Camaro rear brake rotor removal

[CarloStu]

As some of you know, I have been trying to get my "Rusty Rotors" off the car with no success so far. After prowling through loads of threads on thirdgen.org it appears loads of people suffer from the same problem with rear discs on third gens. They are a tight fit even when new so the added 23 years of rust makes them almost impossible to remove with conventional methods.

My brakes definitely need changed as three of the discs are badly grooved - apart from the one that squeaks (the one I'm working on in these pics), lol. :rolleyes: No point putting new pads onto a grooved disc!

Stacko popped round yesterday to offer some advice/help (laughter/mocking :p) and he was equally stumped and advised me I'd be better off with simple drums like he has on his. :cool: I have to say, I agree!

Anyway I had another wee bash today as I had an idea to try a couple of c-clamps and a steel bar across the hub (see pics below).

Found out for sure I have a 9 bolt Borg Warner 2.77 rear end, which means I definitely have the slide on/off rotors. Strangely, I do not have "handed" calipers, they are both identical units on the back so NS is at the back of the rotor and OS is at the front - clearly a cost-saving GM decision but surely that would give crap balance? Also makes changing the pads on OS stupidly awkward!

Thankfully I managed to slacken my bleed nipples both sides, so when I come to replace the brake fluid I can bleed the system. :D Haven't checked up front yet... *touches wood*.

Here's the pics:

c-clamp and bar setup:

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z39/sbguitars/Camaro%20IROC-Z/DSC02623.jpg


Rustyness - wet patches from WD40 sprayed on yesterday, I sprayed more on today and left it to work its way in for a while before starting with the clamps:

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z39/sbguitars/Camaro%20IROC-Z/DSC02624.jpg


Bar and clamps in place - I gradually tightened them up until I could go no further and left for a bit, then slackened and turned the rotor 1/5 then re-fitted the bar. Repeated this about 3 or 4 full 360 degree rotations and no movement at all:

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z39/sbguitars/Camaro%20IROC-Z/DSC02649.jpg


Close up:

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z39/sbguitars/Camaro%20IROC-Z/DSC02645.jpg


Another view:

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z39/sbguitars/Camaro%20IROC-Z/DSC02646.jpg


I'm really glad I've given it a shot, but happy to let a garage do the job for me, as I don't want to beat the crap out of them with a sledge hammer as I hear that can risk ruining your axle. For what should really be a pretty mundane routine-maintenance task, it's a bit of a PITA.

[quattrothedog]

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/29/91980377_3a0bad5071.jpg

[gordonbradford]

big hammer stu! seriously!

[CarloStu]

Lol guys, so it would seem! Someone on thirdgen just replied to my post there with this: "with a big enough hammer anythings possible :)"

If/when I am certain I won't knacker my axle I will beat the ****er senseless.

[quattrothedog]

He said.............

I have been trying to get my nipples changed.
Stacko popped round yesterday to offer some c-clamps and a steel bar.

I definitely have the slide on/off nipples both sides, so when I come to touch wood, Rustyness - wet patches.

[GTODave]

Lol guys, so it would seem! Someone on thirdgen just replied to my post there with this: "with a big enough hammer anythings possible :)"

If/when I am certain I won't knacker my axle I will beat the ****er senseless.

Good idea with the bar Stu, but as people have saaid, you're going to have to "shock" it, ie hit it with a big hammer, set it up with the bar and clamps again then give the bar a good hard hit.

[quattrothedog]

He said...............

Good idea with the bar Stu, but shock it with a big hammer, set it up with the clamps again, then give it a good hard hit.

[CarloStu]

Lol Bob, I went back to see what I actually said! I was choosing my words carefully as I knew you'd be on me like a rampant dog for innuendos. Oh, bugger... :D

Cheers Dave :) I'll try that next time, failing that I'll just smack the rotor surface on opposing sides all the way round until it pops off.

[quattrothedog]

He said..............
knew you'd be on me like a rampant dog

Cheers Dave :) I'll smack it until it pops off.

[stubee]

You said nipples........miss that one Bob?

[CarloStu]

After all your encouraging words (cheers folks :):worship:) I decided to have a quick bash this morning... So I dragged myself out of bed, shoveled some cereal and a cup of tea into my gob and had the tools out, the car jacked up and wheel off in about five minutes! Then I removed the caliper, squirted a wee bit more WD40 round the hub and studs and gave it the beans with the hammer (hitting opposing sides, a few times on one and then a few times on the other). Didn't look like it was budging at all, so I got the bar and c-clamps back on and hit the bar (as GTODave suggested :worship:) in a left-right-left-right-left-right rythm and it MOVED! It actually MOVED! :eek:

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z39/sbguitars/Camaro%20IROC-Z/DSC02661.jpg


Had to keep repeating this about 6 or 7 times and I got it right up flush with the hub.

