Loose rotor and shudder?

ntranced · Postby **ntranced** » Thu Jul 30, 2015 2:15 pm

Changed my front brake pads a couple of weeks ago and noticed that there was a shudder/vibration coming from the front left when slowing down to a stop.

Pulled it all apart over the weekend and after taking the wheels off, I noticed that my front left rotor is completely loose! Reading online says that the rotor is held on by the wheel and the wheel nuts but the right side is completely solid and I can't make it budge. Can't see any bolts or mechanism to hold it tight, so what gives?

rascal · Postby **rascal** » Thu Jul 30, 2015 5:24 pm

The rotor should be loose, and free to rotate a mm or so on the threads of the wheel studs.
It is only rigid to the hub when the wheel nuts are done up (normally with a wheel there ).

If your right one is solid without the wheel nuts tight or wheel attached then you most likely have a seized caliper or similar on the right, which isn't allowing the caliper to retract enough to loosen the rotor. Are you able to rotate the right wheel at all?

RS2000 · Postby **RS2000** » Thu Jul 30, 2015 5:26 pm

Probably just a bit of surface corrosion making the right caliper tight on the hub.

Cheers

hks_kansei · Postby **hks_kansei** » Thu Jul 30, 2015 6:23 pm

with the wheel off it will sometimes be loose.
Sometimes though it's on hard, as said above because it can rust onto the hub etc.

The wheel is what holds the rotor on tightly, nothing else.

As for vibration, I would be looking at a possibly warped rotor. Often from overheating, maybe you were a bit too agressive in bedding the new pads? not enough cooldown before coming to a complete stop.