I just bought new rotors & pads for my '97 F150, 136,000 miles.

Now I am no novice at changing breaks, however I'm about at the end of my rope. The rotors are pretty much welded on. I have used penetrating fluid, drilled through the rotor to get the penetrating fluid behind the rotor, no luck. My next option is to get a torch & heat up the rotors & bang them off with a bfh. Any opinions on this one way or the other would be appreciated.

 

Common problem. Remove the hub with the rotor it is rusted to. Take the hub/rotor to a shop with a press and ask them to press them apart. Most shops that turn rotors also have a press for pressing bearings and other stuff.

With 136k miles, you may just want to replace the sealed bearing/hub assembly anyway. Sometimes they end up going bad soon after taking the abuse of removing a stuck rotor. Just a thought.

 

did you by chance smack the rotors with a bfh AWAY from the truck? If you did they are stuck for good. Never hit them AWAY from the truck. Always hit them towards the truck and care fully smack the rotor in between the wheel studs.

I have read on here that a lot of people have had luck using a sawlzall (sp?) and cutting the rotor from the outside edge towards the center of the hub. be careful not to cut the hub. also clean the abs magnetic sensor real well.

make sure you use lots-o-anti sieze on the new rotors.

oh and all of this only relates to a 4x4!

good luck-

 

Cut um off with hack saw ot sawsall,(you said you are replacing) search this group, many article ... save youself HOURS of time

 

Like hcmq hinted, I hope your truck does indeed have the 2-piece hub/rotor.....

Scott D

 

I find the best way to get the old rotor off is to just break it into pieces with a hammer. Be carful not to hit the bearing. For the cost of new rotors @ $40 each, you are better off replacing them anyway. After you start breaking the rotor, the rest of the rotor will separate from the hub.