I'm replacing the front brakes and rotors on my 2000 Avalon. One side has a
calapsed break line or stuck caliper, but that's another story.
I started on the good side (driver's side) last night and easily removed the
caliper and shoe, but couldn't get the rotor to budge. What's the trick? I
felt around the back of the rotor and couldn't find anything that felt like
it was fastened to. Please help, I'm out of ideas.
Ph@Boy - 26 Sep 2007 18:51 GMT
> I'm replacing the front brakes and rotors on my 2000 Avalon. One side has a
> calapsed break line or stuck caliper, but that's another story.
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> felt around the back of the rotor and couldn't find anything that felt like
> it was fastened to. Please help, I'm out of ideas.
If you have checked for and not found any rotor fasteners that hold it
to the hub, such as a large flat head screw, then it is probably just
stuck due to corrosion on the studs and the contact point (backside of
the rotor) where the rotor mates with the hub. Try using penetrating oil
around the studs and then use light blows with a dead blow hammer or
slide hammer to break it loose, or if you don't have either of those, a
board against the backside of the rotor using a regular hammer,
preferably a maul. Leave one wheel nut on a stud threaded on a bit, so
the rotor does not fly off and possibly hurt you as it breaks free
suddenly when you hit it. If the penetrating oil / hammer does not work
(rarely) then try heating with a torch around the studs and then the hammer.
Wilson - 26 Sep 2007 19:15 GMT
Thanks for the input. I stopped and picked up one of those Haynes books for
my model car which shows the repair process for basically everything on the
car. From what it says, I've done everything that should be done for the
rotor to come loose.
I assume penetrating oil is something that I can pick up at the local parts
store?
Thanks again for the help.
Wilson - 26 Sep 2007 19:29 GMT
>Thanks for the input. I stopped and picked up one of those Haynes books for
>my model car which shows the repair process for basically everything on the
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
>Thanks again for the help.
I did a little research and realized that WD-40 will work as a "penetrating
oil." Sorry for the stupid question.
Ph@Boy - 26 Sep 2007 21:39 GMT
> Thanks for the input. I stopped and picked up one of those Haynes books for
> my model car which shows the repair process for basically everything on the
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
> Thanks again for the help.
You're welcome.
Tegger - 26 Sep 2007 22:16 GMT
> I'm replacing the front brakes and rotors on my 2000 Avalon. One side
> has a calapsed break line or stuck caliper, but that's another story.
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> find anything that felt like it was fastened to. Please help, I'm out
> of ideas.
You have not received very good advice for your problem.
Your rotor is not held on by anything...except rust.
The rust is NOT where the hub meets the rotor at the bolts, it is on the
/perimeter/ of the hub.
Rust in the "top hat" portion of the rotor is hooking the rotor on to
the hub. You must break this rust up in order to shift the rotor.
Penetrating oil will do absolutely nothing except make a hell of a mess.
After raising the car, securing it and removing the road wheel, do this:
1) Get an 8oz ball peen hammer. That's a half-pounder; a little guy.
2) Remove caliper and its mount bracket.
3) With ball end of hammer, tap on the side of the "top hat", about as
hard as you'd vigorously knock on a door. Maybe a bit harder
4) Tap as close to the friction surface as you can, to make sure your
blows are as far away from the hub as possible. You will damage the
friction surface with occasional misaimed whacks, but you're replacing
the rotor anyway.
5) Turn the rotor and keep tapping. Turn and tap, working your way
around the "top hat".
6) Eventually (a minute or less), you'll start to hear and see rust
breaking up and falling out the bottom of the rotor.
7) Keep tapping and turning.
8) At some point, you should be able to make the rotor move by wiggling
it with your hands. Find out where it's still stuck, and concentrate
your hammering there.
9) Once it's loose enough, THEN you hit the rotor from the back, to
drive it off the hub.
Sounds more complex than it is. Should take no more than 3 minutes per
rotor, with easy effort.
Warning: Stock up on 50-grit emery cloth (NOT sandpaper). You MUST sand
off every bit of rust from the hub, making it flat as Kansas. Failure to
do this will induce brake vibration with your new rotors.

Signature
Tegger
Tegger - 26 Sep 2007 22:56 GMT
>> I'm replacing the front brakes and rotors on my 2000 Avalon. One
>> side has a calapsed break line or stuck caliper, but that's another
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
> Penetrating oil will do absolutely nothing except make a hell of a
> mess.
<snip>
You don't have to take my word for any of this.
Just look at the pictures here:
http://www.tegger.com/hondafaq/misc/toyota_brakes/
(Note that the nylon-headed mallet shown in the first picture was NOT used
to break up the rust. It was left over from another operation not having to
do with the rotors.)

Signature
Tegger
johngdole@hotmail.com - 27 Sep 2007 03:25 GMT
Pictures say a thousand words!
Now how about tapping on the edge of the rotor? Since Toy rotors can
move slightly over the hub. That should get it moving quickly too
doesn't it?
> You don't have to take my word for any of this.
>
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> --
> Tegger
Tegger - 27 Sep 2007 15:21 GMT
> Pictures say a thousand words!
>
> Now how about tapping on the edge of the rotor? Since Toy rotors can
> move slightly over the hub. That should get it moving quickly too
> doesn't it?
Not the same concept.
The idea of hitting the side of the "top hat" as far away from the hub as
possible is to set up a vibration. This vibration breaks up the rust.
That's what makes the whole idea work. Hitting anywhere else won't achieve
the same thing at all.

Signature
Tegger
jor - 27 Sep 2007 15:24 GMT
<snip>
> You don't have to take my word for any of this.
>
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> to break up the rust. It was left over from another operation not having to
> do with the rotors.)
Great post, Tegger. Thanks for the links to the excellent photos!
jor
Tegger - 28 Sep 2007 01:32 GMT
> <snip>
>> You don't have to take my word for any of this.
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> Great post, Tegger. Thanks for the links to the excellent photos!
> jor
Thanks.
Last time I had to do this I was going to take a video of the procedure.
But just as I was starting, the camera's battery died and I didn't have a
spare. So no video. :(

Signature
Tegger
johngdole@hotmail.com - 27 Sep 2007 03:29 GMT
The Avalon is basically an enlarged Camry, so the it should use the V6
version of the hardware. The rotor can move around the hub and wheel
studs normally. Tegger has some excellent suggestions there.
No rust with mine when I swapped out the OEM warped rotors with
Raybestos Raymold noise dampening rotors (red box) for about $20 each.
Akebono ProAct brake pads (OEM Toyota) are quiet even without the
noise shims on mine.
www.akebonobrakes.com
www.raybestos.com
> I'm replacing the front brakes and rotors on my 2000 Avalon. One side has a
> calapsed break line or stuck caliper, but that's another story.
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> felt around the back of the rotor and couldn't find anything that felt like
> it was fastened to. Please help, I'm out of ideas.