99 Suburban K2500 I CANT Get Front Rotor Off!!!

[Ace Greenberg]

I have a 1999 K2500 Suburban (Diesel) and my right front rotor needs to be replaced but it seems to have permanently attached itself to the hub. I guess the combination of heat and moisture (and rust) has wedded these two parts and, unless there's something holding the rotor on that I'm not seeing, they don't want to come apart.

Is there some kind of "trick" that has to be used to get these two parts to separate? Can someone out there help me with this problem? I really can't afford to take this to a shop as they're quoting hundreds of dollars and I'm out of work right now.

Thank you,
Ace

[dxrflyboy]

I'm assuming the rotor slides on over the hub flange? I'm a Ford mechanic and haven't had rotors off a newer K2500 Suburban, but F-series/Expeditions sometimes rust onto the hub flanges so badly that the only way to remove them is to break them off. Lots of pounding with a BFH (big FORD hammer). Sometimes I remove the rotor with the hub/bearing assembly attached and use a press to separate them.

[knucklebuster2]

Sounds like you have the type where the studs are swaged to secure the hub and rotor. Swaging is performed after the stud has been pressed through the hub and rotor. There is a special tool used to force a slight amount of metal on the wheel stud downward to form a lip which will then lock the hub and rotor together to keep them from separating. This is common on heavy-duty vehicles ( eg 8 stud rotors). If you are not sure, have a local machine shop take a look at your rotors. They'll be able to tell you if it is this type. If you do have this type and you pound it off, be careful not to distort the hub. You may be better off pressing it off.

[Chief-295]

If you are trying to get the rotor off the 2500, look behind the hub, remove the 4 15MM bolts (socket size), disconnect the ABS wire at the plug (behind the splash shield), loosen the ABS wire clamps, remove the assy. While on a hard surface, drive out the 8 studs and remove the rotor from the hub (watch the ABS wire). That should do it. Hope this helps.
Chief-295

[Ace Greenberg]

Originally Posted by Chief-295

If you are trying to get the rotor off the 2500, look behind the hub, remove the 4 15MM bolts (socket size), disconnect the ABS wire at the plug (behind the splash shield), loosen the ABS wire clamps, remove the assy. While on a hard surface, drive out the 8 studs and remove the rotor from the hub (watch the ABS wire). That should do it. Hope this helps.
Chief-295

That's it! All the aftermarket service info that I had access to was describing the procedure for 1500s where the rotor slides off the studs. Doing this job is a good lesson - never let the wear indicators squeak for more than an hour. My wife was driving this Suburban and she ignored them. This is not as bad as changing a rotor on my 1990 4WD Diesel Suburban, but it's no picnic. Thanks for the help.