Unable to remove rear rotor on 1996 850

mocats850 · Post by **mocats850** » 06 Sep 2010, 23:12

I needed to change the rear rotors and pads on my 850. I started out with the rear driver side rotor and had a little trouble removing it. I had to release the parking brake and the rotor came right off. According to the instructions in the manual I probably should have inserted a straight slot screw driver into the access hole in the rotor which is suppose to be some sort of release. Not sure how it was suppose to work, but never the less I was able to remove the rotor. When I got to the passenger side rotor I was unable to remove it whether I released the parking break or set it. Even after giving it a few taps with a rubber tip mallet it remained stuck. It would not even move. Was there a step that I missed? Since that particular rotor wasn't in bad shape I did replace the pads. If I am able to get the passenger side rotor off would I need to replace the pads or can I reinstall the new pads? Thanks in advance for your help

Post by **JDS60R** » 06 Sep 2010, 23:21

Put the screwdriver in the access hole ( when its lined up with the adjuster/star washer) and turn it down to release the pads. Use the search box above as many have been through this. A gentleman named 850Turbo1 in Canada is an expert on the subject. I believe he did a write up with pictures.

mocats850 · Post by **mocats850** » 07 Sep 2010, 12:22

Hello JD. Thank you for your response. I will look up his post. Hopefully I will be able to remove this part. I want to work on the front pads and rotors this coming weekend so hopefully it will be much easier getting the rotors off. Thanks again

mindshadow · Post by **mindshadow** » 07 Sep 2010, 13:32

We hit my rotor with a 5lb sledge. Just go around the rotor giving it some pretty hefty love taps. Nothing that would damage it, of course, but eventually it'll magically wiggle the rotor off.

Post by **E Showell** » 08 Sep 2010, 09:06

+1 Get a bigger hammer. When installing new rotors I'll put a little grease on the hub face to avoid such removal problems in the future.

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 08 Sep 2010, 18:12

If you plan on re-using the rotors (or the parking brake shoes) release the tension like JDS60R said. It is easy to strip the lining clean off of the parking brake shoes if they are not released. Once the shoes are released they need to be persuaded.

...Lee

zanzabar · Post by **zanzabar** » 09 Sep 2010, 15:26

E Showell wrote:+1 Get a bigger hammer. When installing new rotors I'll put a little grease on the hub face to avoid such removal problems in the future.

To be clear, there are two potential reasons for the rotor not coming off easily. #1 (as referred to above) is that the hub face is corroded and the rotor is essentially glued to it making it difficult to break free. In this case, yes use a hammer. #2 is that the 'drum' portion of the rotor has an edge worn into it and the parking brake shoes are catching that ridge and will not allow the rotor to be released easily. In this case DO NOT use a large hammer or you risk damaging the PB shoes or even more important parts. What you need to do is loosen the parking brake shoes prior to removal (screwdriver goes into the adjustment hole and turns the adjustment mechanism).