I've owned my '98 GT since new with ten miles on it. Throughout the years I picked up four other cars, the last of which being my '01 Mustang GT. I've always done the brake work myself on these cars and NEVER had a problem with any of them and their brakes until I tried to change the rotors on the '01 Mustang. For the life of me, I can NOT get these things off. On my '98, the two times I've done rotors on the front they literally fell off as soon as the caliper bracket was taken off. The other cars I have, sometimes they needed a little persuasion with a hammer, and I mean a LITTLE, but they always came off easily.
I've tried the following:
-Hammering. I tried to use a deadblow and then a 2# sledge. Granted, the car is on jack stands and I'm not really able to get a good swing at the rotors but...just how much freaking force do I need? I'm guessing that if the car was up on a lift I could take really good swing at the rotors but...is all of that really necessary?
-Rust penetrants. I've been at this for days, so I've soaked the hub and the lug holes with plenty of PB blaster and WD40. Any more chemicals and the EPA is going to fine me for polluting the environment.
-Bolts from behind. I saw some videos on youtube where guys were threading in bolts from behind the caliper bracket and into the rotor, pushing them off of the hub from behind. They made it look easy on the videos, but...I chickened out because I don't like the idea of putting that kind of stress on the steering knuckle and possibly damaging it; then I'd really be screwed.
I haven't tried heat, as in a torch, because...WTF? All of the years I've worked on my cars I could literally tickle the rotors and they would come off. This '01 is driving me up the wall. At least I was able to change the pads and drive the car around. Have you guys ever run into this? Is this a "new edge" problem? Any recommendations on what I can try next would be greatly appreciated.
PS: When I first tried to take my left front wheel off I had trouble with it. I've never had a stuck wheel on a hub/rotor before, so this was a first for me and I ended up kicking the crap out of the wheel before it came off. Another first for me, working on cars...
I've tried the following:
-Hammering. I tried to use a deadblow and then a 2# sledge. Granted, the car is on jack stands and I'm not really able to get a good swing at the rotors but...just how much freaking force do I need? I'm guessing that if the car was up on a lift I could take really good swing at the rotors but...is all of that really necessary?
-Rust penetrants. I've been at this for days, so I've soaked the hub and the lug holes with plenty of PB blaster and WD40. Any more chemicals and the EPA is going to fine me for polluting the environment.
-Bolts from behind. I saw some videos on youtube where guys were threading in bolts from behind the caliper bracket and into the rotor, pushing them off of the hub from behind. They made it look easy on the videos, but...I chickened out because I don't like the idea of putting that kind of stress on the steering knuckle and possibly damaging it; then I'd really be screwed.
I haven't tried heat, as in a torch, because...WTF? All of the years I've worked on my cars I could literally tickle the rotors and they would come off. This '01 is driving me up the wall. At least I was able to change the pads and drive the car around. Have you guys ever run into this? Is this a "new edge" problem? Any recommendations on what I can try next would be greatly appreciated.
PS: When I first tried to take my left front wheel off I had trouble with it. I've never had a stuck wheel on a hub/rotor before, so this was a first for me and I ended up kicking the crap out of the wheel before it came off. Another first for me, working on cars...