emill713

I decided on Sunday to replace my pads and rotors for the first time since buying my HHR. I bought it with 32k miles on it and it just turned over 65k and the brakes were getting a bit noisy.

The calipers and mounts were off in less than 15 minutes and the rotors were doused with PB Blaster.

4 hours later and both rotors were still stuck on the car. I beat on them with every hammer i could find and nothing broke them free. I even had my father ( who is a lifelong mechanic and has had his own shop for 30+ years )come up to help and he could not get them off. Even he said that he had never seen a set of rotors stuck like these in his life.

As a last resort I went to google and found a youtube clip that suggested running a bolts through the caliper mounting bracket holes and using two nuts and washers to basically "push" the rotors off with a wrench a a ratchet.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtsTJCRljAs

It worked brilliantly and I was able to get my new rotors on. Just thought I would share this info as it would have saved me over 4 hours of wasted time beating on them with hammers. Hopefully this will spare someone else the aggravation I went through.

Blue_SS

Great idea.

I fear this on my car, too. I just had really corroded lug nuts and wheels that were stuck to the hubs when I rotated them last weekend. I'd be willing to bet I will need this tip when I go to do my brakes.

jaymz

Yes, this is the way to do it. I have one of those Ford F150 4X4s, and this methods works tits. Always coat contact area with antisieze before replacing with new rotors.

Another method is to use a sawzall to cut the rotor from edge to hub. Drive chisel in saw kerf and they'll come off.

Jim

dkessman

Thanks for the tip!

DaGrinch

I had basically the same issue with the front rotors on my '04 Jeep Grand Cherokee - some well placed heat on the rotors with a torch did the trick for me.

But I like this idea a lot better. Something I need to bookmark!

donbrew

But, was the real problem that nobody noticed the 2 push on washer/nuts on the studs? After I took those off, there is 1/16 inch play between the stud and the rotor.