Doing front brakes soon, need some answers...

[Rockin302]

I'll be replacing my front brakes soon (1990 Coupe) and have a question about the rotors. I know there's an inner and outer bearing in the hub but I heard there's a washer (aka bearing race) that holds the bearings in place and I need some special bearing press to install these?

I plan on getting brand new rotors and bearings so I'm wondering if anyone out there has done this and how difficult is it? Also, can I reuse the cotter pin or is it better to just replace it with new ones.

Thanks!

 

[Rockin302]

Almost forgot, anyone recommend a good bearing grease or all they all the same?

 

[jrichker]

The races are pressed into the rotors. A hammere & punch is all that is needed to remove them. Use a piece of 2x4 to help drive them back into place. Some new rotors will come with the bearings already pressed into place.

Any of the high temp wheel bearing greases will do OK. Always get new cotter pins, they are cheap. The nut on the spindle only gets hand tight. Push against the rotor so that the slack is out of the rotor & bearings and then finger tighten the nut down so that the new cotter pin will slide in. The only time I use a wrench or pliers to tighten the nut is to get the last 1/1000 of an inch so that the cotter pin lines up & slides in. When you are done the is no preload and no slop in the bearing/rotor setup.

 

[Rockin302]

Great! Thanks Jrichker!