Rotor Will Not Fit Over Emergency Brake Pads

thomas04 · **Joined:** Sun Feb 28, 2010 1:57 pm **Posts:** 129

Good day.

As the title suggest my rear driver side rotor will not fit over emergency brake pad shoes. I have the rear brake off. The brake pad torque setting screw/nut combo is let off all the way. There should be no physical reason as to why the rotor is not fitting on. The rotors were new 20k ago so it is not a matter of smaller inside diameter rotor.

Has any one dealt with this situation or has some insight as to how to get the rotor onto these pads?

Thanks.

Peace,

Thomas

Dgideon · **Posted:** Sat May 28, 2016 1:59 pm

Here is a LOST link that may shed some light on your problem.

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=9768

NOTE: The star wheel adjuster needs to be freed up and backed off too...

thomas04 · **Joined:** Sun Feb 28, 2010 1:57 pm **Posts:** 129

Interesting. I will try some heat and see what I can do. This may very well be the case indeed. Thanks for the link!!

LibertyFever · **Posted:** Sat May 28, 2016 4:42 pm

I find that everytime I pull off my rear rotors I have to totally dismantle my E brake hardware, lubricate it well with NeverSieze and reassemble it. Including the E brake adjuster.

This pic is of the upper portion of the E brake where the cable attaches to the hardware.

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geordi · **Posted:** Sun May 29, 2016 12:28 am

I hate drum brakes. This is one reason why I never disassemble the rear brakes beyond the disc pads.

The VW system is a weird design, but they actually figured out how to have a cable-driven disc brake caliper - it spins when the cable pulls on it, and the piston extends itself on a big screw. You have to rotate them as you compress them to change the pads, but this is an ingenious design.

TheBlueKJ · **Posted:** Sun May 29, 2016 9:46 am

geordi wrote:

I hate drum brakes. This is one reason why I never disassemble the rear brakes beyond the disc pads.

The VW system is a weird design, but they actually figured out how to have a cable-driven disc brake caliper - it spins when the cable pulls on it, and the piston extends itself on a big screw. You have to rotate them as you compress them to change the pads, but this is an ingenious design.

Ford also has this design as well.

My lever actuators were siezed on my e-brake so I took them out and broke them free and also completely disassembled the e-brake and tossed everything since it was all trashed anyway. I've been running without an e-brake for 2 years now

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turblediesel · **Posted:** Sun May 29, 2016 11:22 am

geordi wrote:

I hate drum brakes. This is one reason why I never disassemble the rear brakes beyond the disc pads.

The VW system is a weird design, but they actually figured out how to have a cable-driven disc brake caliper - it spins when the cable pulls on it, and the piston extends itself on a big screw. You have to rotate them as you compress them to change the pads, but this is an ingenious design.

Alfa Romeo Alfettas had a system like that on their inboard rear disc brakes. I had to take one apart to figure it out but the other side went much faster.

95Z28A4 · **Joined:** Sun Mar 30, 2014 9:53 am **Posts:** 297

TheBlueKJ wrote:

geordi wrote:

I hate drum brakes. This is one reason why I never disassemble the rear brakes beyond the disc pads.

The VW system is a weird design, but they actually figured out how to have a cable-driven disc brake caliper - it spins when the cable pulls on it, and the piston extends itself on a big screw. You have to rotate them as you compress them to change the pads, but this is an ingenious design.

Ford also has this design as well.

My lever actuators were siezed on my e-brake so I took them out and broke them free and also completely disassembled the e-brake and tossed everything since it was all trashed anyway. I've been running without an e-brake for 2 years now

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GM and Ford have been using this design since the late '70s. Both also use the drum-in-hat design for e-brakes like our Libertys. Given a choice, I'll take the drum-in-hat design.

LibertyFever · **Posted:** Sun May 29, 2016 12:59 pm

TheBlueKJ wrote:

My lever actuators were siezed on my e-brake so I took them out and broke them free and also completely disassembled the e-brake and tossed everything since it was all trashed anyway. I've been running without an e-brake for 2 years now

Sent from my iPhone using the power of children's laughter

Here in New Brunswick, Canada we have annual mechanical inspections of our vehicles. Therefore our E brakes and every other essential system on our vehicles has to work.
It's probably the only time I actually test or use my E brake.

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[GRINNING FACE WITH SMILING EYES]

thomas04 · **Joined:** Sun Feb 28, 2010 1:57 pm **Posts:** 129

The scissor aspect of the ebrake has been freed up. However, the rotor will still not fit over inside pads. I have have everything loosened up but still no go.

Any other tricks I can try before I throw this darn setup in the garbage?

geordi · **Posted:** Sun May 29, 2016 4:53 pm

Check the inside rim of the disc / hat to see if maybe there is a ridge of rusticles that you can file off or just break off with a hammer. That could be all that is jamming you up.

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Sir Sam · **Posted:** Sun May 29, 2016 6:44 pm

I do not envy those in the rust belt. That looks nasty.

LibertyFever · **Posted:** Sun May 29, 2016 11:04 pm

thomas04 wrote:

The scissor aspect of the ebrake has been freed up. However, the rotor will still not fit over inside pads. I have have everything loosened up but still no go.

Any other tricks I can try before I throw this darn setup in the garbage?

Don't feel bad. The very first time I tried to replace my rear rotors I couldn't get the rotors off. I gave up trying to and took my Jeep to my local garage.

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Rixram · **Posted:** Tue May 31, 2016 2:59 pm

Okay, since no one has asked, and because I did this to myself once for a few minutes, I've got to ask a simple question:

Since your vehicle is undoubtedly on jack stands, you jacked it up. Did you remember to disengage the parking brake before attempting to fit the rotor/drum assembly back on?

thomas04 · **Joined:** Sun Feb 28, 2010 1:57 pm **Posts:** 129

Well the rotor finally went back on. Wire brushed the inside of the rotor and a rubber mallet for some love touches and she slide on. I may have had the star nut bolt unit to low on the ebrake system. If that makes sense awesome. Thanks again for all the help. It feels a whole lot better hearing experience from others.

Peace.

LibertyFever · **Posted:** Thu Jun 02, 2016 7:27 am

Have you tested the E brake yet thomas04?
It may need an adjustment of that "star nut bolt".
You just need to adjust it until the E brake shoes begin to rub.
I don't believe that they will self adjust like the old style drum brake systems used to.

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Rotor Will Not Fit Over Emergency Brake Pads

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