Brake Rotor Upgrade How to (56k beware)
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: 08-23-2006
Posts: 1,720
From: So Cal
Brake Rotor Upgrade How to (56k beware)
I have had my set of R1 Concept's rotors for a few months and finally got around to
installing them during a tire rotation. It is pretty simple to do and looks great when done.
Here are the rotors: Drilled and slotted with zinc plating to prevent rust
Here is the before picture with the ugly rusting rotor in place.
Jacked up wheel off, time to get busy.
Looking at the back of the caliper there are 3 15mm bolts, 1 up top and 2 down below.
remove the 2 on the bottom and leave the top one in but finger loose.
They are VERY tight, I suggest using a 1/2 drive ratchet.
The bolt closest to the axel is Blue and 1" longer than the other 2 bolts just for reference.
The rotors are free floating on the hubs, so it is a matter of taking the remaining bolt out of the
caliper, sliding the caliper out of the way and removing the old rotor then sliding on the new one.
WARNING:You do not want to drop your caliper or let it hang from the brake line at all.
You can hang the caliper from an old coat hanger or set it on something that
won't stretch the brake line at all or like I did I held it one hand and replaced
the rotor with the other one. I did not change from the stock pads as they are at over
50% life still and I like the low dust factor with them so far. (that may change now)
The caliper slid back on with very little resistance and everything was re-installed without any issues.
The side by side of the rotors show just how much better they look compared to stock.
It is a great time to clean the wheels front and back to get that shine back into them.
So What do you do after an install like this?
You go for a Cruise
installing them during a tire rotation. It is pretty simple to do and looks great when done.
Here are the rotors: Drilled and slotted with zinc plating to prevent rust
Here is the before picture with the ugly rusting rotor in place.
Jacked up wheel off, time to get busy.
Looking at the back of the caliper there are 3 15mm bolts, 1 up top and 2 down below.
remove the 2 on the bottom and leave the top one in but finger loose.
They are VERY tight, I suggest using a 1/2 drive ratchet.
The bolt closest to the axel is Blue and 1" longer than the other 2 bolts just for reference.
The rotors are free floating on the hubs, so it is a matter of taking the remaining bolt out of the
caliper, sliding the caliper out of the way and removing the old rotor then sliding on the new one.
WARNING:You do not want to drop your caliper or let it hang from the brake line at all.
You can hang the caliper from an old coat hanger or set it on something that
won't stretch the brake line at all or like I did I held it one hand and replaced
the rotor with the other one. I did not change from the stock pads as they are at over
50% life still and I like the low dust factor with them so far. (that may change now)
The caliper slid back on with very little resistance and everything was re-installed without any issues.
The side by side of the rotors show just how much better they look compared to stock.
It is a great time to clean the wheels front and back to get that shine back into them.
So What do you do after an install like this?
You go for a Cruise
Senior Member
Joined: 05-19-2008
Posts: 878
From: San Diego
Thanks to TkHHR....
I just ordered my rotors from R1Concepts....a very nice bunch of folks.
My research showed that their prices were great, also.
BTW - for those who did not know, the rotors are the same for the
06, 07 and 08 HHR's. I had to ask, as their web site only lists the 2006.
Cajun
I just ordered my rotors from R1Concepts....a very nice bunch of folks.
My research showed that their prices were great, also.
BTW - for those who did not know, the rotors are the same for the
06, 07 and 08 HHR's. I had to ask, as their web site only lists the 2006.
Cajun
