hey guys, im installing some new pads/rotors on my moms 02 camry and im having trouble taking the rotors off.

i cant seem to find out how to take off the bolts holding the rotors. its not a phillips or flat head.

please help. thanks.


also i bought new pads and they are not the right size, they are smaller than the oem ones? did the pad sizes change from 02 to 03?

thanks

As far as the pad size problem goes, you may have a set of rear pads and comparing them to the front pads.

If you have the caliper off, the only thing holding the rotor on is friction and rust.

Put matchmarks on the disc so that you can replace it in the same rotational orientation as it was originally. Then buy a couple of bolts that will thread into the holes on the rotor face and tighten them evenly a little at a time until the disc breaks free.

I haven't worked on a generation 5 Carmy's front brakes, but if it's like any of the older generations, you will have to remove the caliper mounting bracket after you remove the caliper. (Toyota refers to it as a Torque Plate in their manuals.) It's usually held on by 2 14MM head bolts. Then use Brian's recomendation to screw 2 corresponding bolts into the threaded holes in the rotor and lever it off. It's usually rust that is holding it to the hub. I believe the correct metric bolt diameter and thread pitch for those 2 bolts is M8 X 1.25 thread pitch. Get bolts that are at least 1-1/2 inches in length. I prefer to use socket cap screws myself, as they are made of a harder alloy steel and are harder to strip. Most people just use hex head bolts. Remember, you will then need the proper metric allen wrench to turn them, if you go to the socket cap screws.

Mike