How to remove brake rotor from wheel hub?

Question

I have all the parts unscrewed, wheel and caliper.  I have taken a rubber mallet and beaten the brake rotor for a good 30 minutes.  I have even let liquid wrench soak in between the two parts to help break the rotor free.  Kung Fu kick and beating on the rotor will not help removed seized rotor.  Any general maintenance advice on how to break a rotor free?

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Martin, a hammer indeed!  

I grew up on a farm.  Worked part time welding and fabricating in a small independent farm equipment manufacturer.

We had a saying "if you have a big enough hammer, and a hot enough torch you can make anything fit".  The same goes for dis-assembly.

I don't think that you will need an alignment.  Think about the abuse the font end gets just going down the road, while supporting the weight of the car.  The hammer is nothing.

Mark

fackelman · Answer

Removing Brake Rotors

commendatore · Answer

Rotor Stuck On Hub

Anonymous · Answer

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RE:
How to remove brake rotor from wheel hub?
I have all the parts unscrewed, wheel and caliper.  I have taken a rubber mallet and beaten the brake rotor for a good 30 minutes.  I have even let liquid wrench soak in between the two parts to help break the rotor free.  Kung Fu kick and beating on the rotor will not help removed seized rotor. ...

Country Boy · Answer

I hate to mention this but make year and model is VERY relevant. All manufactures with rear wheel drive cars have a unitized rotor wheel hub. You must remove the grease cap remove the cotter key and nut before removing the hub disc brake rotor and wheel bearings. If your car is all wheel or front wheel drive heat ( acetylene / oxygen torch) may need to be applied to the rotor hub to kick it loose from the back side without any brake caliper or brake caliper bracket in the way. A big dead blow hammer and heat always does the trick.

Ron B · Answer

If they are rusted together, about the only way you'll get them apart is to heat the rotor with a cutting torch around where the studs come though. Hopefully the heat will swell the rotor and break the rust bond. Of course you'll need to buy new rotors after you do that.

JT B ford man · Answer

Is it front wheel drive?? what make and model?? need more info, However if it is front wheel drive There are 3 gray locking nuts on the studs they are real thin take your pliers and remove them and throw them away they are put on at the factory th hold rotor on while installing caliper, hope this helps.

nuckolbuster51 · Answer

the only way to get your rotor off your hub is to lay it on 2 blocks of wood and put a piece of steel on the hub itself and beat it with a big hammer and no that will not knock your alignment out because it is off the car

mister ss · Answer

It would help to know the type of car, is it front wheel drive or rear wheel?, if rear wheel drive you have to take a nut and bearings out to get it off.

Pops · Answer

Let see.   

First off, remove the wheel. 
 
Second, take the bolts out of the caliper.and using a piece of rope or wire, hang it above the hub.  Do not let is hang on the brake hose.

Third, remove the nut that holds the wheel on.
At that point the rotor should just slip off.

If that doesn't work, take it to a repairmen     Pops

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How to remove brake rotor from wheel hub?

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