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[wvengr]

I am trying to replace my front rotors, and they are being quite the pain.  I cant get the hub out of the knuckle.  I have tried using a socket to press it from the back and a few other things, but it wont budge.  I am trying not to damage anything in the process.  Anyone have any tips for getting this thing apart?   Never worked on one of these captured rotors before and they are a pain.

[Rocketman]

Check out my bearing how-to. It shows how everything pulls apart. You will need to take the knuckle off the car and press the hub out from the back, exposing the 4 bolts that hold the rotor on.

It's a very stupid and inconvenient design. I highly recommend the Galant Big Brake Upgrade to eliminate the captured rotors.

 

[wvengr]

i am trying your how to, but i still cant get the hub off the knuckle, I have it off the car.  Put a socket on it and hit it a few times with a hammer and nothing.  I feel like i must be doing something wrong

[Rocketman]

You need to support the castiron knuckle at the balljoint and strut mount areas, if it's sitting on the studs it won't do anything. The hub needs to be free in order to move.

If you can't get them I would recommend finding a shop or a friend with a press

[wvengr]

"You need to support the castiron knuckle at the balljoint and strut mount areas, if it's sitting on the studs it won't do anything. The hub needs to be free in order to move."

Yeah, I know that.  I am a mechanical engineer for Honda, i can get simple bits like that, There is something stuck that i am not seeing or is there a step that i am missing.

[Rocketman]

I'm not trying to insult your intelligence    Some people just don't get it.

If your hubs haven't been pressed apart before it might be just a *really* tight interference fit, there aren't any c-clips or retainers or anything that hold it together

[wvengr]

so just break out the BFH and hope for the best?

[rcdraco]

If you absolutely cannot get it out, take it to a machine shop.  They'll charge you a decent chunk of change, but at least you know if something breaks you have someone to blame.  When they changed mine, they had to bring the torch on it multiple times to get it to break free.  But at least it has all new bearings and nice unwarped rotors now.

[billibarou]

Check to see if there is a NAPA near you with Machine shop service.  They specialize in this kind of thing and that's what I use.  They charge $25 to press in wheel bearings and the like and I think it's worth every penny.  I take it to them and when I pick it up it has the new parts already in.

[Gostlrs]

+1 on NAPA...that is where I took mine and about the same price..

[newboyracer]

If you know anyone with a slide hammer they work quite well...you could always buy one to I only paid $50 for mine and its definatly come in handy multipul times.

[Rocketman]

The Harbor Freight benchtop hydraulic presses go a long way too. Last I checked you could get them on sale for $70 or less

[Gostlrs]

You can get a slide hammer at autozone on the free rental....

[wvengr]

I ended up just taking it to the ford garage, Got the recall done and the brakes done at the same time.  Worth every penny not to mess with those brakes!