I'm trying to do a front brake / wheel bearing job on my '97 F-250 and I can't get the hub/rotor assembly off the spindle. It seems like the caliper bracket has to come off before the rotor will be able to come off. And the caliper bracket bolts are stuck ridiculously hard. I've put a hydraulic jack under the end of a 20" breaker bar and flexed the breaker bar as much as I dare without the bolts budging. I've tried throwing heat at it and I've soaked it with penetrating oil.

Are there any tricks to either getting the caliper brackets off, or else to get the hub/rotor off without removing the caliper brackets?

 

Heat and a LARGE breaker bar. Or impact. IIRC they are 17mm

 

Thanks. I did get them. A 21mm socket fit, but I don't have metric impact sockets so I was glad to find that a 13/16" fit as well. It took a lot of heat (and a lot of patience), probably about 5-10 minutes per bolt. But the impact wrench eventually worked like that.

Edit: And for anyone trying to figure this out later, I took the spindle nuts off so I could slide the hub and rotor as far out as possible. That made it easier (or at least possible) to get a torch where it would do the mist good, heating up the thinnest section of the caliper bracket around the bolt.

 

They had blue locktite from the factory. I never use it, but it was there

 

Yeah, after fighting those off I think putting Loc-Tite on there is overkill!

 

Torch (acetylene or propane -- latter is slightly "cooler") first, then allow to cool completely down, then use a "cold soak" spray -- some fire ext, home meds (Tinactin), etc followed by a bath in Acetone - ATF (50/50 blend) --- you'll have to keep applying as the Acetone evaps

I wouldn't waste any time with WD-40, PB Blaster, etc --- they do little, if anything.........the aforementioned home made blend is superior or you might try some Kano Kroil............equally superior to WD-40, PB Plaster........

 

Kano Aerokroil is the sh**! Ive used it for many years. If it wont come apart with it and some heat with a "cold soak".............it ain't coming apart!