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z39/sbguitars/Camaro%20IROC-Z/DSC02663.jpg


I could go no further with the bar and clamps, so I got a block of wood on the back corner of the rotor and "firmly tapped" it a few times, rotating every so often...

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z39/sbguitars/Camaro%20IROC-Z/DSC02668.jpg


And then FINALLY I had it, like separating Siamese Twins, it was glorious!

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z39/sbguitars/Camaro%20IROC-Z/DSC02669.jpg


In the words of Boris from Goldeneye: "YES! I AM EENVEENCEEBLE!" :D

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z39/sbguitars/Camaro%20IROC-Z/DSC026711.jpg


On with the shiny shiny:

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z39/sbguitars/Camaro%20IROC-Z/DSC02676.jpg


All back together; "Like a glooooove!":

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z39/sbguitars/Camaro%20IROC-Z/DSC02677.jpg


Only took me about 45 minutes, now I know exactly what to do on the other side, although the caliper being at the front on the off side makes removal very tricky due to the handbrake cable having next to no play at all. Might be an idea to remove it. Anyway, it feels sooooo good having at least one corner done and dusted!

Off with the old and on with the new! "Great success! Eees naice!"

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z39/sbguitars/Camaro%20IROC-Z/DSC02682.jpg

[stackofire]

Finally!!! Well done Stu... Only another three to go :)

[stubee]

The old ones look fine to me Stu, well done and remember to copper grease the points where the inside of the rotor touch the hub to save the next owner your grief.

[CarloStu]

Cheers Mike, aye but one less to do! ;)

Thanks Stu, this one was actually not too bad really, but the other three are really badly grooved.
Surprised this one isn't, maybe it was replaced at some point...
Gordy recommended I change the lot anyway and I'm going to get some new brake fluid in too.
Aye I will get some copper grease in there sometime soon, Stacko mentioned that to me as well.

[superbeat]

Well done Carlo!!!:worship::worship::worship:x

[GT350]

good stuff

[quattrothedog]

Why are those inner arches not coated with rubber ?

[CarloStu]

Thanks Si and Jav. :) And err, what you mean Bob? :confused:

[GTODave]

There ya go :D

Well done that man;)

Come on then, it was a nice day today, where are the rest of the pics of you doing the other three:confused:

[GTODave]

and err, what you mean bob? :confused:

burnoooooooooooooooot;)

[CarloStu]

There ya go :D

Well done that man;)

Come on then, it was a nice day today, where are the rest of the pics of you doing the other three:confused:

Cheers Dave. :D Aye was a stunning day, but I had to go to work soon after so only had time for one. :(

burnoooooooooooooooot;)

Gordon doesn't drive it anymore! :p

[CarloStu]

Perhaps I needed something to go bang for some inspiration... :p
I finally fitted OS rear rotor and pads today and Stacko popped round for a bit to show me his working car! :D:worship: Also to look at my radiator and pull my Service Engine light code - turns out there is no code, just the code "12" standard pre-code flash so something is afoot, I shall consult the thirdgen.org crew. When Stacko turned on the ignition (didn't start the engine) I could swear the fan was louder - or should I say fanS! Aye they were both running together fine and dandy. I still doubt the secondary fan has been on when running so maybe there's a relay issue or something. I doubt it's the head gasket as I'm sure it would have over heated before the radiator going...

Anyway, brakes! Used the same bar and c-clamp method I used first time and it came off fairly easily, just needed a little persuasion. :D There's a little wire retainer thing that slips over the piston and holds the inner pad in place, which I managed to re-fit on the other side but it just would not go on today on the other side! I got bored of trying so left the stupid thing off. The pad is still held firmly in place but the caliper bolts and the brackets on the pad itself.

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z39/sbguitars/Camaro%20IROC-Z/DSC028761.jpg
http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z39/sbguitars/Camaro%20IROC-Z/DSC028751.jpg
http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z39/sbguitars/Camaro%20IROC-Z/DSC028741.jpg
http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z39/sbguitars/Camaro%20IROC-Z/DSC028771.jpg
http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z39/sbguitars/Camaro%20IROC-Z/DSC028781.jpg
http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z39/sbguitars/Camaro%20IROC-Z/DSC02882.jpg
http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z39/sbguitars/Camaro%20IROC-Z/DSC028841.jpg
http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z39/sbguitars/Camaro%20IROC-Z/DSC028871.jpg


After Stacko left I finished off the brake job just before it got dark:

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z39/sbguitars/Camaro%20IROC-Z/DSC02891.jpg
http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z39/sbguitars/Camaro%20IROC-Z/DSC02892.jpg
http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z39/sbguitars/Camaro%20IROC-Z/DSC02893.jpg

[stackofire]

Shiny :D Well done Stu...

[CarloStu]

Shiny and symmetrical! Thanks Mike. :)