need help gtv brakes

Kjell · #1 (**permalink**) 10-09-2003, 09:40 PM

Hi All, I've started on a complete brake overhaul
on my 73 GTV. Having a couple of problems. I am starting at the back, replacing or rebuilding
everying.

1) I can't budge the brake rotor. It is wedded to the axle! I have cleaned off the corrosion, I
have tried heating the rotor, no luck. From the
looks of things it's been a good 20 yrs or more
since the rotors were changed (if ever!) Anyone
have any ideas??

2) I've worked on many ATE brakes on German cars
and was always able to pop out the brake pistons
by clamping one side and using a little compressed
air. Not on these. The manual is no help.
The IAP catalog says something about turning the
pistons to retract them. Must I turn them to remove? If so how?

Thanks a bunch!

**italcarguy** · #2 (**permalink**) 10-10-2003, 09:26 AM

a couple months ago i did the brakes on one of my cars and had the same problem. i just took a rubber hammer to the back side of the rotor and it popped right off...no damage done at all.

can't help you on the caliper issue, never having rebuilt one myself.

**papajam** · #3 (**permalink**) 10-10-2003, 11:10 AM

There are two flathead machine screws that hold the rotor onto the axle. They just might be a little hard to see because of dirt/rust etc. Remove the screws. Then take a 20 oz. (or so) hammer and strike the rotor on the same face that the screws go thru (like you're hitting the rotor ONTO the axle). Do this in the 4 spaces between the studs and the rotor will pop right off.

Sounds like the caliper pistons need a little persuasion. Place a piece of wood between the pistons and have a helper pump the brake pedal while saying 'resistance is futile'.
When reinstalling, the notched side of the piston that the pad touches, faces away from the direction of rotor rotation.

Kjell · #4 (**permalink**) 10-10-2003, 11:18 AM

Thanks, Jim. I have of course removed the screws (had to drill one out). I will
try your suggestion tonight. I have also
borrowed a flange puller. The calipers
are on the bench, I'll try cranking up the
air pressure (the pistons did move a bit
when I tried it yesterday, so they are
not stuck, it just seemed as if they hit
a stop of some sort, weird).

BigSwede · #5 (**permalink**) 10-10-2003, 01:47 PM

That noth in the piston is supposed to be in a very specific direction, you can actually buy a tool for adjusting them correctly.
I'll do some digging and see what I can find since I can't recall exactly how they should be oriented right now.

**papajam** · #6 (**permalink**) 10-11-2003, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by papajam

When reinstalling, the notched side of the piston that the pad touches, faces away from the direction of rotor rotation.

**John M** · #7 (**permalink**) 10-11-2003, 09:22 PM

I saw this thread and it reminded me of my ordeal I had pulling the rotors off the rusted up 84 I parted out over the last year. One trick I found on the back rotors is to take a dremel and a course sanding band and sand the rust off the lip of the axel that sits in front of the rotor. After impact screwdriving the screws out, and whacking all over the rotor, I finally took the dremel out and sanded that rust off the axel lip and both came off immediately.

Best Regards,
John M

**Sniady** · #8 (**permalink**) 10-11-2003, 11:08 PM

I had the same problem on my first GTV brake job. I just kept hammering all the way around the rotor, and it finally popped off. Me and pops almost those the thing was connected to the axle.

Kjell · #9 (**permalink**) 10-13-2003, 09:13 AM

Hi All, got the rotors off this weekend.
Here's what it took. Removed corrosion,
banged on them as pre Jim's suggestion,
applied a flange puller tightened it as tight as I could, heated rotor with a torch, them using a piece of 2 X 4,
hammered on the back of the rotor with a sledge hammer...... That's all it took!
Later on, pull the master cyclinder and
found.....the booster full of brake fluid,
damn. Oh well better slap a new booster
in there too, doing everything else anyway....

BigSwede · #10 (**permalink**) 10-13-2003, 10:43 AM

And here's the link I was talking about...

Link