Brake Rotor Removal for a 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer

Brake rotor damage is often the result of a poor brake pad replacement. High speeds, especially highway stop and go driving, can warp the brake rotor as well. When this happens, the car skips to a stop when the brake pedal is applied. The procedure for removing a brake rotor from the 2004 Lancer is the same whether you're removing one or all four rotors from the car.

Instructions

1

Apply the emergency brake fully on the car. Crack the lug nuts on the front driver tire with a lug wrench. Do not remove the lug nuts completely, only loosen them. This makes it easier to take the lug nuts off once the Lancer's jacked up.

2

Raise the car with a car jack. The bottom of the tire should measure 8 inches from the ground.

3

Slide a jack stand into position a few inches to the right of the car jack. Raise the support arm on the jack stand to equal the height of the car jack. Return the locking pin to the support arm on the jack stand to secure its height. Slightly rock the Lancer back and forth a bit to make sure that it's stable.

4

Remove the lug nuts from the tire one at a time. Support the tire with one hand while removing the final lug nut. This action stops the tire from falling onto and damaging the hub bolt threads.

5

Pull the tire off the hub using both hands, using care not to drag the tire across the threads of the hub bolts. Set the tire and its lug nuts to the side of the work area.

6

Remove the two bolts holding the brake caliper on its inner left and right side with a socket wrench. Place the bolts in your pocket for safe keeping.

7

Set a 5-gallon bucket on the right side of the brake caliper within the wheel well. Using both hands, carefully slide the brake caliper off the brake rotor and set it on top of the bucket. Do not disconnect or twist the brake line.

8

Remove the two small bolts on the face of the brake rotor. The bolts hold the brake rotor in place on the hub. Keep the bolts in a safe place.

9

Slowly slide the rotor off the hub bolts. If the brake rotor seems jammed or stuck, use a rubber mallet to tap around its rear circumference to release it.