2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Rear Rotor Removal - 01

[Joe Mc]

Buddy of mine asked me to help change rotors out back on his 3500 "01". I said, "sure, they are knock offs, once you remove the caliper, either they have a screw that holds them in place to R&R caliper, or you just give them a whack with a hammer". He asked "are you sure"? I said, "No, but they cant be any harder than removing the ones on the front of my 99, we'll figure it out".



Ah, before we start tearing into his rear brake job tomorrow, (Sunday when the only parts places open are those chain stores, you know the ones that can "order" anything and have it for you in a few days . . . maybe) Am I even close? My 99, obviously, has drums out back.



Thanks,

 

[Mopar_Tim]

i am not sure about the 3500 but my 2500 you have to beat on the edge of the rotor right where the little ridge is on the outside of the wheel mounting surface straight in towards the axle ... . not up and down



had to keep hitting till the rust and brake dust moves around enough for the rotor to start to move ..... keep going and it will come off

 

[Joe Mc]

Ah ha! So I'm guessing the old - throw a few lug nuts on after the tires are off, get the axels spinning a bit and hit the brakes - trick would work as well.



Thanks for the reply.

 

[PC12Driver]

I think you're gonna find a difference between the 2500 and the 3500 here. On the duallys the hub and rotor need to come off as an assembly (pull the axle and remove the hub nut), and then you can remove the disk from the hub.



With that in mind, the 3500s have a one-use locking tab that holds the hub nut on that will probably be destroyed upon removal, so you'll want to have replacements on hand. Also, now would be a really good time to replace the parking brake shoes if they've already been adjusted a few times.

 

[Joe Mc]

I think you're gonna find a difference between the 2500 and the 3500 here. On the duallys the hub and rotor need to come off as an assembly (pull the axle and remove the hub nut), and then you can remove the disk from the hub.



With that in mind, the 3500s have a one-use locking tab that holds the hub nut on that will probably be destroyed upon removal, so you'll want to have replacements on hand. Also, now would be a really good time to replace the parking brake shoes if they've already been adjusted a few times.

Oh, "HOW" correct you were!, we just finished. Started about 6PM yesterday (Saturday), upon removal of the tires I recognized the rotors were not anything that I thought they were. However, they were very similar to the front on my 99, rotor & hub assy removal, etc. , with one major difference for the good - the wheel studs don't have to come off.



Friggin things are HUGE! Very deep and heavy, especially since the old ones came off with the hub as an assembly. Pretty easy splitting the hub & rotor, once all the bolts were out a few swift whacks with a 5# maul and "pop", they were off. Everything went pretty smooth, considering my buddy didn't plan on one caliper being locked/frozen. Of course it was about 6:30 Sat night and we had a major "opps" since we didn't have the calipers. So, after 3 phone calls, to various parts places, we got lucky and landed a set for pick up Sunday 9am. Whew!



All said and done from 10AM - 12:45PM we were done and my buddy's truck was back on the road, with new calipers, rotors and pads - and the rear axle bearings properly set. He was a happy camper.

 

[kelly4463]

A big thanks to Joe Mc Oo. Thank you for your help Tell the wife thanks for letting the truck sit in the driveway all night :-laf

 

[Joe Mc]

Yea - and a big thanks to Kelly for calling me the next day to tell me "the guy at work heard a loud squeeling noise when I pulled up, so I look at my right rear and there's metal shavings everywhere, all over the wheel, all over the ground - EVERYWHERE. "



My buddy Kelly . . . leads me on for at least 2 minutes, I'm thinking the bearing pre-load slipped and chewed the _ _ _ _ out of the housing tube :{ etc. etc. I keep asking him "you are kidding me right?" and he just keeps pouring it on. :-{}Then says, "Dude, thanks for the great job it's perfect".



Hey "that's what friends are for". But, he understands "What goes around, comes around", so Kel, if you think the little call about the hissing under the hood and possible head gasket trick of this morning makes us even :-laf :-laf :-laf nope, not yet my brother.