Replaced all 4 rotors today. Question about rubber piece in rotor
 

Just wanted to thank everyone on the forum for helping me on this job. I just have one question:
What is the reason for the rubber gromet piece in the original rear rotor. It does not seem to be serving any purpose. In the image its on the top right (black)

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p...2/IMG_0679.jpg


I got the brakes from ebay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/390402517787...84.m1439.l2649

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p...2/IMG_0680.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p...2/IMG_0631.jpg

The rubber grommet serves a purpose...it covers the hole to access your parking brake cable spindle.

When you turn the rotor until the grommet hole is at the 6 o'clock position....looki inside the hole...you will see a horizontal spindle which can be tuned up or down using a flat head screwdriver. This will either tighten or loosen your parking brake cable.

How did you get those rear rotors off? Ive looked online and no luck.

Rubber mallet.
:D

AKA the BFH. No garage is complete without one. :thumbup:

Big Mack

Hell no...rubber mallet is NOT enough.

I used a 4 lb hammer....banged it from all angles until it got loose.

Pete

i call the hollow 3/4 2ft bar the "universal tool"

and the rubber mallet as the "convincer"

Shoooot, The rubber mallet didn't work for me either. I'll try the 4lb hammer next time. :D

Agreed, the mallet just pissed the rotor off. I'll go with the 4lb hammer next time around.

In all seriousness, there is a 2 step method of removing the rear rotors. First step has already been answered and it's not a hammer!!! Release the e-brake and you'll usually find that the e-brake is still slightly gripping the rotor. Remove the grommet, make sure you are at the 6 o'clock position and turn the spindle as described in the post above until the shoes no longer are gripping the rotor. Don't use a hammer to get the rotor loose from the rusty hub if it still won't budge. get a bolt and screw it into one of the threaded holes on the rotor and the rotor will pop loose in seconds - that's what the 2 holes are there for!

Chris

what size bolt is that? i remember having one that fits but i forgot the size.

I think it's an M8 1.25 thread. Don't quote me 100%.

Chris

Release the parking brake and it should come off with a little "motivation". I gave mine a few kicks and it came off.

It totally depends on the the car and how long they have been on there. If the e-brake has been adjusted recently, there may be enough resistance to prevent removal, hence the screwdriver on the sprocket wheel.

Chris

For the rears, make sure to loosen the parking brake, as it can make it impossible to take off the rotor. It should take no effort to take them off afterwards.

Don't hit it with a mallet, you may damage springs and cups that retain parking brake shoes.