How to Install Rotors on a Toyota 4WD

As its name implies, the Toyota 4WD is equipped with four wheel drive. This adds a few extra steps and precautions to the rotor removal process. Even though this job will take a little longer than removing a rotor on a rear wheel drive vehicle, it's still a relatively simple task. Budget between twenty and thirty minutes per rotor to complete this process. Make sure your replacement rotors are designed to fit your model year of the 4WD.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

things you'll need:

• Replacement rotors for your model year of 4WD
• Floor jack
• Jack stands
• Wheel chocks
• Tire iron
• Socket wrench
• Torx wrench
• Alan wrenches
• Flat head screwdriver
• Twist ties, nylon ties or twine

1. Jacking up the 4WD

   • 1

     Park on a level surface. Make sure that the four wheel drive is turned off and the parking brake is set.

   • 2

     Decide whether you want to work on the front end or back end rotors first. You can raise the front end and do both front rotors first or vice versa with the rear end, but you can only work on either the front or back end rotors at a time.

   • 3

     Place wheel chocks behind both of the wheels that will remain on the ground. Then position the jack under a solid part of the frame on the opposite end of the car. Carefully jack the vehicle up until it's high enough for you to slide jack stands underneath.

   • 4

     Slide two jack stands under the raised end of the car. Make sure one is on each side of the vehicle and that both are positioned under solid sections of the frame. Slowly lower the vehicle onto the jack stands and pull the floor jack out.

   Removing a Rotor

   • 1

     Remove all of the lug nuts from the tire and wheel assembly using a tire iron. Then pull the tire and wheel assembly off of the wheel spindle.

   • 2

     Remove the two bolts on top of the brake caliper using a socket wrench. Pull the caliper off of the rotor when the bolts have been removed, but do not allow it to dangle by the brake line.

   • 3

     Tie the caliper to a rigid part of the underbody using a twist tie, nylon tie, twine or some other binding material. Make sure it is suspended so that there is no pressure on the brake line.

   • 4

     Pull both brake pads out of the caliper mount. If they're stuck to the sides of the rotor, use a flat head screwdriver to pry them off.

   • 5

     Remove the caliper mount by unscrewing its retention bolts with a socket wrench.

   • 6

     Remove the grease cap on the end of the spindle. This is held in place with six Allen screws that can be removed with an Allen wrench.

   • 7

     Use a socket wrench to remove the large bolt located just beneath the grease cap, and pull off the washer hidden just beneath the bolt.

   • 8

     Use a Torx wrench to remove the automatic locking hub from the end of the spindle. There are three Torx bolts that need to be removed.

   • 9

     Pull the old rotor off of the spindle.

   Installing a Rotor

   • 1

     Slide the new rotor onto the wheel spindle.

   • 2

     Slide the automatic locking hub assembly onto the spindle on top of the rotor. Insert the original three Torx bolts and tighten them down with a Torx wrench.

   • 3

     Slide the large grease cap washer over the large grease cap bolt. Then screw the bolt into the center of the spindle using a socket wrench.

   • 4

     Place the grease cap over the end of the spindle. Reinsert the six Allen screws and tighten them down with an alan wrench.

   • 5

     Slide the caliper mount onto the side of the rotor near the hanging caliper. Reinsert the caliper mount bolts and tighten them all with a socket wrench.

   • 6

     Put the brake pads back into place inside the caliper mount, making sure the pads are facing the rotor.

   • 7

     Untie the hanging caliper and place it back over the caliper mount. Reinsert the two caliper bolts and tighten them both with a socket wrench.

   • 8

     Slide the wheel and tire assembly back onto the end of the wheel spindle and tighten down all of the lug nuts.