Attempting my first brake job. i have the caliper (front) off and supported out of the way but the effing rotor will not budge. any help or tips would be greatly appreciated!

 

put it back together unless you have a way to have them pressed off. you need a several ton press to get them off the hub assembly, the rears can be done with a screw driver

 

Did you remove the rotor alignment screws???



Then Use a HAMMER...

 

the screws are soaking right now. everything is rusted to hell so im assuming they are either going to strip or break... i do not have an impact gun. is going to be doable without one? sorry for the no0bness. i learn everything by doing. i've solo replaced a full coilover suspension and was told this was cake in comparison so i figured i'd try and tackle it.

 

use a chisel to turn out the screws

 

You can always drill the head off, remove the rotor then remove the rest of the screws with vise grips or pliers. The screws don't need to be reinstalled as the car will be perfectly fine without them. If, after removing the screws, one way or another, and the rotor won't come off, put lug nuts back on to protect the studs and hit all the studs on the flat part of the rotor. That will break up the rust behind the rotor. Once off, make certain the hub is clean before installing the new rotors. Even though you're replacing the rotors, I don't recommend wacking the back side of the rotors to get them off as that creates too much stress on the hub bearings.

 

oh btw i am replacing with rotora drilled/slotted oe replacement rotors. why dont the screws need to be put back on btw?

 

Not true. Follow Rodney's advice. You need to get the alignment screw out. A cheap impact screwdriver ($10-20) should do the trick or you can simply drill out the head and use vice-grips or something similar to remove the rest after the rotor is off. The screw isn't actually important, but you can get new ones at the dealer for under $1.

 

OP, (Holy Crap, doesn't anyone search anymore??)

There are 3-4 great DIYs with photos and service manual scans in the Garage.

The retainer screws are only used to hold the rotors on while the car goes down the assembly line (before they get to the part where the tires/wheels are put on the car, the rotors would fall off without the retainer screws). You don't need them. Just drill them out and be done with them. Been there, done that. This is indeed a very easy job. You'll see, now that you know how to take care of those pesky retainer screws.

 

thanks for the explanation about the screws. i didnt think to do a search about the screws. as for the DIY's i have links to them in my old thread but did not really get a clear one about hte rotors. its has been pretty straight forward, just the rotor being stubborn is all but again thanks for confirming the lack of necessity for the screws. i will get back at it when i get home from work.

 

wtf are you talking about??? The retention screws can be a PITA but if an impact driver doesn't do the job a drill will. If you use an impact driver.. tighten it first then loosen.. agreed, the retention screws aren't needed. If you do replace them, use some thread grease on them.

 

The easiest way to do it is using 2 hammers, works for me every time.
Get a ball pin hammer and a bigger hammer, put the ball end of the hammer on the screw and hammer it with the other hammer like 2 times, then just try loosening it with a regular Phillips screwdriver.
If it doesn't turn just try hitting it a couple if more times.