can the rear rotors be changed with out removing the whole rear end from the car , is there a thread that takes you thru the steps to do the job.

 

I'm assuming you've got the inboard brakes.
In "The Book", which can be found in the sticky links, starting on page 438, Kirby explains the process.
Sorry, I can't help more than that, luckily, I've got the outboard brakes.

Bill

 

I won't say it can't be done, but by the time you did what it took, to do it without removing the rear suspension, you may would work three times as long, and twice as hard. Its not a fun job, thats for sure. To take them out, I can only imagine you would disassemble so much of the rear suspension, that it would be much better to just remove the rear assembly, get it over with. I've done the job three times, on three different cars, and it seems it gets harder every time, lol.

 

I've got to replace the Rotors on my Grey XJS but I may put it off in favor of getting my Red XJS on the road.

Not so much being lazy but my Red XJS has been sitting on my Hydraulic Car Ramp for the past 15 years and it would be so much easier, using that to drop the IRS Cage.

There is a Video on Youtube of a Guy who tried to replace the Rotors in Situ but gave up and took out the IRS cage, which seems to be the only real way to do it, though it probably isn't the easiest job in the World.

 

In answer to your question, YES, it can be done. Not the smartest plan on the planet, as mentioned above.

I did our S2 V12 a long time ago, before computers and "The Book", and I had the cradle out in just over an hour. No fancy stuff, just a concrete floor, 2 jackstands, and a large floor jack.

Heaps of beer for stamina control.

Did the rotors, parkbrake calipers, main caliper seals, inner swivel bearings, and output shaft seals/bearings, reshimed the inner pivot cast brackets. Still there today, and good as when I finished it.

I have done 10?? or so now, and always take the cradle out.

 

Cradle out was about 1.5 hours on my own(suggest moral support and an extra set of hands to pass said beer). Front on ramps, rear on stands.
Hardest part was over axle pipes rusted in place.

Then replace everything you can while it's out. And you need 3 hands to put it back, I managed with two but it's hard yakka.

Make sure you have, beer, book and JF open on your workbench if it is your first attempt. I reckon I could do it from memory second time around(with beer of course)

I now think the IRS cradle is the best invention as you take it out and fix everything the first time. No way you want to take it out just to fix a seal.

 

check out my post on changing out the rear calipers on this site.
ken

 

thanks to all post out the cradle it is !!!!!!

 

If you need to change rotors I would recommend dropping the rear suspension. If you only need calipers, it is pretty easy to do in the car.

 

On my S3, purchased over fleabay, the prev owner claimed that his mech had a resealable access hatch in the metal behind the rear seat. I looked and found no such contraption, so I imagine the dude was either taken for a ride or misunderstood what the wrench said.

It did seem like some strategic cut outs could aid access to the IRS' nest eggs. Has anybody here implemented such a scheme?

 

they were common on the E-Type for such access,

possibly a concept on the later cars but never implemented as far as i know

BB

 

I know on my 71 V12 E-Type, the MOST you could do was change brake pads through those access panels. Changing calipers was completely out of the question.

 

on my 78 XJS, I have removed and rebuilt the calipers, re-installed and bled, without dropping the rear subframe. It really is not that difficult. I would not try to replace rotors without dropping it.