My parents want me to do the brakes on their 04 E350 that has rear disc brakes. Haven't been there to pull the wheels off yet, and was wondering how similar it is to the Drum brake hub setup.

My 85 E350 axle has the drum rears that are mated to the hubs with pressed studs, so you have to pull the axle shafts, hub lock-nut, then pull the whole hub-drum assembly off at once.

Wasn't sure if the disc were the same way, are the rotors mated to the hubs as well? The issue I'm having is getting the right sized lock-nut socket, since the newer axles are in metric, but didn't even know if i needed to worry about it. Was hoping that the discs would just slide out Over the hubs, but wasn't sure.

Any info is appreciated. Can't seem to find and removal guides or pics for the newer axles.

Thanks.

 

Why do you want to pull the rotors, just replace the pads, I swear mine acted like they'd slide off of the hub, but if you need to remove them, may need to pull the hub, it requires removal of the axle shaft and the correct socket for removing the nut on the hub, I rented mine at Advance Auto. I've removed both side of mine, but was due to leaking rear seals, each were a year apart, my van is a 99 E-350.

 

I'm looking to remove them as they need to either be replaced, or turned. The van is 4yrs old and had the pads done twice, figured it was time to give the rotors some attention as they have been grinding (even after pad replacement).

So you do have to remove the hub to replace the rotors then? That's the answer i was looking for. Might you recall the size of that socket? The guys at my local Autozones are f**king tools, so they wouldn't know.

 

Advanced, not Auto zone, it's an axle nut tool, has a middle section in it that goes inside the axle tube itself to keep it perfectly straight, it's job specific. Auto zone will try to give you the 4x4 socket, or at least kept offering it to me, wrong thing, it has to have the center that extends out past the tabs, that's what lines it up and keeps it aligned. I first rented it from O-Reillys, was a box/kit for all vehicles, cost $100, Advance just happened to be closer my second time around, reason to do both at the same time. Try to pull the rotor off before dis assembly of the hub, but be ready just in case it's seized to it, and plan on buying new rotors, you'll find factorys no longer put parts on with extra material for later turning, it's spec from the start. I had to replace both front rotors due to no hope in turning them out, fronts generally take the brunt of the wear. Wait till you see the funky little drum emergency brake, yep, there is a small drum brake setup, it's the emergency brake. I can tear them down rather quick, quite a surprise to people seeing as I'm in a wheelchair, have to be careful, hub throws me off balance and can pull me out of the seat if I don't turn sideways and grab it with my right hand while holding myself up VIA the left wheel of my chair with the left hand. I love turning wrenches, can tell you the air bags that go inside coil springs are kind of easy to install and improve cornering once added up front.

 

Have you had the hubcaps off yet. My 03 E350 has a semifloat Dana 60 rear axle. No hubs to remove and I believe the rotors will slip off.

 

Haven't removed the tires yet, probably be a weekend project.

I know exactly what axle socket you are talking about, they tried to sell me one when i did my 85 Dana 70, but it was just a Giant nut, needed like a 32mm or something..

Thanks for the heads up on the drums in the disc. I helped a buddy do the rear discs on his 04 Titan, but that was only a half ton.

Guess pulling the tire will tell me a lot, just wanted to get as much info as i could. Never thought about it having the semi-float 60, the axle looks almost identical to my D70, just assumed it was the same.

Thanks for the info guys. I'm sure i'll be back when i tear into it this weekend.

 

hey fattmann, i hope it worked out ok, but if you have not gotten to the brake job, those rotors should be disc-over-hub. pull the wheel, pull the caliper, pull the rotor, leave hub on axle.

i used late model rotors on my 95 D60 and one of the biggest benefits was that they were rotor-over-hub - i really did not want to have to pull axles to change rotors...

neil in san marcos