front rotor removal help needed !!

[erikg]

On a 85 930, I have the front wheel off, I have removed the caliper and it is hanging nicely by a coat hanger, I removed the spacer, and the 13mm nuts holding the original spacer/offset. In the center there's a dust cap whit a threat in the middle of it. I can't get this "dustcap" off. What am I missing ????

[89911]

Is it the grease cap? This is friction fit into the opening. Try large channelocks or try prying it off. I use a large crow bar by placing the bent end and using the lug studs to pry from. Once off, you can get to the hub nut and remove with an allen key and loosed.

------------------
8 9 9 1 1, The last of the line.

[erikg]

i'll go downstairs and give that a shot, but it seemed like it was welded in there. I let you know the results.

thanks
erik

[Clark Griswald]

Those dust caps can be ***** to get off. But they are just pressed in. if the channel locks don't do it, try a hammer.

Hit it on the side, rotate the hub a bit, hit it again, rotate, hit, etc, etc, etc. You may have to use some force. Keep at it, it will come loose.

Once off you will see a threaded clamp held tight by an allen bolt. Remove the clamp, and you should be home free.

------------------
Chuck Moreland '86 Cab - "Sparky", '77 Targa - "Sweet Pea"

[This message has been edited by Clark Griswald (edited 06-23-2001).]

[erikg]

just tried it, it's not moving at all, I put a bolt in the threat in the center of the cap an pulled on that with some serious force, and it didn't even move. Should i be able to remove the spacer after I removed the 13 mm nuts ??

[Clark Griswald]

I am not sure we are talking about the same thing. The dust cover does not have any threads. Here is a couple of diagrams:



Item 33 above is the dust cover I was talking about.

Here is another image:



Which item is which image are you having the battle with?

[FAST FREDDIE]

HEY! THE BEST WAY TO GET THE OUTER WHEEL BEARING DUST COVER OFF IS TO USE A PROPER SIZE MUFFLER CLAMP TO APPLY PRESSURE TO SLOWLY PRY OFF THE OFTEN RUST CAKED COVER. JUST TAKES A LITTLE TIME AND PATIENCE.
GOOD LUCK

[erikg]

That is the same I was talking about, mine has a nut welded to the top of it, which is threaded. The problem is that I can't even really get around # 33, since it is recessed into # 25. Now # 25 is the one that was held on by the 13mm nuts, but after I took those off, # 25 is not budging either.

p.s. thanks for all your help so far !!

[randykyra]

erikg,
I just finished rebuiling my front-end and had the same problems. The Info you received so far is correct. The dust covers are sometimes a ***** to get off. So you may need to use a larger then normal hammer (small sledge hammer). The side to side trick that was mentioned works well. But I've found if your in the process of rebuilding these go ahead and apply a little heat to them using a set of torches. Heat does wonders. But, heat uniformly all around the dust cover. If you don't have torches use the hammer method and use some force they'll come off.
After you do get them off and are ready to take the spindles off you may need to use a puller. I used a large 3 hook (looks like a steering wheel puller but larger) puller and removed mine.
Hope this helps.


------------------
Randy
71 911E

[964Cab]

What ever you do don't get frustrated and hurt your eyes or worse. Have you got a new dust cover and if so can you use a drift, make a hole in it, and tear it off in pieces; assuming you have a new one to replace it with as even after all your efforts once off you'd likely need a new one anyway, right(?)

[erikg]

should the # 25 in the first diagram above come off by itself ??. Because I can't even get to the dustcap from the sides since it is recessed into the # 25 ??

[Early_S_Man]

No, it won't come off until you loosen #31, which is, of course, under the cap! All you did by taking loose the 13 mm bolts was to loosen the brake rotor from the hub!!!

Try a couple of worm-gear clamps tightened to the cap ... pry on opposite sides with large 18" screwdriver ... lay another screwdriver or chisel across hub so as not to dig in and damage the aluminum hub.
------------------
Warren Hall
1973 911S Targa

[This message has been edited by Early_S_Man (edited 06-24-2001).]

[Clark Griswald]

Erikg

I've never seen a dust cap with a nut on it, but it does sound like we are talking about the same thing. All the techniques people have offered can work. But I have found the hammer method to be the one that does it when all else fails.

You might spray a little liquid wrench around the cap, get it to go into the crack between 33 and 25. It really is just pressure fit in there, it's just real tight.

The right hammer technique is to hit perpendicular to the axle, careful not to hit the sheel studs. Hit it as hard as necessary.

If you watch the seam where it meets 25, you will see just a little movement. Maybe 1mm or less. That is what you want. Then rotate the hub and do it on another part of the dust cover. then another part, and another......

The idea is to just seesaw it back and forth, slowly working it's way out. Once it starts moving, it gets easier. It is in there about 3/8 of an inch.

Did I mention you may have to hit it HARD. Start with soft blows, if it doesn't move increase the intensity until you see the little 1mm wiggle.

You may do some cosmetic damage to the dust cap. Can't be helped. If that bugs you, replace with new dust caps.

Hang in there, it will come free.

[erikg]

Okay guys, thanks for all your help !! We finally put a bolt with a washer at the end thru that nut that was welded at the end of the dust/grease cap. We then took a tie rod end fork and tapped that between the washer and the hub and it came out perfectly. I guess that is what the prior owner had in mind from the beginning when he welded that nut on top of the cap, although it almost looks like that nut belong there, since it has threat, but not sides (it's just a round nut) I'm going to put the caliper back on and move to the other side. 4 hours per rotor change, not bad at all :-)Maybe the other side will only take 3 hours.... Thanks again guys

[stormcrow]

I found the easiest way to remove dust/grease covers is to take a screw driver and place it between the lip on the dust cover and the hub and tap it with a hammer. Once it opens up a little, rotate the hub and do the same on the opposite end. Keep doing that until you eventually tap it off.

Steve

[movin]

When you are ready to put the dust covers back on you might consider cutting 4, about 3/8 inch long slots with a fine hack saw, equally spaced, into the cover engagement end. This will allow easier installation and removal in the future. Just be sure to cut a distance slightly less than the stepped edge that will be concealed once installed, thus ensuring the cuts will be concealed also.

[This message has been edited by movin (edited 06-24-2001).]

[Jon Green]

The topic is pretty much closed now, glad to hear the cap came off OK.

If you stick at it the cap WILL come off (as you found).
I know your concern, it was one of the first jobs I did.
It didn't feel right hitting my new baby with an extremely large lump hammer!
All your mechanical sympathies tell you that you are doing something in the wrong order & the cap can't come off.

The saw cut idea is good, next time the caps are off I will do that.

There are several threads on this if you use the search.
One of the suggestions that worked for me, was the tool sold as a nail puller.
It got the cap started & then I used a large dead blow hammer to do the rest.

JG

[erikg]

just a last reply and thanks on this one; the other side took a whole 1 minute to remove after putting in the bolt and washer and slowly tapping the tie rod end fork between the hub and cap. My only concern is now that the pads that I had on, had some grooves in them exactly where the old rotors where drilled. (the holes were full of breakdust) I have noticed that the pads did leave some lines on the new rotors. The pads were only one week and 2 days of DE old. Wondering if I should replace the pads or that they will wear down those grooves ?