QuestionI am trying to remove the front rotors on a 2000 elantra, have removed brake caliper, and caliper bracket, rotor looks free and clear except for maybe the large hub nut with cotter pin, rotor will not budge with elbow grease and mallet to rear side. The haynes manual says something about removing the steering knuckle to remove rotor, I don't have enough experience for that. Someone else on this site stated they just took a couple good whacks at it and it broke free. What am I missing?
AnswerHi, Aaron. I can confirm that you do not need to remove the axle nut, wheel hub, or knuckle.
Make sure that, if present, you've removed the Phillips screws attaching the rotor to the wheel hub. There are two of these screws installed at the factory as an installation aid. As they're not necessary for function, they're often left off if the rotor is removed for servicing, so they may also no longer be present.
If the screws are indeed removed, brute force and elbow grease are what you need. The inside circumference of the rotor is not that much larger than the outer circumference of the wheel hub, and rusting inside often causes severe seizing. I've had a couple cars where the rotors actually broke before they came off.
