Disc Brake -- Seperating Rotor from Spindle from Caliper

[bwc302]

Well, I am tearing my donor 76 2wd 1/2 ton disc brake front end apart (or trying to) and have a question that a newbie such as me must ask.

How the heck do you get the old disc off':lol:'

Started tearing the passengers side down first and have the dust cap and bearings out (so rotor is loose) but to my amazement the caliper seems to be part of the spindle.

I was able to drive the king pin out (surprised me too, but it came off with a big hammer and a 1/2" drive 6" extension that was previously used as a punch).

I can only hope that it is as easy as prying the caliper piston away from the rotor and it falls off':D'

Looking for those who have been there to tell me what my next steps should be. Also, is this a common configuration? Looks different than the spindle in the Disc Brake Conversion How to.

Thanks,

Bobby

[fordman]

there's a bolt on the bottom/side of the caliper on my 78 discs that have to be removed in order to take them off. once the bolt is gone they should be able to come off.

[bwc302]

I saw and have removed the 1 bolt I saw toward the bottom of the caliper (goes through a semi U grooved deal on the side of the caliper). There is a second semi U grooved (maybe slotted is a better word) that has no threads behind it.

Could this be the same one mentioned? If so, what do you do then, just pound on it from both sides until it comes loose? I do not think this truck has been on the road in years so there is some rust on the rotor and caliper.

Thanks,

Bobby

[FORDification]

You can bang away all day long with a BFH and it ain't goin' anywhere. What you need to do is tap out a long spring keeper, from the backside out:

[bwc302]

looking at the picture helps alot.

I just need to wedge a screwdriver into that spot and pry it outward?

Thanks,

Bobby

[FORDification]

I don't think I have that completely right....but I'm not able to look at mine to recall specifically. However, the yellow arrow in the picture above is actually pointing to the flat spring. IIRC it's the flat piece of steel immediately above the spring that needs to be removed. It's just a wedge and need to be tapped out from the backside to the front. Once removed, that will allow the caliper to tip forward and slide out. Don't pry anything and don't start whacking on the spring...tap out that wedge on top.

[bwc302]

Thanks Keith, I reread your post as well and figured you meant to slide a screwdriver inside the caliper and punch the tab out from the inside.

I will give that a shot and if all goes well will repeat on other caliper.

Thanks again for your help and a great site.

Bobby