Notices
86-95 Trucks & 4Runners 2nd/3rd gen pickups, and 1st/2nd gen 4Runners with IFS
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by: DashLynx

Time involved in changing out brake rotors?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 07-10-2009, 01:05 AM
  #1  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
Matt16's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 5,377
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
Time involved in changing out brake rotors?

Been busy with fishing trips and work and haven't researched this one much. Both rotors as they are both more warped than a certain dead celebrity.

Any tricks to getting the studs out of the rotor (or are they bolts)?
Old 07-10-2009, 01:11 AM
  #2  
Registered User
 
ovrrdrive's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 1,765
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Getting the rotors off would be easy if you didn't have to take the hubs off to get to them. And in getting the hubs off you have to deal with the infamous cone washers. If you've never taken them out they can be quite sticky. I just used a lot of heat and PB and fitted a socket over the loosened nut and tapped it with a hammer about 100 times and they came off. Be careful you don't ruin a stud when you do it. There's lot's of info on them on the forum if you search.

As for time to get the rotors off, if you've never done it before better leave yourself 3-4 hours for the job. After you've been in there you can get them both off in under an hour counting removing the tires.
Old 07-10-2009, 04:38 AM
  #3  
Banned
iTrader: (-1)
 
waskillywabbit's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 3
Received 19 Likes on 9 Posts
Read the FSM. Nothing to it. Cone washers come off easily with a brass drift, a 3 lb sledge and a mini flat head screwdriver.

I replaced the rotors on my 87 a while back when doing a brake job. Took maybe an hour a side and that was goofing off.

Old 07-10-2009, 08:20 AM
  #4  
Registered User
 
desertcamper67's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: San Diego
Posts: 1,145
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The cone washers are no problem. Just remember that any cones that don't have a nut threaded on will go flying off when they eventually start to loosen up. Their shape sends them flying out of the hub.
Old 07-10-2009, 08:41 AM
  #5  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
Matt16's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 5,377
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
I've taken off the hubs half a dozen times, never found the cone washers to be an issue in the least. If that's the toughest part, it should be a breeze. Thanks.
Old 07-10-2009, 09:22 AM
  #6  
Registered User
 
mrddk92's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Mt Vernon,WA
Posts: 235
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
When I did mine I didn't have a brass drift but I had a sst scrap about the same size. I just rouunded out the tip so it would stay on and a couple tapse with a hammer and they were out. Wasn't too hard lol. You should seen my rotor, the pad had totally worn and was grinding on the metal back of the pad.
Old 07-10-2009, 10:13 AM
  #7  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
Matt16's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 5,377
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
Did the pads last fall, but had just paid tuition, so no rotors or calipers for me. They both need replacing.

I thought I'd try rebuilding the callipers, but I have a feeling I'm going to get them apart and find out they're all rusted inside.
Old 07-10-2009, 10:17 AM
  #8  
Registered User
 
camo31_10.50's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Vian, OK
Posts: 5,334
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
idk about my toyota rotors..never taken them off..but i can get the rotors off my 1/2ton dodge 4x4 in about the same amount of time it took for me to read your post and me post this reply..
Old 07-10-2009, 10:26 AM
  #9  
Contributing Member
 
Jay351's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: maple ridge, British Columbia, Canada
Posts: 9,055
Likes: 0
Received 9 Likes on 5 Posts
Calipers are pretty cheap, like 80-90$ a side with your core...

Hey Matt, you got a 54mm socket?
Old 07-10-2009, 09:44 PM
  #10  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
Matt16's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 5,377
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
Sorry Jay, I don't have one. Doing your wheel bearings?
Old 07-10-2009, 11:01 PM
  #11  
Registered User
 
a4runnerfreak's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Grew up in S.C.V, So Cal.....now in Hampstead, NC
Posts: 4,592
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Can also use a 2 1/8 in socket as well. I'm in the middle of doing 2 (new to me form Nix99) front drive axles, new inner&outer bearings and my locking hub conversion.......
Old 07-10-2009, 11:16 PM
  #12  
Registered User
 
86tuning's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 738
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Originally Posted by Matt16
Sorry Jay, I don't have one. Doing your wheel bearings?
No you need to remove the front hubs. Not just the locking hubs, but the wheel bearing hubs.

