How do I remove the rear rotor on my 99 subaru forester? I have removed the caliper and cannot get the darn rotor off. I have to replace the wheel studs before tomorrow because I have to work tomorrow. Please help me!

 

Edit: Also, do i need to remove the axle nut? Is an impact wrench necessary? Is the axle nut clockwise thread or reverse thread?

is the e-brake on?

is the e-brake on?

 

I tried pulling it off with the e-brake off. Basically....as far as i've gotten is removing the caliper and the thing the caliper attaches to. What do i have to "undo" to let the rotor slide free?

Hello. After the caliper and caliper bracket are out of the way, and the rotor won't come off, first make sure you have backed off the parking brake shoes. Sometimes these will stick.

 

Next if the rotor has any bolt holes just inside the diameter of the hub studs. If so, the oem rotors will take an 8mm (don't know thread pitch; probably 1.0 or 1.5) bolt to drive it off the rotor. If no holes or you don't have the bolts, a 4-10 lb sledge is your best friend. I had to pound mine off my '00obw it was a real pain.

 

Then once you get the rotors off, if you need to remove the hub to replace the studs (i've seen arguments both ways), then yes (if you need to remove the hub), you will have to remove the axle nut. Subaru says hot to hammer on the hub as it can deform it, but people often seem to use a hammer to remove and install the studs.

Hello. After the caliper and caliper bracket are out of the way, and the rotor won't come off, first make sure you have backed off the parking brake shoes. Sometimes these will stick.

 

Next if the rotor has any bolt holes just inside the diameter of the hub studs. If so, the oem rotors will take an 8mm (don't know thread pitch; probably 1.0 or 1.5) bolt to drive it off the rotor. If no holes or you don't have the bolts, a 4-10 lb sledge is your best friend. I had to pound mine off my '00obw it was a real pain.

 

Then once you get the rotors off, if you need to remove the hub to replace the studs (i've seen arguments both ways), then yes (if you need to remove the hub), you will have to remove the axle nut. Subaru says hot to hammer on the hub as it can deform it, but people often seem to use a hammer to remove and install the studs.

 

 

How do i back off the parking brake shoes? I also do not have access to these bolts, as it is 8:30 pm. It seems to me that the rotor is one big piece that has been run through a lathe, is this right? Seems like the studs are pounded through the inner part of the rotor...Any of this sound right?

Once the caliper's off and it won't come off, just bang it off with a hammer/sledge/whatever. It will come off.

 

No, the studs are drawn through the hub. The rotor is just the disc there - it should move freely...

Right the studs go through the hub, you have to get the rotor off to get at them.

 

I would only use a 'raw' sledge against a rotor you aren't planning to reuse because the sledge will make a lot of dings/dents in the rotor. You could shield the rotor with a piece of 2x4 or something and sledge on that if you want to reuse the rotor.

 

How many studs do you need to replace?

 

I will see what pics I have to assist...

No, the studs are drawn through the hub. The rotor is just the disc there - it should move freely...

If you can't spin it at all then the e-brake is still on or hung up.

https://shop.integratedperformancellc.com/images/1170813804457-1391044520.jpeg

 

See the attachment.

Ok, here's roughly what you're looking at before caliper and rotor are removed (this is '00 outback) note: no access to studs

 

Here is after the caliper and rotor are removed (note studs are accessible, though the Subaru procedure has you remove the axle nut, extract the axle, remove the hub, and press out the old stud(s) and press in the new stud(s).

How do i back off the parking brake shoes? I also do not have access to these bolts, as it is 8:30 pm. It seems to me that the rotor is one big piece that has been run through a lathe, is this right? Seems like the studs are pounded through the inner part of the rotor...Any of this sound right?

 

Excellent suggestions! THe rotor is now off....for the hub nut now. I've tried a breaker bar on it, and it wont work...Does it need turned left to loosen?? Should i use an impact wrench on it? What do i need to do about that locker on the hub nut?

Use a screwdriver or small pry bar or whatever to 'unstake' the axle nut. A good strong impact wrench will just override the lock anyway. Yes a good strong impact wrench makes this a lot easier. The axle nut should be replaced after removal but if you don't have another one try to at least make it so you can 'restake' the old axle nut. Socket size is typically 32mm, though there is some other size seens ometimes too.

 

Also if you can heat the axle nut with a torch or something that can help too. When I used heat and then impact the thing came off like butter.

Ok, here's roughly what you're looking at before caliper and rotor are removed (this is '00 outback) note: no access to studs

 

Here is after the caliper and rotor are removed (note studs are accessible, though the Subaru procedure has you remove the axle nut, extract the axle, remove the hub, and press out the old stud(s) and press in the new stud(s).

 

 

That last picture sums up where i'm at right now. My assembly looks a little different though because i had to remove 4 allen heads. It doesnt seem as though i can replace the studs at the point. I have to take that stud plate off. The axle nut is the only thing holding me back. Suggestions to get that off?

Well...I haven't extracted a hub before. I think you need to get the axle out, then often the Subaru procedure has some contraption where you use a slide hammer to yoink the hub out.

 

Also it seems I have seen posts where people have hammered out the broken studs at this point without removing the hub and somehow put in the new studs....

 

I fixed my pics in my previous thread.

What do you mean when you say i have to extract the axle? Be back in 10, have to borrow neighbors impact wrench.

Well, I don't know what it looks like on the rear, but here's what it looked like on the front of my '00obw. The axle rests inside the hub, and is held in by the axle nut....here's the pic

I extracted the axle, after the axle nut was removed, by removing the strut bolts so I could drop the bearing housing down, and pound lightly on the end of the axle do free it from the hub. I don't know if this will work on the rear though....

Oh yah, you want to be careful not to damage the wheel bearing, or the wheel bearing inside seal during the axle extraction, unless you have another onhand. Here's a pic of the seal ('00obw):