Brake rotor removal

[TheTopher]

So a couple weeks ago I was working on my ex girlfriend's car and for the life of me, I just could NOT get that damn brake rotor off. I tried every trick in the book, torch, penetrating oil (Several types) hammering, old fashioned tugging and pulling, and prying. Not a single one would budge it.


Finally I took a 10lb weight plate from my benchpress bar, put it against the wheel studs and then used a c clamp on one side to hold it tight against the rotor and put my ball joint press c clamp on the other side and popped it off that way.


My question is, does anybody make a tool similar to the setup I used that doesn't require 5 hands to set up? I think it'd be pretty darn useful.



Edit: Just found this on amazon, but it's not quite what I was looking for. http://www.amazon.com/Eastwood-Brake-Drum-Remover/dp/B003IWTL6G/?tag=959media-20

 

[ranger_mclaren]

Do you actually mean rotor or do you mean drum and what kind of car? I always seem to have some trouble with drums. I love my focus drums they are held on with a bolt in the center i pull the dust cap off loosin and remove bolt and they slid right off.

 

[TheTopher]

I meant rotor, the rotor is what I was having trouble with. But it seems the tool is designed for drums.

I think I just found it

http://cgi.ebay.com/Brake-Drum-And-...430?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a5fc2aed6


Now I just need to see if anybody sells that thing for less.


The car was a 96 Integra with 4 wheel disc brakes.

 

[ranger_mclaren]

I'm tryin to thank back I used to have a '88 teg with 4 wheel disc... I cant't remember if I've ever changed the rotors in that. They are basicly the same set up... hold up I'll see if there is a tech section on a couple of teg forums i'm a member to.

http://www.g1teg.org

http://www.torontointegras.com

 

[ranger_mclaren]

Here ya go: http://forums.g2ic.com/tegtips/brakesus/5.html

 

[TheTopher]

Here ya go: http://forums.g2ic.com/tegtips/brakesus/5.html

Yes, I did make sure I removed those two screws




Why does everybody ask me that anytime I have a seized drum or rotor, is it really that uncommon of an occurrence that the drum/rotor gets seized to the hub?


Anyway I found the tool at that ebay posting I had linked earlier, I just wonder if there's some place that sells it for less than a hundred bucks.

 

[ranger_mclaren]

Yes, I did make sure I removed those two screws




Why does everybody ask me that anytime I have a seized drum or rotor, is it really that uncommon of an occurrence that the drum/rotor gets seized to the hub?


Anyway I found the tool at that ebay posting I had linked earlier, I just wonder if there's some place that sells it for less than a hundred bucks.

I've heard of it happening but I've never seen it. You otta try o'rielys or any other auto parts store they should have that tool or they can order it. Don't look much different from a pully puller just wider.

 

[TheTopher]

I've heard of it happening but I've never seen it. You otta try o'rielys or any other auto parts store they should have that tool or they can order it. Don't look much different from a pully puller just wider.

That was actually the only time it's ever happened with a rotor...the other two times it was with the left drum on my Ranger, and the right drum on my Ranger.


Managed to get those off with 20 minutes of hammering and PB blaster. This rotor was on there like it's life depended on it.


I've been googling around and seen a lot of other pullers...none of them seem like they would grip quite so well. Since they come down at an angle instead of straight across (Kinda hard to explain what I mean). I've never had to use one before though, so I'm a little clueless as to what makes a good puller or a bad puller. Got any recommendations?

 

['99 EB Explorer]

I had similar trouble working on my wife's 2001 civic. They're held on by a brass(who the hell uses brass?!) bolt that strips as soon as you try taking it off. Thankfully her brother is a machinist and managed to get them off. He said they were still a major pain in the ass after the bolts came out tho.

 

[TheTopher]

I had similar trouble working on my wife's 2001 civic. They're held on by a brass(who the hell uses brass?!) bolt that strips as soon as you try taking it off. Thankfully her brother is a machinist and managed to get them off. He said they were still a major pain in the ass after the bolts came out tho.

The Integra has two screws that hold the rotor on, which I removed. Then it still wouldn't budge until I used the c clamp and the press.



Funny thing is, I bought that car four and a half years ago and sold it to her two years ago, it never once gave me a problem like this while I had it, or any of the other times I maintained it for her. I think I might start putting a coating of brake grease or anti seize (something I probably should have been doing anyway) on hubs before I start installing rotors and drums because this was a royal PITA. It'd still be nice to have the tool, since it seems like I've got bad luck with these things.