Ok, so I did the brakes this past weekend and come to find out (no surprise) I have a warped rotor. I'm looking at Autozone, O'reilly, Napa, and even Advanced Auto and they all seem to suggest that you need to replace the whole hub assembly?!?

Or can you just knock the Disc rotor off and replace it?

Remember this is a 2wd truck we're talking about...

 

You absolutely do not need to replace the hub assembly for that. It's surprising that htey suggest you do so, considering they don't even carry them.

your truck has a floating rotor, which means it's not bolted down. Jack it up, remove the wheel. THat will leave the wheel and brake caliper exposed. There's 2 bolts on the back side of the caliper that bolt it to the wheel hub. Remove them (17mm i think) and the calper will come free, only attached by the hose. Be sure you don't drop it or you may tear/break the hose. I set it on my leaf springs as a little shelf. Then, there's nothing holding your rotor on, except perhaps rust.

Get a rubber mallet or dead blow if the rotor doesn't come off easily by hand, and smack the **** out of it from behind. Work your way around it, you may have to hammer it all the way off, as rust can make it difficult.

Some may have a small bolt evident on the outside of the rotor holding it on, but mine did not, and not many vehicles have this. Just hammer hte hell out of it.

When replacing rotors, be sure to seat the new ones correctly. If not, you'll be putting new ones on in as little as 2 weeks.

 

They are only available as a hub and rotor assembly.

If you had a 4x4 you could just replace the rotor, but not on a 4x2.

 

I've used Raybestos rotors with pretty good results. Better than OEM but they still warp after a while. (65k on my 2WD '01 Limited)

I believe the rotors can be replaced seperately from the hubs but it involves pressing out all the wheel studs which hold the rotor on the hub, replacing the rotor, pressing all the wheel studs back in, then resurfacing the new rotor to make sure it is aligned correctly with the hub. May be more work than you want to get involved in.

I do not know for sure where you can buy just the rotor without the hub although I have seen some rotors (EBC comes to mind) which are not clear about included hub in the product description.

Lou Manglass

 

My old F150 4x2 had the same setup. I always did bearings at the same time.

 

Dayum! What in the Wide World of Auto Repairs was Ford thinking?

That just seems so wrong!

 

So, when you change the rotors, you have to replace the hub assembly? I dont see doing that. I have done brakes for some time now and I very rarely replace the hub assembly, I just knock the rotor off, place a new one on the hub assembly bolt caliper back on with new pads and throw the wheel back one, never had a problem.

 

The bearing rides on the inside of the rotor assembly. It's all one piece. Those bearings are serviceable, unlike the 4WD unit bearings, and are quite easy to service and replace.

 

Wow, that's ridiculous. Boo to ford on that.

 

Wow, this comes as news to me. I'm going to have to replace my front rotors soon and was considering rotors from Frozen Rotors. I'm going to have give them a call now and see if the hub is included.

 

I have my power slot rotors and hawk pads. I was hoping to replace them this week. I just need some jack stands. I have the 4x4 and it looks like the rotors are a slide off and slide on thing. At lest I hope so. Shouldn't be too rusted since it's been in florida it's whole life.

 

Yes they are...

I haven't done them on mine, but I did the brakes on my buddy's '95 Suburban and it's the same concept.

You are correct, not that I ever doubted you, just had to see it for myself.

All you really have to do is: get a flat blade screwdriver, pry the dust cap off, pull the cotter pin, undo the nut, and carefullly remove the rotor taking note of how things come apart (bearings)

Most importantly: DON'T FORGET TO GREASE EVERYTHING ON THE AXLE!!! (bearings, hub, you get the idea...)

 

Most rwd 2wd vehicles have a one piece hub rotor assembly. Why don't you save yourself some money and go have the suckers resurfaced? 15 bucks a piece assuming the're within limits.

 

That's exactly what I plan on doing!

If they're too far gone, they're too far gone, but I'd much rather spend $30 at O'reillys than a nice chunk of change for a rotor assembly...

 

I took a second look at the ones I just took off and my earlier comment about the seperate hub was not correct on a 2WD Excursion. It is all a one piece casting. Hub and rotor together. Now I need to take a look at what some of the vendors are selling because their product information and illustration isn't clear. Let us know how your rotors last after a resurface. Since the primary damage seems to be from heat, I'm not sure how removing some of the mass by resurfacing is going to effect their longevity.

Lou Manglass