Removing stuck brake rotors


'Big Brake' application questions? Please see the Big Brake Info page.

'Big Brake' install questions? Please see the Big Brake Install page.


This information is taken from the Talon Digest Archives, and was originally posted by Ian Jordan. Although I haven't personally used this technique, I wish I had, after cracking a rotor during my BigBrake install, and after hearing how well this technique worked. Here's his account, just cleaned up a bit:


I was doing the Big Brake upgrade a week or two ago, and I spent about two days trying to get the damned driver's side rotor off. I used the "bolt in the removal hole" trick, but, as expected, it just ripped off the face of the rotor. Big chunks of metal, rotor stayed on. I tried heat, slamming on the brakes with loose lugs, a rubber mallet, a 3lb hand sledge, a chisel, and just about everything else I could think of. The rotor never came off. I literally spent 15 hours trying to get it off. Just for more info, the size for the rotor removal holes is 8 x 1.25, not 8 x 1.0 as listed in the archives. Don't even bother though. Also, my '93 calipers have 10mm bleeder screws, while my friend's 95 have 7mm screws. That's info for Speedbleeder upgrades. 10mm all around for 1st gens, 7mm in the front for 2nd gens, 10 in the back. (TS- Actually, some of the later 1G BigBrakes also have 7mm bleeders, and some 2Gs might have 7mm in the back, so it is best to throw a wrench/socket on them to be sure.)

I'm an engineer so I engineered a solution. Here it is: The caliper bolts to the hub via two holes in the hub mounting bracket, right? Well, if you look carefully, these holes line up with the very inside of the rotor where the rotor and hat meet at a 90 degree angle. So I went out and bought 14mm bolts and nuts. I put these in the caliper bracket holes and tightened the whole system down. The idea is that the nut ends up pushing against the caliper mounting bracket, and the tip of the bolt pushes against the rotor. Use a box-end wrench to hold the nut, and turn the bolts with a ratchet and socket. Tighten the bolts very tight, and then let off. Rotate the rotor 90 degrees and tighten down again. Keep repeating this until the rotor walks off.

NOTE 1: Someone else has noted that 14mm bolts were too large, he used 12mm. He also used regular pitch 12mm bolts instead of fine pitch, they were much cheaper (the pitch used doesn't matter since you don't want them screwing into the bracket, you want them fitting loosely through the threads in the bracket)

NOTE 2: Someone else has noted that what worked the best was the super hard, pointed tip, OEM "knuckle to strut" nuts and bolts (part # - MB871888 - he had already removed them, and found they fit perfectly). Using these instead lets you tighten without worring about screwing up threads on the bolt (the tip is pointed with no threads at the end). Because it's pointed, it is suggested that you put a washer between the tip and the rotor, so you don't chip tiny pieces off of the rotor (trust him, it's strong enough to do that! :)

Removing rotors with 14mm bolts

This system worked great. I killed the first rotor trying to get it off, denting it, breaking it, and I spent forever doing this. Once I tried the bolts, it took 30 minutes. I went over to the passenger side, and it took 45 minutes, with no damage to the rotor except a couple very small dents where the bolt made contact with the rotor. Obviously I loosened the driver's side with all my pounding. The dents that were on the rotor are so close to the inside that they aren't in the path of the pad. The rotors would be reusable if they weren't so damn small :)

Other suggestions:

Anyway, anyone every trying to get a rotor of the front of a DSM should try this. It works fast, it doesn't trash rotors, and should be easier on the wheel bearings than pounding on the rotor for hours on end. Good luck!


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Last modified: Oct 26, 2000
Copyright 1998, Ian Jordan, 1999-2000 Tom Stangl
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