LX450 rear rotor help (1 Viewer)

[mmarant]

I left a thread a few weeks ago re: replacing rear rotors on my 97 LX450. Got some great responses and help. Thanks to all. I am in the middle of the job and am still unable to get the rotors off the truck. Took the calipers off and the disc does not spin freely. Followed my FSM and tried loosening the "shoe adjuster", but still no success. There are some threaded holes that look as though I could push the rotor off. Any suggestions?

 

[Rich]

Others have posted in this forum the right size bolts to insert into the threaded holes you have observed to push off the rotor. I don't recall the size, go hunt!

 

[IdahoDoug]

Be sure to pound on the drum smartly with a hammer every rotation of the bolts you're using to help pull the drum/rotor off. The jar and vibration help it to let loose of the brake shoe inside the drum as you go. Helps prevent the shoe jamming too tightly. You're pulling the drum off the shoes and your shoes won't retract so they're in a slight groove.

DougM

 

[landtank]

First make sure the e-brake is completely released at the wheel. The bellcranks do stick and might be where the problem is. If the rotor spins freely than 2 8mm bolts threaded into the rotor should do the trick.

 

[ogsuv]

At about 196k, I had to bash the hell out of mine with a 20 oz. hammer and took a good 20 min. (with a hangover it really sucked) I was starting to really believe there was something holding it in place, just kept whacking... I now own a 2 lb. hammer, that would have helped back then.

keep bangin...........

 

[John E Davies]

Be sure to inspect the hold down pins (the doohickies with the springs that keep the shoes in place) to make sure they are not bent or twisted. ESPECIALLY if you have to beat on the drums to get them off! If the shoes aren't held tightly against the backing plate, they will drag and get hot and glazed. If I remember correctly one pin is straight and the other has two 90 degree bends to allow the parking brake arm to clear it.

Don't get the parking brake drum resurfaced or your shoes won't fit any more. That really sucks....

Good luck.

John

 

[mmarant]

Thanks to all for the advice. Will try to tomorrow and hoping for success! You guys are great to a newb!

 

[mmarant]

Rear Rotor Success!!!

Left some threads in February regarding changing my rear rotors on a 97 LX 450. Happy to report back it is completed and everything works great. First wanted to thank any and all of you who assisted me with advice and suggestions. Got the service manual from Cruiser Dan (great guy) and it helped a tremendous amount. I also wanted to briefly describe the steps to accomplish the job. In short I replaced rear pads and rotors. Approximately 2hrs or less going smooth. Where I got hung up was actually getting the rotor off of the axle. This is accomplished by a "tension adjuster" inside the rotor. Accessed through a hole in the rotor with a flat screw driver, the tension is released and the rotor may spin freely and then be pulled off (per the manual). What I found I had to do was use 8 or 10 mm (per Lexus service dept, different sizes for different years) bolts approximately 2-2.5 inches long to push the rotor off the axle. Be sure to "strike rotor smartly" with a 3-5lb hammer with each full turn on the bolts. One rotor just came off no problem. The second one hung up on the the front and rear shoes inside the rotor. Messing with it finally got it off. All is well now and I sincerely thank all who gave any assistance and help with this project. Matthew