How to Replace Four-Wheel Drive Brake Rotors

Four-wheel drive is a system that allows the transmission to drive all four wheels while still allowing the front wheels to steer the vehicle. There are many systems to allow the steering wheels to turn, from CV-style axles to wheel joints, similar in construction to universal joints. Manual, mechanical or electric hubs allow the selection of two- or four-wheel drive. There is a variety of methods to change four-wheel drive rotors, depending upon the drive system, but most of the procedure is common among all types.

Instructions

1

Jack the vehicle up on jack stands, ensuring that the parking brake is set. Block the rear wheels with wooden blocks or wheel chocks to keep the vehicle from rolling. Using the lug wrench, remove the wheel nuts and the front tire and set them aside.

2

Consult your manual and remove the outer four-wheel drive hub. These may be manual, mechanical or electric. Some four-wheel drives do not have this type of hub at all and may just have a bearing cap. Whatever the outer cap looks like, follow the directions in your specific manual and remove it.

3

Use the four-wheel drive socket to remove the nut and washer that hold in the hub. There are a few different styles of four-wheel drive sockets, a four-prong, a six-prong and a few others. These are often available through loan-a-tool programs at your local auto-parts store. Once the nut and washer have been removed, slide the hub off the axle, being careful to catch the outer bearing as the hub reaches the end of the spindle.

4

Using the appropriate socket, remove the caliper. Using a bungee cord or shot piece of rope, hang the caliper up and out of the way. Do not allow the caliper to hang by the rubber brake line.

5

Set the hub on a flat surface and using a large socket or an impact wrench, remove the bolts that hold the rotor to the hub. Typically there are five to eight bolts. Remove the old rotor and install the new one.

6

Remove the wheel seal and the inner bearings. Once you have installed the new rotor on the hub, you should have it turned by a machine shop or an auto-parts store. This will make the new rotor true to the hub, and will prevent brake pulse.

7

Reinstall the bearings and pack them with grease. Install a new wheel seal. Reinstall all parts using a torque wrench to tighten the bolts to the correct specification.