Have a 2001 protege, and I'm having trouble removing the front rotor. I did remove the caliper, is there something else I need to remove or are they possibly just rusted on there?

 

Being from south texas and driving on the beach a lot, I had a similar problem. My rotor was rusted to the hub & bearing assembly on the steering knuckle assembly.

I bought a 3-jaw puller (you can get it at autozone or any hardware store) and put it on the rotor with the center screw on the axle lock nut / CV driveaxle shaft part. Tighten the puller to engage the jaws until the rotor pops off. Be careful, because it will pop off with quite some force behind it from the puller jaws.

Good luck! It's reallly quite easy. The puller is $15-20.


EDIT: are you replacing or reusing the rotor? If you hammer on the rotor, don't hammer from behind it or on the rotor or rotor edge; only hammer on the front or front-side (near the lug studs) without hitting the studs or rotor surface. I'm not sure if you use a puller whether it would warp or render the rotor useless (I doubt it would render it useless though since the pulling force is equally distributed). Comments from a professional mechanic?

 

not a professional mechanic, but i have been around. a puller will keep it from warping while it is being removed, though if the rotors are seizing up on the hub, it might just be time for some new ones. knock them off of there and just buy a pair of new rotors. they should be about $30 each.

 

I agree, it is worth it to replace them. Then, you can hammer with reckless abandon. I hammered that thing until I was blue in the face, though. Nothing worked but the puller for me (very rusted from driving in salty water puddles, etc.)

 

Just wanted to add that you can remove the rotors by knocking the crap out of the rear of the rotor with a 2.5 lb hammer then rotate the rotor 180 degrees and hit it again. Usually it only takes 2-3 rotations before it pops off...BUT, IT WILL DESTROY THE ROTOR! So if you are having to remove the rotors for machining/replacement (don't machine, the rotors are cheap) then don't worry about it and bang away. Otherwise, get a puller.

 

a little pb blaster helps