Changing the rotors.

I have a 96 Explorer with 232,000 miles on it (used it for work for many years, mostly freeway miles) and was told that the rotors need changed. I bought the vehicle when it was three years old (around 36,000 miles) so I'm pretty positive that these are the original rotors. According to my Hayes manual and some research online it looks to be very simple. While I have never changed rotors before I've changed my brake pads numerous times. My only concern is that being these are the original rotors, will they be a bear to get off? Any advice before I change them out?

I know to clean the new rotors with a brake cleaner, any other bits of advice?

It usually is pretty easy, but sometimes you'll run in to a situation where the rotors are rusted on to the hub. In that situation, you'll want to have some good penetrating oil (PB Blaster or Rust Eater seem to work quite well) to spray around each of the wheel studs and around the center of the rotor where it meets the hub. I'm not sure what this area is called or how to describe it better. Let the penetrant soak for a bit. You may want to encourage the capillary action by tapping on the area with a hammer a bit. Then, apply a bit more penetrant and rap it with a big hammer, like a 3lb sledge. Be careful not to hit the wheel studs or the half shaft hub/threads.

In really extreme cases, you may need to find an air hammer to get the rotor to break loose.

I've heard that brake cleaner is not the best thing to clean the protective coating off the new rotors, but rather warm water and dish soap. You may want to check with the parts store to see what they suggest, or if the manufacturer has a website, check there.

Be sure that the hub surface is clean and free of rust prior to installing the new rotor. If there is a piece of rust between the rotor hat and the hub, it will yield a pulsating brake pedal. Also, when installing the lugnuts and wheel, use the star pattern and properly torque the lugnuts, not use that impact wrench and crank the lugs down one at a time.

-Rod

Might not be a bad idea to have the new rotors turned before putting them on the truck. No sense in going through all the effert to have a pulsating pedal right off the bat!

The ford trucks and expeditions are the ones that are really bad for rotors being stuck. Yours should come off fairly easily considering that I have literally broke rotors pounding them off the other Fords mentioned above.