I have developed warped rotors and decided to upgrade to some OEM zinc plated cross drilled rotors.
I tried to remove the calipers from the car with a socket wrench. I purchased some penetrating oil...that didn't work...after 2hours, i quit.
This car was in Mass. for some time, so i guess a slight amount of rust as formed...It's only a 97 but ?..

Since i could only local an impact wrench at a friends house out of town..my next option was a breaker bar..I purchased a breaker bar with a 1/2"(not paying attention late at night). I had to get a 1/2" > 3/8" converter..I was getting exciting..thinking i could get them loosened up..I sprayed it down again with PB blaster oil...I thought i snapped the bolt head...instead it was the converter..known to be weak link.
http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/...6818owned2.jpg

Sunday, i tried locating a socket that would fit the 1/2" drive but there weren't any...
I bought a heavy duty converter with a life time warranty.
The guy at the store said to heat(via torch) the surrounding area and keep applying pressure.
If the front calipers are so hard to get off, I can't imagine what i'm going to go through for the rear rotors removal.

On a side note, i tried loosening the bolts on the caliper..because i will be doing the brakes when i change the rotor....well, I used a normal socket wrench with a smaller converted and did this..
http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/...6819owned1.jpg

Maybe it was a fluke thing..last saturday night...but...my car is only a 97...WTF?..I shouldn't have this much rust trouble!
Any advice would help.
BIGD

 

iv'e broken 2 of those 1/2 to 3/8 converters too. they seem to snap right around 150 ft/lbs
what bolts are you trying to get off? that is snapping those parts? the 14mm caliper bolts?

are you sure you are loosening them and not tighten ... go counter clock :P

can you get a deep socket 14 - 1/2?

I don’t really recommend using a wrench and then hitting it with a 3lb sludge.


all mine came off without any problems

 

lol, you have to be turning those the wrong way. Remember, its counter-clockwise FACING the bolt....so looking in towards the suspension it would actually be "clockwise"...if you catch my drift

 

invest in a breaker bar and some 1/2" drives. Remember the bigger the drive, the more torque will be transferred. Also, the bigger the bar, the more torque youll put on the bolt with less effort. i use a 16" one. Its just about perfect for the brakes. It can go onto the bolt and still have room to turn inside the wheel well. If you plan on doing work on your car, the best investment is a decent set of tools. Youll spend less on good tools that will last a while than on those 1/8" drive sockets and adapters replacing ones you break. I figured that out the hard way.

 

heres a start:

www.harborfreight.com

i bought a few breaker bars of different sizes, 1/2" drive impact sockets, 3/8"->1/2" adapters (so i could use the sockets on a regular rachet, 1/2"->3/8" adapters(so i could use regular sockets on the breaker bars), and a clicker torque wrench. I stay away from those 1/4" little sockets, ive gone through so many of those in my earlier days i could probably fill my trunk. Theyre cheap for a reason.

 

For a breaker bar, I just use my old crappy 1/2" drive "rod type" torque wrench. God that thing sucked for measuring torque, heres my advice to anyone: 1/2" drive 150 ft/lb CLICKER torque wrench

 

i bent one of those rod type ones. NEVER buy those.

 

Amen brother

 

oh my god...I think i remember trying to loosen it like a lug nut...but now that i think about it..it facing the opposite direction...i think i tried both directions before quitting..... I remember both times..trying counterclockwise..and very rarely clockwise....don't tell anyone.... again..
BIGd

 

let us know if you get them off

 

Hahaha, its ok, I wont tell anybody . Good luck getting em off

 

Your secret is safe with us!

BTW, I didn't have near as much trouble removing calipers as you. But then again a Texas car= no road salt.

 

it came right off with my impact guy but it didnt exactly fit in there that well and i ended up stripping the bolts as i was taking it out at an angle. i see no reason why u couldnt get it off with a 1/2 inch socket wrench. just spray some liquid wrench and start pulling up as that would be counter clock wise for a those 2 17mm bolts. if that fails you can most likely get the bottom bolt off by getting an extra jack and jacking up on the socket wrench handle. it should put the whole weight of the car on it but then it would be difficult to do with the top bolt. and it seams as though 1/2 socket wrench was a little tight fit for the top bolt too with all the stuff in the way. good luck and stop waiting your time on those adapters they break like nothing.

 

Well, i went to autozone and bought 1/2" drives (17mm and 14mm) just to eliminate the converter.....after some work turning in the right direction..they came loose..it was great!
The rotor was changed in 20min. The brake install was harder than expected...usually i just pry the pistons back between the pad and the piston..but..they extended back out slowly, by the time i got the new EBC green stuff brakes in...i had to work at it to get it back..but i got it done in 1.5hrs..

I took it around the block...yes..with only one installed...for the people who have slotted brakes...is that clicking noise normal?...i assume it's the brakes sliding over the slots....Will it every go away?

All i need now is a few nice gold LEXUS logos to go on to the stock calipers.
the Chrome version of my current rims are coming next week.
Here are some pictures..


Thanks for everyone's help...even on the stupid problems i had!
BIGd

 

Very clean! Those look great, and glad to hear you solved your problems. What brand rotors are those? And why dont I see any brake grease on the back of those pads...