91 front rotor help

[pjro]

This may sound crazy, but I had a brake pad just flake off and chew the crap out of my front rotor. what is the easiest way to get this rotor/brake assembly apart?
I have never seen a brake assembly wrap around like this and prevent easy replacement of rotors.
For now I replaced the pads, but I know they won't last past 5000 miles in the condition that the rotor is in.

[cadgear]

Unbolt the caliper, then the caliper mounting bracket. Its pretty straightforward, though I can't remember what kind of bolts the mounting bracket are on that year. On the later models its a T60 Torx, but some turn out to be hex heads.

Grab a Haynes manual if you can. Big help on the little stuff and it can explain how-to pretty good.

[jeffcoslacker]

If you gotta buy a torx, buy two. You'll break one for sure

[Manny_boy]

Jeff is right about the T60 you can snap them trying to get the bracket off. In my trial and error though, I discovered that using a small propane torch will help you get them off without much force at all. It appears that the bracket bolts were threadlocked from the factory. Threadlock Red is designed not to release the threads until the surrounding material reaches a certain temperature. Heat them up with a torch, they come out pretty easily.

Do yourself a favor, and threadlock them when you put the bracket bolts back in. I didn't the first time, and even though I used a breaker bar to snug them up, while I was driving home a few weeks later, the lower left bolt still came out of the bracket, the caliper moved up and my brake pedal went to the floor.

[pjro]

That's what I thought thanks alot.

Originally Posted by Manny_boy

Jeff is right about the T60 you can snap them trying to get the bracket off. In my trial and error though, I discovered that using a small propane torch will help you get them off without much force at all. It appears that the bracket bolts were threadlocked from the factory. Threadlock Red is designed not to release the threads until the surrounding material reaches a certain temperature. Heat them up with a torch, they come out pretty easily.

Do yourself a favor, and threadlock them when you put the bracket bolts back in. I didn't the first time, and even though I used a breaker bar to snug them up, while I was driving home a few weeks later, the lower left bolt still came out of the bracket, the caliper moved up and my brake pedal went to the floor.

[richtazz]

use a little heat and some PB blaster penetrant on the t-60 bolts, or you'll never get them loose.

[mattsdominion]

yeah, i had a similar problem... i didnt threadlock, and my entire caliper fell into my wheel well... and caused serious damage. In 10 degree weather.

[cnilkyrclit]

I Remember The First Time I Did The Front Brakes On My Lumina, It Was A Pita. Not Only Did I Have A Hard Time With Them, Once I Got Them Done I Went To Work The Next Day. While On My Way Home, I Lost The Top Caliper Bolt!!!!!! I Was 25miles From My House. I Make Sure I Tighten The Bolts Really Good, And Even Then Im Still A Little Weery. Every Once In Awhile I Get Out There And Make Sure The Bolts Aretight.