Triumph Repair: Spitfire Mk III - removing front hub from disc brake, spitfire mk, brake caliper

Question

Picture Dear Howard,

I wonder whether you can offer any advice on how to separate the brake disc from the front hub on a Spitfire Mk III.  I removed the front brake assembly from the car; then removed the brake caliper, vertical link and steering arm from the brake assembly; and was left with the brake disc and front hub which were bolted together.  I removed the four bolts between the brake disc and front hub, but cannot get the two parts separated.

The attached picture shows where I am stuck.  Have you any thoughts on how to separate the brake disc and front hub?  Any advice that you can offer would be gratefully received.

Thanks


Peter

Answer
Hi Peter,
If you have the four bolts out there is nothing holding the disk to the hub except rust. You may try to heat and cool the area were the disk meets the hub to brake the rust free. You should not beat on the hub but support the hub and beat on the disk all the way around and you should be able to break it loose. Disks are much cheaper than hubs and available if you damage it. I get the best result with a torch on the disk in that area, then hammer all the way around the disk with the hub supported.
Howard