R32: Stuck Trying To Remove Rear Rotor

[cowie165]

Hi again SAUers.

The rear disc won't play the game. I assume the parkbrake pads are inside the disc or something because the sucker won't come off and I can see springs and a flathead screw through the hole under the tiny rubber boot.

What is the trick please??

Thanks in advance, nearly done now

[MerlinTheHapyPig]

make sure handbrake is released (duh)

and there are 2 screw holes near the centre of the rotor. you screw correct size bolts into those, and it pushes off the rotor.

It is hard to get off because the handbrake shoes are tight against the inside of the rotor.

[SteveL]

The rear disc won't play the game. I assume the parkbrake pads are inside the disc or something because the sucker won't come off and I can see springs and a flathead screw through the hole under the tiny rubber boot.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

If the disc is loose on the studs then it's probably being held in by wear caused by the park brake shoes. If you look through that hole for the rubber bung at some point in the rotation you'll see a toothed wheel. That's the auto adjuster for the park brake shoes. You need to stick a suitable screwdriver through the hole and 'back off' the shoes to get sufficient clearance. Can't remember which way you turn it, but if you go the wrong way things will just get tighter.

OTOH if the disk is still tight on the studs you should be able to see 2 tapped holes in the surface of the disc that locates against the hub. Try screwing in a 6mm thread bolt (10mm hex head) into each of the those holes. gradually tightening them should eventually cause the disk to break free. Giving the disk a rap with a rubber mallet also helps if it's a bit stubborn.

[cowie165]

THanks Merlin, thanks again Steve. The disc is still tight on the studs. I have applied a fair bit of mallet without success

Just to confirm, if the handbrake is released, there is nothing that should be keeping the disc on the studs? Do I need to unscrew anything through the hole behind the rubber bung?

I think I'll have to see if I can find some 6mm bolts.

Thanks again, I'll give those ideas a try.

[MerlinTheHapyPig]

even with handbrake released, there is still some pressure from the shoes, which is what is making the disc hard to get out. If you have caliper off, nothing else to unbolt/unscrew. don't touch the drum brake components unless you have to, because they are a pain to work on (watch out for springs hitting u in the face etc!), and you probably won't remember how they went back together again.

The rubber bung thing is so you can access the handbrake adjustment thingo. if you don't have any luck with the bolts, you can try backing off the handbrake adjustment using this, but best to leave it alone if you can help it. (if you rotate the rotor so this hole is on bottom i think, you should see the handbrake adjuster, which is what stevel is talking about

Also, go easy with the rubber mallet if you are re-using the rotor, because the metal surface of the rotor is relatively soft and you can put dents in it with a mallet. You shouldn't need to bash it, just use the 2 screws trick.

Edited December 5, 2005 by MerlinTheHapyPig

[cowie165]

Thanks Merlin, just walked back upstairs with a big smile on my dial.

For future reference, the two brake bracket retaining bolts are 6mm with a 12mm head

The flathead screw I could see (and undid ) turned out to be a retaining pin for one of the handbrake shoes. And those undersize, grooved, pitted, corroding rotors are happily going into the bin!

Is it worth giving the handbrake shoes a light sand to tidy them up? THey are covered in all sorts of filth. Maybe just a squirt of brakekleen?

[Neil]

Just some tips for anyone else that has the same problem.

The bolts you use to get the discs off should be high-tensile bolts. Theres nothing worse than breaking the bolt off,,,major pain.

If you really have to back the handbrake adjuster off,,,Try doing it at the lever first.

Brake cleaner is your friend,,,use it liberally.

Neil.

[siksII]

on a r33 the front disks use 9mm bolts to push them off, 9mm bolts are NEXT TO IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND!!!! i looked for hours at 7 different places for them, in the end a friend had a few that came with a pulley puller kit.