side, I was able to loosen the rotor by gently tapping the perimeter of the rotor with a rubber hammer. When the rotor did come off, so did the emergency brake shoe and its v-shaped hold-down spring which holds the shoe to the backing plate. My emergency is I do not know how to reassemble the emergency brake shoe and hold-down spring to the backing plate. I know how they fasten together, however, the wheel hub is directly in front of where it goes on the backing plate. Do I need to remove the wheel hub? If so, how? If not, what do I do?
If you can help me get my car back on all four wheels, I am greatfull.
I will wait right here...................
Roger T
If you can help me get my car back on all four wheels, I am greatfull.
I will wait right here...................
Roger T
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 7,050
Likes: 7
From: Canadian Rockies
Never done it myself but check out the following thread. You might find it useful :
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=2004844
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=2004844
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,332
Likes: 31
From: Silver Spring MD
Don't take off the hub - its a fun job but I did it
I had the same experiance. Was ALMOST able to get the spring on, got one side of the spring but couldn't catch the other side. You need a SPRING HOOK. A long thin tool with a J shaped hook on one end. Finally bought several at Harbor Freight after trying Sears and using their hooks to no avail. If you look at the hub you will see an EXTRA HOLE drilled into the hub which is in just the right place to get a spring hook into. I played with the spring for about a half hour hooking one end on one of the raised metal catches then put the shoe on and used the spring hook thru the extra hole in the hob to FINALLY slip the other end of the spring over the catch at the other end of the spring. Don't remember which one I caught first as I tried it dozens of times. The GM service manual says replace spring or something like that. They must assume you have done this hundreds of times before.
Get one that has a hook on it and will fit into the hub hole. Don't get something too big. The diagrams on the post above are great but I did it kinda by trial ane error.
Good luck.
Have a bottle of scotch or a six pack or two handy when you finish.
You will need them!!!!
BIGHANK
Get one that has a hook on it and will fit into the hub hole. Don't get something too big. The diagrams on the post above are great but I did it kinda by trial ane error.
Good luck.
Have a bottle of scotch or a six pack or two handy when you finish.
You will need them!!!!
BIGHANK
Last edited by bighank; May 5, 2008 at 03:57 PM.
