Rotor replacement

Tiny
CARSRTROUBLE
  • MEMBER
  • 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER
  • 6 CYL
  • AWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 110,000 MILES
How do I remove the front and rear rotors on a my car
Thursday, February 12th, 2009 AT 7:26 AM

13 Replies

Tiny
MMPRINCE4000
  • MECHANIC
  • 8,549 POSTS
Remove wheel, caliper (hang it out of way with wire, do not let it hang by hose) and caliper bracket bolted to knuckle.
Some rotors are held in place with small clips on wheel stud, if so then remove them (they do not have to be replaced).
Rotor should pull off, but sometimes can be rusted in place, so you may have to use a penetrating oil and RUBBER hammer to dislodge.

See the guides below on front and rear brake replacement, they will help

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-replace-front-brake-pads-and-rotors-fwd

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-replace-rear-brake-pads-and-rotors

Below are the diagrams for your front and rear brakes
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Thursday, February 12th, 2009 AT 7:47 AM
Tiny
2CARPRO JACK
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I suggest doing this 1 wheel at a time, so you dont accidentally blow out a caliper by compressing the opposite one. Raise and support vehicle. Remove wheels, then unbolt caliper from its mount. Unbolt caliper mounting bracket. Should be 2 Phillips head screws holding therotor on, you will most likely need a "impact driver" you should be able to rent one. Remove screws, remove rotor. Be sure to clean your new rotors with brake cleaner to get the anti-rusting agent of of the braking surface. Reverse for install. You will also need abig pair of Channel-Lock pliers or a c-clamp to compress the caliper in (slowly) so it will fit over the new pads. Lube all caliper slides and clean all surfaces where the pads ride to assure smooth operation. When all done, be sure to slowly pump the brake pedal until hard to reseat the calipers to the pads, otherwise you wont have brakes for the first few pumps when you drive away(scary)
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Thursday, February 12th, 2009 AT 7:48 AM
Tiny
BIGJOHN1242
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2002 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER
  • 6 CYL
  • AWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 110,000 MILES
Can I change front rotors myself on 2002 toyota highlander?
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Wednesday, October 24th, 2018 AT 5:54 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,190 POSTS
Refer to our homepage under the DIY section. There is section that explaines how.
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Wednesday, October 24th, 2018 AT 5:54 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MDILLARD
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER
Is there any trick to removing the rear rotors from the Toyota Highlander? I removed all of the brake hardware(Calipers, carrier) but the rotor will not come off. It does not have a disk rotor screw and there is no nut on the axle. I even tapped it with a rubber hammer and still no luck. Any suggestions?

The car is a 2003 Toyota Highlander Limited with 97,000 miles. It is 2 wheel drive and has a V6 engine.
Thanks
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Wednesday, October 24th, 2018 AT 5:54 PM (Merged)
Tiny
2CARPRO JACK
  • MECHANIC
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Toyota usually has 2 threaded holes on the face of the rotor. Screw 2 bolts into them and tighten evenly, should press it off
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Wednesday, October 24th, 2018 AT 5:54 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MDILLARD
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  • 2 POSTS
Thank you. This worked perfectly
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Wednesday, October 24th, 2018 AT 5:54 PM (Merged)
Tiny
LTRALPH13
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  • 1 POST
  • 2003 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 84,000 MILES
I'm attempting to replace a front rotor on my 2003 Toyota Highlander. 4 cyl, 2wd. There is a front axle nut that I cannot remove even with 125 psi on my impact wrench. Is this nut actually thredded or a nylon pressed on nut?I also see two thredded holes on the front face of the rotor, What size are these(Metric)? And if thredded with bolts will they press the rotor off the axle with this nut in place?
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Wednesday, October 24th, 2018 AT 5:54 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MASTERTECHTIM
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,749 POSTS
Yes leave the nut alone. The bolts are 8mm by 1.25 just screw them in evenly, spray with penetrating oil and tap with a hammer. They should come off fairly easy. Hit it hard with the hammer if you have to, it will pop off. Hope this helps
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Wednesday, October 24th, 2018 AT 5:54 PM (Merged)
Tiny
VERTELIA
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  • 1 POST
  • 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER
2004 Toyota Highlander

How do you remove the rotors from a 2004 toyota highlander
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Wednesday, October 24th, 2018 AT 5:54 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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Hi vertelia,

The rotor can be taken off after removal of the brake calipers.
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Wednesday, October 24th, 2018 AT 5:54 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SHELLBELLS11163
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2001 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER
  • 6 CYL
  • AWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 13,000 MILES
Hello There.
Last time I had tires put on the tire place put regular lug nuts back on instead of the chrome ones that were supposed to go on my wheels. Last week I took my car in for balance and rotate and for them to put the appropriate lug nuts back on. When I took the car in there was no shake and shimmy when I applied the brakes. After the rotate, balance and new lug nuts, the car shakes BAD when I put the brakes on. I took the car back and they said "Oh, you need new brakes and possibly rotors." Several friends have told me that because of the wrong lug nuts, it warped the rotors and it is the tire place's fault. If I go back to them and ask that they replace the rotors due to their error, do I have solid ground to stand on?
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Wednesday, October 24th, 2018 AT 5:54 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DOCFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
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They most likely over torqued the lugs which will warp rotors. Good Luck but doubt if you will get any satisfaction. You could ask Service Manager to use a torque wrench to loosen lugs and note ft lbs. If above recommend then maybe they may do something. I would find another tire shop.
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Wednesday, October 24th, 2018 AT 5:54 PM (Merged)

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