Rusted rotors ?

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Murdoc
Posts: 46
Joined: Wed Jan 25, 2012 8:36 pm

Rusted rotors ?

Post by Murdoc »

At 114,000 miles on my 03 vibe I'm starting to think about new front rotors. Had to replace a stud last weekend cause a lug seized up broke it off. Anyway I could not get the rotor off because its rusted to the hub. Anyone have any tricks to get the rotors off? I tried banging it with a hammer, even got a bigger hammer with no luck!
Salsa Guy
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Joined: Thu Oct 07, 2010 10:46 pm
Location: Greater Tulsa Area

Re: Rusted rotors ?

Post by Salsa Guy »

I had the same issue. Do a youtube search on how to remove rotors and there is a video showing how to use a couple of bolts and 4 nuts to pop them right off (on one side I had to give it one shot with a hammer also). It work for me because I tried everything including a torch and a bigger hammer. When you put them back on use a little anti-seize where the hub meets the rotor so next time it will not be such a pain (don't get any on the rotor surface).

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtsTJCRljAs[/youtube]
05 Matrix XR 4WD and 03 Vibe GT
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joatmon
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Re: Rusted rotors ?

Post by joatmon »

on my 03 with steelies, the rotors rust to the hub and the wheels rust to the rotor. I have sometimes had to resort to smacking the tire quite hard with a cinderblock to get it loose. Fortunately, that seems to also free up the rotor ;)

I think if you get a new rotor, it will still rust onto the hub. Brake induced heat, some moisture and bare steel, there's not a lot to do about it. Just smack it hard with something heavy. perhaps position a piece of wood so as to not scar the rotor surface. If you are replacing the rotors, then you don't need to worry about scarring the old ones

and be ABSOLUTELY SURE that the car won't slip off it's supports when you do.

I do not remember my front rotors having tapped holes to draw it off the hub. My rear brake drums do, but I don't think the front rotors do.
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