Remove the 54mm nuts and locking plates, remove the outer wheel bearing, then take the whole wheel bearing hub assembly off.

Then remove the 6 bolts from behind that attach the rotor, put the rotor in a vise, and beat the hub off of the rotor. Use a fat chisel in the gap between the heads of the wheel studs and the rotor.

Clean off the hub/rotor mating surface, apply some antiseize lubricant, and reassemble.

If the rotor is stuck, and it surely is, it will take a bit more than an hour a side. Especially if you've never done this before.

You'll need a 54mm socket. NSOR will have it for under $20. It's handy to have a spare set of spindle nuts and locking plates, because the previous butcher may have messed them up.

I have these tools, but will be out of town for a couple weeks. When we do pads and rotors along with a bearing repack, it's usually 4.0hrs.
Old 07-11-2009, 05:10 PM
  #13  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
Matt16's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 5,377
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
North Shore Off Road in Vancouver has them for $17 and they're nearby, but thanks.
Old 07-11-2009, 08:08 PM
  #14  
Contributing Member
 
Jay351's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: maple ridge, British Columbia, Canada
Posts: 9,055
Likes: 0
Received 9 Likes on 5 Posts
I got my 21/8" socket from princess auto. But thats awsume that NSOR is so close to you!

Let me know if you need a hand. I have done the wheelbearings on my truck twice and on my girlfriends 4runner recently. So easy

But just so you know, here are the parts you will need do swap rotors:

Rotors
inside wheel bearing seal (about $25 EACH)
New wheel bearings and races

plus grease and any hub gaskets if they tear.

You will also need a good metal bearing and race installer. I bought a cheepie plastic set from princess, doesnt work that well!!!!

Might aswell rebuild your hubs while you're at it, takes all but 5 mins

Last edited by Jay351; 07-12-2009 at 10:55 AM.
Old 07-12-2009, 07:50 AM
  #15  
Registered User
 
firemaniac's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Granite Falls, WA. U.S.A.
Posts: 242
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I agree with others on here, if you are going in that far, it is the perfect time to do the bearings, especially if they haven't been touched in a while. Tear it apart once and put theme back together right.
Old 07-12-2009, 09:10 AM
  #16  
Registered User
 
Harold Of The Rocks's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Okanagan, BC
Posts: 113
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Jay351
Let me know if you need a hand. I have done the wheelbearings on my truck twice and on my girlfriends 4runner recently. So easy
So Jay, does that mean anyone in the neighbourhood can take advantage of your expertise? I've been looking to do brakes and wheel bearings for sometime but just haven't had the time to review the FSM about what is involved from start to finish
Old 07-12-2009, 10:54 AM
  #17  
Contributing Member
 
Jay351's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: maple ridge, British Columbia, Canada
Posts: 9,055
Likes: 0
Received 9 Likes on 5 Posts
Haha, im always willing to help a fellow yotatecher out

Front brakes are easy stuff, same with wheelbearings. Once you have done them once, you can knock em out super fast.

Wheelbearings are just a messy job, I should buy stock in those blue shop towels!!!

Last edited by Jay351; 07-12-2009 at 10:56 AM.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
RaginAsian91
Solid Axle Swaps, All Years
1
07-27-2015 07:11 PM
miceal383
86-95 Trucks & 4Runners
1
06-29-2015 12:27 AM
Iceman4193
86-95 Trucks & 4Runners
3
06-28-2015 10:30 AM
YotaGreenhorn
95.5-2004 Tacomas & 96-2002 4Runners
3
06-27-2015 07:00 AM
jalaber
Maintenance & Repair Archives
11
07-24-2002 06:48 AM



Quick Reply: Time involved in changing out brake rotors?



All times are GMT -8. The time now is 04:24 PM.