Philosophical/Design Brake Question

cowtown · 10-31-2003, 08:36 PM

Just got done installing new rotors and pads all around on my '88 Targa, something I've done 4 times now, and each time I have the following question:

Why did Porsche bolt the front rotors to the hub using 5 small bolts?

The rear rotors are just sandwiched between the wheel and hub, making replacement a 15 minute task. But I spent 5 times longer doing the fronts because the whole hub must be removed and separated.

Of course, I had to repack the bearings while I was in there, so that's part of the time spent on the fronts. But I know some cars also use the "sandwich" method in front.

Just wondering.

Happy Halloween!
Colin

coolbreeze · coolbreeze's Garage

You know that one had me all worked up too. I had to draw a picture to determine if they held the hub together and subsequintly the rim on. When my drawing got finished all I could tell is you better tork them before you replace the bearing nut and caliper. If you dont the sheet metal backing does not let you get a wrench on the back side of the bolt. That pissed me off and I took them apart twice.

Zeke · 11-01-2003, 06:56 AM

Be happy it's not a cast hub and rotor ass'y. Then you get to replace the whole thing each time. On some cars, this is frightfully expensive.

cowtown · 11-01-2003, 08:24 AM

coolbreeze, my sheetmetal got ditched as soon as I started running DE events...it makes things easier

.

It sounds like you removed the 5 bolts while the hub was still mounted? I never thought of doing that. I take the whole hub/rotor assy. to the workbench and put it in a vise with soft jaws to to the disassembly and retorquing.

Still wondering why the thing is put together exactly that way. Dr. P. must have had a good reason, it just escapes me.