Stuck rear rotor

[budda919]

I seem to have royally screwed myself here. Looking for advice or things to try. Situation:

Braking quality was poor and jerky. I replaced front brakes (pads and rotors), then went to do the rear. Removed calipers no problem. Spun the star adjuster downwards 7 or 8 times. Used two 8mm bolt to pull off the rotor, which seemed to come off fairly easily. However, when it came off, a small spring fell out (which I now know to be the shoe-hold down spring from many posts). I ordered a new spring kit, and thought that while I was waiting for it I would slide the new rotors in place and just pull them back off when the spring arrived. They slid on no problem. Now that the spring is here, I cant get them off.

I can't rotate the wheel to obtain access to the start adjuster (presumably because the parking brake pads are preventing me from turning). I can't pull the rotors off. I tried my 8mm bolts again, but no dice, it stripped the threads on one of the wholes on the new rotor when I tried.

I've confirmed, parking brake is off inside the car. Do I have any other options besides brute force? And if I go brute force, is there a technique or trick to doing it?

 

[AuSeeker]

I seem to have royally screwed myself here. Looking for advice or things to try. Situation:

Braking quality was poor and jerky. I replaced front brakes (pads and rotors), then went to do the rear. Removed calipers no problem. Spun the star adjuster downwards 7 or 8 times. Used two 8mm bolt to pull off the rotor, which seemed to come off fairly easily. However, when it came off, a small spring fell out (which I now know to be the shoe-hold down spring from many posts). I ordered a new spring kit, and thought that while I was waiting for it I would slide the new rotors in place and just pull them back off when the spring arrived. They slid on no problem. Now that the spring is here, I cant get them off.

I can't rotate the wheel to obtain access to the start adjuster (presumably because the parking brake pads are preventing me from turning). I can't pull the rotors off. I tried my 8mm bolts again, but no dice, it stripped the threads on one of the wholes on the new rotor when I tried.

I've confirmed, parking brake is off inside the car. Do I have any other options besides brute force? And if I go brute force, is there a technique or trick to doing it?

The brute force method is using the 2 bolts of which you stripped one of the threaded holes already, the only suggestion I have is to use a lever to rotate the rotors until you can line up the adjusting hole to be able to back off the shoes some more, use the lever on the lug studs BUT be sure to place something between the studs and the lever so you don't damage the threads on the studs.

 

[MikeinNH67]

Put the wheel on marking how far you need to go to line up the hole then use the trucks power to get to that spot. Sounds like the metal on the new rotor is kind of soft where the threads are as those rarely strip out.

 

[budda919]

Put the wheel on marking how far you need to go to line up the hole then use the trucks power to get to that spot. Sounds like the metal on the new rotor is kind of soft where the threads are as those rarely strip out.

Thanks, was contemplating the same idea. However, after I reassembled the brakes and put the wheel on the opposite side, I was able to use the leverage of that wheel to turn the opposite (stuck) side. Once the hole was lined up and I spun the star adjuster a few times, I was able to shimmy the rotor back off.

Now, to tackle those parking brake springs

 

[4R005]

[MENTION=78569]budda919[/MENTION]
FYI if you haven't came across this infor from previous posts for installing those pesky hold down springs to anchor shoes to backing plate. Some members use twist ties but I find fishing line works just as well. Compress the spring sandwiched between the two washers in a vice and tie it in the compressed state, one each opposite the other 180 degrees apart. place assembly over the hold down rod, turn 90 degrees and cut ties/fishing lines. This will take 2 minutes or less vs 30 mins swearing.