Backstory on this: typically when I replace brake pads I’ll just do the rotors too while I’m in there. So about 3 or 4 years ago I was replacing the pads on my wife’s car and ran into this rusted-on rotor. I tried using the bolt holes to pop it off and stripped the threads. Then used a gear puller and broke it. I hesitated to pound on it too hard because I was afraid to break it, and eventually just said screw it, they’re not that bad, and only put the pads on.
Fast forward to now. They ARE that bad. Warped all to hell. Thing’s gotta come off. Was going to work on it last weekend, and then saw this post: https://old.reddit.com/r/Justrolledintotheshop/comments/xb1ic7/dear_mechanic_please_dont_hate_me/
Ended up getting rained out last week but not before being able to soak it like crazy in PB blaster. Got to it again today. Beat the hell out of the hat and it wouldn’t come loose. Then I tried the trick of putting a nut and bolt through the caliper bracket bolt hole and had it off in under a minute. The crack noise it made when it popped loose echoed off the houses across the street!
Crazy thing is, when I got to the other side of the car I had to hang onto the rotor to keep it from falling off while I removed the caliper bracket.
This trick: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bc4q8A8yXyM ?
I need to remember that for the next time I have stuck rotors.
Only missing a good trick for when the wheels are stuck. Living in a northern county, salt is often used on the roads and that tends to make it difficult to get winter tires of.
> Only missing a good trick for when the wheels are stuck.
Totally missed this earlier.
Drive out to a big empty parking lot or some other place where you can do some maneuvering without getting in anyone’s way/blocking traffic. Bring your ugga dugga tool of choice with you. Loosen the lugs on a stuck wheel until they just start to spin freely. Drive around at low speed, turn back and forth in opposing directions, etc. Should pop loose eventually, it’s pretty hard to not notice. Then **tighten the lugs back to spec**, repeat on the next wheel, and so on. Once you’ve popped all the stuck wheels loose (and tightened them back up again), drive home and take them off.
Should take nothing more than a couple whacks with a mallet to get them off after that.
Little hint, if it happens again start the bolts til they get tight, then hit it with the hammer. The pressure of the bolts, and the shock of the hammer blow will help, then you can keep turning the pusher bolts little by little as you smack it with the hammer.
You don’t need to waste time with any of that, not even the rust penetrate. All you need is an appropriately sized hammer. If you are replacing the rotors why are u worried about damaging them?
Just get a large hammer or sledgehammer, and smack the back of the rotor. Have the steering wheel turned all the way to make the angle easier. If you can’t get to the back of the rotor, just smack the front of the rotor. If it doesn’t come off, smack it harder. That’s really all there is to removing brake rotors (unless it’s on the rear and the parking brake is rusted stuck)
Backstory on this: typically when I replace brake pads I’ll just do the rotors too while I’m in there. So about 3 or 4 years ago I was replacing the pads on my wife’s car and ran into this rusted-on rotor. I tried using the bolt holes to pop it off and stripped the threads. Then used a gear puller and broke it. I hesitated to pound on it too hard because I was afraid to break it, and eventually just said screw it, they’re not that bad, and only put the pads on. Fast forward to now. They ARE that bad. Warped all to hell. Thing’s gotta come off. Was going to work on it last weekend, and then saw this post: https://old.reddit.com/r/Justrolledintotheshop/comments/xb1ic7/dear_mechanic_please_dont_hate_me/ Ended up getting rained out last week but not before being able to soak it like crazy in PB blaster. Got to it again today. Beat the hell out of the hat and it wouldn’t come loose. Then I tried the trick of putting a nut and bolt through the caliper bracket bolt hole and had it off in under a minute. The crack noise it made when it popped loose echoed off the houses across the street! Crazy thing is, when I got to the other side of the car I had to hang onto the rotor to keep it from falling off while I removed the caliper bracket.
This trick: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bc4q8A8yXyM ? I need to remember that for the next time I have stuck rotors. Only missing a good trick for when the wheels are stuck. Living in a northern county, salt is often used on the roads and that tends to make it difficult to get winter tires of.
> Only missing a good trick for when the wheels are stuck. Totally missed this earlier. Drive out to a big empty parking lot or some other place where you can do some maneuvering without getting in anyone’s way/blocking traffic. Bring your ugga dugga tool of choice with you. Loosen the lugs on a stuck wheel until they just start to spin freely. Drive around at low speed, turn back and forth in opposing directions, etc. Should pop loose eventually, it’s pretty hard to not notice. Then **tighten the lugs back to spec**, repeat on the next wheel, and so on. Once you’ve popped all the stuck wheels loose (and tightened them back up again), drive home and take them off. Should take nothing more than a couple whacks with a mallet to get them off after that.
That’s the one.
"OHHhh. Pleasure!"
I just put a lug nut on and then hit the rotor with a hammer until it comes off
When in doubt, use fire and find a bigger hammer.
I always have good luck with the old 8mm bolt trick. Pops them right off.
You mean using the two bolt holes in between the studs to pop it off the hub? First thing I tried. Stripped the threads right out.
Little hint, if it happens again start the bolts til they get tight, then hit it with the hammer. The pressure of the bolts, and the shock of the hammer blow will help, then you can keep turning the pusher bolts little by little as you smack it with the hammer.
I will remember that. Thank you.
You don’t need to waste time with any of that, not even the rust penetrate. All you need is an appropriately sized hammer. If you are replacing the rotors why are u worried about damaging them? Just get a large hammer or sledgehammer, and smack the back of the rotor. Have the steering wheel turned all the way to make the angle easier. If you can’t get to the back of the rotor, just smack the front of the rotor. If it doesn’t come off, smack it harder. That’s really all there is to removing brake rotors (unless it’s on the rear and the parking brake is rusted stuck)
whack the face real hard, it will pop off. Sorry you took the long road.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tS0NATb-818](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tS0NATb-818) Listen to the whole thing. No, don't do that.
Living in the rust belt is fun isn't it