How do you get rotors off????

[Dinoti]

I can't get my brake rotors off the hubs! Everything I read says, "remove hex-key bolt from brake disc and remove brake disc from hub" as if the danged thing will hop right off! My first one (right front) is not budging! I dribbled some Liquid Wrench into the lug bolt holes and the disc mounting hex-key-bolt hole, and around the junction between hub and disc, but no go. I need help!

What I read says there must be no grease between the hub and the rotor, so I assume everything is rusted solid. What 's the trick?

Also, the bolts that hold the brake pad carriers onto the steering knuckle are frozen, too. I used a 5/8 inch socket, which fit pretty tight until the cheapo thing cracked on a frozen bolt, and I want to get the exact right size. I figure 5/8 inch to be 15.87 mm. I'm thinking 16mm is the right size, but if it's 15mm, let me know before I strip or crack another socket! Nothing is working like the manuals say!!!! Help me, Friends!

Dino

[1996 328ti]

I had the hardest time removing the rotors. I just kept on whacking it with a hammer. But I'm told the best thing to use is a dead-blow hammer.

The bolts for the carriers are a bitch too.
I used WD-40 or Liquid Wrench and a 1/2" breaker bar. I might have even put a pipe on the end of the breaker bar. The first time I tried this I busted a cheap-ass Husky socket. I went out and but some Craftsman sockets. It did finally come off.

[Dinoti]

Man, it sounds like you had the EXACT same experience I had, right down to the ratchet wrench! I got 'em all off, finally, with a 1/2-inch-drive breaker bar and impact-wrench-model socket for the carrier bolts. A neighbor who works on his older Bimmer encouraged me to hit the rotors harder, and that did the trick. I forgot the rule about German machines: the only thing they understand is brute force!

Good thing it all goes back together so much easier than it comes apart!

Dino

[ayton]

go out and get a 32 ounce rubber mallet for $3.00 bucks hit the rotor like 3-4 times they will fly off!!!!!!

[J!m]

Age-old proverb for working on cars (no matter where in the world they come from)

"Don't force it....Get a bigger hammer"

Believe it or not, Germans have hammers in their tool boxes too.

(I have a whole draw dedicated to the most valuable tool of the bunch in my roll-away)

I have a 1971 Land-Rover as well, and that sees LOTS of "impact persuasion", but that's British, and expected.