[Cloud9...68]

Every time I get stuck with something I'm working on on the 968, and stop to ask the forum for advice, I'm able to resolve the (usually very simple) task I was working on as soon as I get back to it. So, hopefully this will be the case this time.



I'm replacing my front brake pads, and would like to remove the rotors to have them turned (or at least scuffed up a bit, as they aren't the least bit grooved, and look to be in excellent condition overall, despite many track hours). The rotors have come off very easily on every other car I've ever removed them from, but the 968's seem to be stuck pretty good, and have not yielded to a fair bit of tugging. I haven't resorted to using any tools, like a crow bar, yet, but the temptation is growing. The manual doesn't give a procedure for removing the rotors, which leads me to believe it should be easy. Any tips, or things I might be overlooking? Thanks.

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[flash]

front or rear?



if rear, i assume you removed the screw, and the parking brake is off - don't pry them off - however, you can tap on them pretty firmly with a non-metallic hammer to pop them loose



if it's the front you have to remove the bearing nut

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[jaap]

Like Flash said, but on the front I don't think you have to remove the bearing nut but you have to remove the two screws holding the rotor to the hub. In case they don't come of (due to rust etc) the rotors also have two threaded holes in which you can insert two bolt and force them away from the hubs, but it s easy to damage the rotor hat that way so be carefull

Don't know if you can have rotors turned when still attached to the hub, but then do as Flash said.



Jaap

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[flash]

it's been so long, you may be right - i can't remember - lol - obviously i'm getting old

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[Cloud9...68]

It's the fronts.



Jaap - Where are the two screws you mention? Under the center cap on the hat? Thanks.



Not that this necessarily means anything, but the manual's painstakingly detailed, step-by-step procedure for removing the rotor reads as follows:



Ahem...



"Remove rotor."



No mention of any screws or bearing nut, unless I missed something, which is entirely possible. It's also strange that nobody has ever mentioned having difficulty removing their front rotors on this forum. Am I the first one who's had trouble with this? The rotors (cross-drilled Zimmermans) are about five years old, with about 20,000 miles on them, and have spent their lives here in Austin, always garaged, seldom in rain, so rust doesn't seem like a likely problem. Thanks.

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[banditsc]

There should be two phillips screws on the rotor hat between the studs. If it's like all other Porsche rotors, they should be there. I just removed all the rotors on my 928 over the weekend and they had the screws. after removing them (can be hard, don't strip them), they may need a couple whacks on the hat to free them up.

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[jaap]

The screws both Flash and I mentioned are two philips? head countersunk bolts in the rim of the rotor hat (same as where the wheel studs stick through the hat) that attaches to the hub. They are actually there to keep the rotor from falling off when you remove the wheel.



Jaap



(eh, like banditsc says) ;-)

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[Cloud9...68]

I'm at work right now, so I'll have to wait till I get home to check, but my rotors are after market (Zimmerman), and unless I've lost my mind (not a possibility to be discounted by any means <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/tongue.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> ), I sure didn't see any philips head screws on the surface of the hat. Which, if correct, means that either there is a bearing nut I have to remove, or the things are just plain stuck.

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[PorscheDude]

Circled

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[Cloud9...68]

PorscheDude,



Ah! Pictorial evidence that I've lost my mind! OK, now I'm really dying to get home and look, but I remember my hats looking different from yours. I'm pretty sure mine were just plain, with no slots of any kind, or holes containing philips head screws, with just the five holes for the studs. The verdict on my sanity is forthcoming...



Edit: By the way, are your rotors Zimmermans, or another brand?

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[flash]

those are S4 calipers and rotors ("big reds") - the regular ones have the same screws though



here:

   

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[Cloud9...68]

The case is building... <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/blink.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[Cloud9...68]

On the off chance that I'm not completely insane, and there really aren't a pair of phillips head screws in the hats inches from my eyeballs as I'm tugging like a lunatic trying to free my rotors from their clutches, I'd like to go ahead and remove the cover in the centers of the hats to see if there is a nut holding the rotors on. The cover looks a little fragile to me. How difficult is it to remove? And how high is the likelihood that I'll destroy it in the process of removing it (them)? Thanks.

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[PorscheDude]

Pry it carefully with a large screwdriver. Under it you will find the wheel bearings and adjustable locking collar.



But I assure you it is just 2 small phillips screws securing it to the hub.



My brakes are factory, from a 993 twin turbo. 993 part numbers. Got the rotors from my friend at the Porsche dealer.



Flash, You may want to start referring to brake upgrades as their internal Porsche designation. Just to keep the "correct Porsche" names.

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[flash]

lol - i did - "big red" is not a porsche term either

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[xrad]

Cloud9: don;t mess with the hub center nut . it is set to produce a certain force on the bearings. If the rotors are tight it is due to corrosion/slightly the wrong size (thought of this because maybe PO had a set put on and the mechanic forgot the two screws after pounding it in place).



Plastic mallet tapping 180 degrees around rotor from back (just turn rotor to expose new surface to hit) should loosen it. Parking brake off.

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[Cloud9...68]

Well, I've solved the mystery, but uncovered a new one. The screws are indeed there, but I didn't see them because they are behind...spacers! Everything is so covered in dust, dirt, grime, etc., that it wasn't obvious to me that there was a separate disk covering the hat, but once I noticed it, and pried it off, there were the screws. So I'm slightly embrrassed, but at least the screws weren't staring me in the face.



But this begs the question - why would my car have spacers? The front wheels are very standard sized 7J x 17 996 10-spoke 996 wheels, but I have no idea what the offset is. Anybody know where to look this up?



I sprayed the screws with JB Catalyst penetrant, and will try unscrewing them later tonight. If they don't come right off, I'll try the heat gun. If that doesn't work, I'll be back at this thread asking for advice. Thanks for all the tips so far.

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[biotechee]

Spacers could be there for a couple of reasons-



- To help the wheel clear the bearing dust cap and/or brake calipers. Some Boxster/996 wheels may have certain offsets which cause the wheel hub to hit the bearing dust cap or cause the backside of the wheel to hit the caliper. I had 17" Boxster wheels on my coupe and put spacers on to prevent hitting the dust cap.



- To move the wheel out farther within the wheel well to improve looks or to help adjust for a different offset from that of a stock wheel. The spacers I added also made the wheels "fill out" the wheel well a little better. If I had kept the car, I would have put small spacers on the rears as well to push the rear wheels out a little- just for looks, nothing else.



You could always contact the previous owner and ask for his specific reasoning- I believe he put those wheel on along with a host of other upgrades.

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[Anchorman]

Re brake terminology - if I understand correctly (which I might not!), being used on 968s are the stock calipers; M030 calipers; 928 S4 calipers; and Twin Turbo (or "Big [color]") calipers.

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[flash]

ok - i thought the "big color" ones were the S4 calipers, as opposed to the black ones which were standard 928

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