Removing front rotors?
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix AZ
Removing front rotors?
OK, I've got the caliper out of the way and the pads out, but do I need to remove the caliper bracket to get the rotors off? Those 13/16 bolts will not budge!
The whole reason I'm removing them is to get them turned because the front pass. side has a grove wore in it from the pads. I've never seen this before. I could have swore it was going to be from the metal pad replace indicator, but I have at least .25" worth of pad left before I even get to that point.
Should I even bother turning the rotors or just replace the pads?
Thanks!
The whole reason I'm removing them is to get them turned because the front pass. side has a grove wore in it from the pads. I've never seen this before. I could have swore it was going to be from the metal pad replace indicator, but I have at least .25" worth of pad left before I even get to that point.
Should I even bother turning the rotors or just replace the pads?
Thanks!
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 22,136
Likes: 23
From: In the woods looking for my thrown putter.
St. Jude Donor '13, '15
You probably just got a pebble between the pad and the rotor. My original rotors had several small grooves in them from small pebbles getting stuck between the pad and rotor. I didn't notice any change in braking.
If you just put new pads on they will conform to the shape of the rotor. As far as having them turned thats up to you. I don't know the depth of the groove so I can't comment.
The caliper bracket does need to come off to remove the rotor. They are torqued to 125 ft./lbs so it will take some effort to get them off. Per the service manual you are not supposed to re-use the caliper bracket bolts once they are removed. Evidently they are torque to yield bolts. Several people including myself have re-used them without issue. I was going to replace mine but nobody had them in stock. If you do re-use them make sure you clean all the old loc-tite off and reapply with loc-tite. Don't remeber if you are supposed to use red or blue but maybe someone else will chime in.
If you just put new pads on they will conform to the shape of the rotor. As far as having them turned thats up to you. I don't know the depth of the groove so I can't comment.
The caliper bracket does need to come off to remove the rotor. They are torqued to 125 ft./lbs so it will take some effort to get them off. Per the service manual you are not supposed to re-use the caliper bracket bolts once they are removed. Evidently they are torque to yield bolts. Several people including myself have re-used them without issue. I was going to replace mine but nobody had them in stock. If you do re-use them make sure you clean all the old loc-tite off and reapply with loc-tite. Don't remeber if you are supposed to use red or blue but maybe someone else will chime in.
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 99
Likes: 0
From: hilton head is. sc
OK, I've got the caliper out of the way and the pads out, but do I need to remove the caliper bracket to get the rotors off? Those 13/16 bolts will not budge!
The whole reason I'm removing them is to get them turned because the front pass. side has a grove wore in it from the pads. I've never seen this before. I could have swore it was going to be from the metal pad replace indicator, but I have at least .25" worth of pad left before I even get to that point.
Should I even bother turning the rotors or just replace the pads?
Thanks!
The whole reason I'm removing them is to get them turned because the front pass. side has a grove wore in it from the pads. I've never seen this before. I could have swore it was going to be from the metal pad replace indicator, but I have at least .25" worth of pad left before I even get to that point.
Should I even bother turning the rotors or just replace the pads?
Thanks!
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix AZ
You probably just got a pebble between the pad and the rotor. My original rotors had several small grooves in them from small pebbles getting stuck between the pad and rotor. I didn't notice any change in braking.
If you just put new pads on they will conform to the shape of the rotor. As far as having them turned thats up to you. I don't know the depth of the groove so I can't comment.
The caliper bracket does need to come off to remove the rotor. They are torqued to 125 ft./lbs so it will take some effort to get them off. Per the service manual you are not supposed to re-use the caliper bracket bolts once they are removed. Evidently they are torque to yield bolts. Several people including myself have re-used them without issue. I was going to replace mine but nobody had them in stock. If you do re-use them make sure you clean all the old loc-tite off and reapply with loc-tite. Don't remeber if you are supposed to use red or blue but maybe someone else will chime in.
If you just put new pads on they will conform to the shape of the rotor. As far as having them turned thats up to you. I don't know the depth of the groove so I can't comment.
The caliper bracket does need to come off to remove the rotor. They are torqued to 125 ft./lbs so it will take some effort to get them off. Per the service manual you are not supposed to re-use the caliper bracket bolts once they are removed. Evidently they are torque to yield bolts. Several people including myself have re-used them without issue. I was going to replace mine but nobody had them in stock. If you do re-use them make sure you clean all the old loc-tite off and reapply with loc-tite. Don't remeber if you are supposed to use red or blue but maybe someone else will chime in.
I've got 31K on the stock rotors and feel no warping in the wheel or anything, so I'll let them live this time around. Next time, I'll be purchasing a 1/2" drive 21mm socket and breaker bar to get the caliper brackets off.Thanks for the replies!
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 22,136
Likes: 23
From: In the woods looking for my thrown putter.
St. Jude Donor '13, '15
After reading this, I decided to replace the pads only. I can live with one small grove. I've got 31K on the stock rotors and feel no warping in the wheel or anything, so I'll let them live this time around. Next time, I'll be purchasing a 1/2" drive 21mm socket and breaker bar to get the caliper brackets off.
Thanks for the replies!
I've got 31K on the stock rotors and feel no warping in the wheel or anything, so I'll let them live this time around. Next time, I'll be purchasing a 1/2" drive 21mm socket and breaker bar to get the caliper brackets off.Thanks for the replies!
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 22,136
Likes: 23
From: In the woods looking for my thrown putter.
St. Jude Donor '13, '15
So the service manual says they must be replaced because they have loc-tite on them? Not saying you are wrong, but that doesn't seem to make much since. Anyway, I didn't replace mine and haven't had any trouble.
What does it say on exhaust manifold bolts, the are installed with loc-tite as well.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 6,444
Likes: 371
From: Maryville TN
St. Jude Donor '06-13,'16-'17, '19
My GUESS is that GM fears somebody will reuse these bolts without new locktite and have a brake issue because one or more of these bolts backed out and caused a problem.
Tom
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 22,136
Likes: 23
From: In the woods looking for my thrown putter.
St. Jude Donor '13, '15
How do you tell if a bolt is torque to yield or not? Did you read this somewhere? By the torque value/size? Material?
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix AZ
Well, after the pads were replaced, before the wheels went back on, the oil drain plug and filter were giving me a look like "Hey stupid!! Over here!!" So I took advantage of the situation and changed the oil. 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,847
Likes: 795
From: Longview Texas
If you buy the GM pads, on a lot of cars they will come with new bolts, and I agree it is just to make sure they get put back with loctite. I was going to replace the bracket bolts one time, and the dealer only carried one in stock, so I think even the dealer only replaces them if they break one.
Last edited by TEXHAWK0; Jul 27, 2008 at 10:14 PM.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 430
Likes: 0
From: Playa Vista CA
If you buy the GM pads, on a lot of cars they will come with new bolts, and I agree it is just to make sure they get put back with loctite. I was going to replace the bracket bolts one time, and the dealer only carried one in stock, so I think even the dealer only replaces them if they break one.
Drifting
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,659
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From: Las Vegas Location: Earth
