You need to go all the way through the hats with the die grinder with cutoff disc. The only area where you need to be careful is around where the hub makes contact with the rotor hat. I cut the hat in line where I used the sawall on the rotor itself. It was not a complete cut because using the chisel cracked the rest of the hat. Hope this helps. Tom

 

Got my air hammer and wiz-wheel ready, Ill let you know how I fare!

Tommy D

 

I feel for you.. mine only took a 5 minute beating with a 3# sledge. plus, I was changing the unit bearing, so it didn't matter if I destroyed anything..

 

You know I'm sweating Tommy's results... one of my next projects is to put on new front rotors on my 7700.

-Kerry

 

I just wanted to make a last post in regard to the stuck rotors on my F250-LD.

Tonight <nice and cool/dry out> I pulled the truck into the shop. With a I dont give a F I started cutting the drivers side rotor. I slit the rotor from the outside edge to the face of the "hat". From that point I then slit the face 1/2 way to the hub. Then I inserted my trusty air hammer and went at it. About 5 minutes into the job I could see the face of the rotor crack. The tone changed on the chizel telling me things were not longer stuck. A couple of shots with my BFH and off popped the rotor. Total time to get the Rotor off... 30 Minutes. The rust shows its not the face of the hub that sticks to the rotor. Its the side. Lots of anti-sieze on reassembly, no so sure that it matters though, just a very poor design.

2nd Rotor took 2 slits and more hammering. About a hour or so and off it popped.

So like the advice given to me.... if your rotors are stuck, stop beating and start cutting.

Thanks FTE!

Tommy D

 

Glad things worked out. I remember how I felt when my friend at Ford said cut them off. Later

 

Wow... thanks Tommy. Sorry you had to go through all this crap, but hey it's my turn in the future. I thank you for posting your results.

-Kerry

 

Glad you prevailed. How are the hubs? I did my rotors front and rear the other day. It took me more time to free up and lube the front sliders than the whole rest of the job. I was thinking of you!!

 

GT, your right on the money, first pair of rotors I have had to cutoff in 20+ years spinning wrenches. First time for everything I guess.....

Kerry, give me a call if the rotors give you and grief... Ill go midevil on them for you!!

Rob, not for nothing but my truck has a more then fair amount of rust on or under it. The brake hoses had flaking rust, as did the dust shields/backing plates. Tailgate rust, lower door rust, rust on all the floor seams.... rust, rust rust!!! I hope this truck is the exception to the rule otherwise this might be the LAST F series I own. Have had quite a few 150's and 350's but this one.... well lets just say Im not sure if the jury is out on it yet.

The hubs are fine <spun smooth, no excessive road noise>.

Our fleet just took delivery on about a dozen F350's with the 5.4 3V motors. They are going to replace GMC 3500 HD's with 8.1s! This is going to get interesting very quickly! So far the guys love them as they have AC where the GMCs did not!!

Take care

Tommy D

 

Buddy of mine stopped by while I was doing the brakes. He crawled under the truck to take a look and the business end. He was impressed at how clean the undercarriage is, for a NY truck. I do have to say I don't have much rust underneath. I hit it with the pressure washer every so often.

 

I'm thinking the best you may do is give them a good yelling over the phone from NY.

About the comparison between engines - my two valve got way better mileage on my last long scout trip than the 8.1 in the 2500HD one of the other leaders had - and I had about 500-750lbs more in the bed. I could have driven 350 miles on the tank to his 330 - and he has a larger tank!

-Kerry