rear brake rotor spring nuts

[shojuan]

Does anybody actually replace those two little spring nuts that hold the rotors in place on the rear when installing new rotors? Common sense tells me those things are useless. I managed to get three off in good enough condition that when I flattened them with a screwdriver handle they look good to go for a second round. One of them broke in half while a was carefully (hahahahaha!!! lol ) prying it off with my lucky screwdriver.

What's the deal with those stupid little spring nuts anyways? Useless aid to ease installation for half asleep factory assembly line workers or are they actually important for some reason that escapes me?

 

[Mr Anonymous]

I've always thrown them away. I think they're probably helpful for one-handed mechanics. Other than that, I don't see any need for them. I saw them on the fronts of a customer's car I worked on last w/e, which with over 150K the rotors would have been replaced at least once or twice by now. It actually prompted me to ask myself the same question you did, but after a couple minutes I figured whoever did them just figured it was best to put things back the way they found them.

 

[Shoaz]

They can be kind of handy to hold the rotor in place when you have the caliper off, it's just a minor convenience thing. I usually replace them just because I don't want the rotor flopping around when I'm working on the caliper.

This is only true if you're using the slicers or wheels that have inset room for those springs. If your wheels have flush inside faces then you should not use these springs since they'll prevent the wheel from sitting flush against the hub.

 

[shojuan]

Thanks guys. I'll just leave them off and say good riddance!