In Truckin' Volume 36, No. 7, we covered our 2000 Chevy S-10's full air-ride suspension setup. Along with hooking up 'bags and new wheels and tires at each corner, we also swapped out the beat up, stock rotors for Stillen Brake Pros rotors for a couple reasons. First, they will simply look better behind the brand new wheels. Secondly, Stillen's rotors are designed to maximize brake performance while still utilizing the stock caliper and brake pads. It was a win/win situation.
Follow along as we perform the rotor swap in our driveway in a matter of only an hour and a half.
The stock rotors have taken...
The stock rotors have taken some major abuse over the years, which is even a better reason to replace them with the Stillen cross-drilled rotors.
Using a 3/4-inch Allen wrench,...
Using a 3/4-inch Allen wrench, the top and bottom caliper bolts were removed.
Next, the cap was removed...
Next, the cap was removed by simply applying a few light love taps to a strategically placed Flathead screwdriver.
Once the cap was removed,...
Once the cap was removed, the cotter pin was yanked free with a set of pliers,
...and the castle nut was...
...and the castle nut was unscrewed.
The bearing seals, as you...
The bearing seals, as you can see, were pretty dirty, but still in good condition. Cleaning them off and repacking them with fresh grease was all it took to give them a breath of fresh air.
Here is a side-by-side comparison...
Here is a side-by-side comparison shot of the old, worn down rotor, and Stillen's cross-drilled unit on the left. The Stillen rotors have been factory coated with an anti-corrosion plating that will burn off within the first 50 miles of driving.
Fresh grease is good,
...so we made sure to apply...
...so we made sure to apply it liberally.
The steps of removing the...
The steps of removing the factory rotor were reversed, and before we called it a day, we used black brake caliper spray paint to freshen up the caliper, as well as the dust shield. The install was quick, easy, and will spice up our S-10's appearance and stopping performance.
The MB Motoring and Falken...
The MB Motoring and Falken rolling combo was successfully complemented by Stillen's high-performance, cross-drilled rotors.
Driver Seat:
With Stillen's reputable rotors bolted onto our project S-10, we had little to worry about its stopping ability. We also don't have to sweat the old, nasty looking rotors peeking through behind the spokes of the brand spanking new wheels. We completed the entire swap in less than 2 hours in the driveway with nothing more than common hand tools, grease, and a can of spray paint. This swap was a no-brainer.