How to remove rounded brake disc retaining screw

Terminal_Boy · 23 Nov 2014 at 20:48

Use a parallel spline extractor. Those tapered ones can actually deform the screw/bolt you're trying to remove and make it jam on the surround part.

Conanius · 23 Nov 2014 at 23:29

right... I've done some reading and it does look very much like 'the wrong kind' of extractor is going to shatter into billion pieces and leave me stuffed.

Can someone link me up to one that is going to do the job please?

task · 23 Nov 2014 at 23:43

As Lopez said, drill it out and forget it

pepsilol · 23 Nov 2014 at 23:58

Have you actually tried the Torx trick? It scares me that you this stuck on the easiest job to do on a car.

Third Opinion · 24 Nov 2014 at 00:10

Lopéz said:
Drill it out and forget it ever existed, the wheel bolts hold the disc in place anyway,

Agree, not sure why they have them anyway. If they do serve a purpose (I can only imagine in the factory) why do they have to be Phillips screw heads with metal the density of cheese.

Terminal_Boy · 24 Nov 2014 at 00:12

Conanius said:
right... I've done some reading and it does look very much like 'the wrong kind' of extractor is going to shatter into billion pieces and leave me stuffed.

Can someone link me up to one that is going to do the job please?

I have one of the smaller Blue Point extractor sets that's gotting me out of the plop on numberous occasions one I use to work on motorcycles.

Soak the area with Plus Gas first for an hour.

rodenal · 24 Nov 2014 at 08:08

I can't honestly figure out why you're so desperate to get this out? Are people remembering that it's a brake disc screw here..what's the point??

Iceman · 24 Nov 2014 at 08:11

The only point is to hold the disc to the hub when you refit/remove the wheel to stop it moving. Once the disc has been fitted for a few days it will stick anyway.

Dogbreath · 24 Nov 2014 at 08:14

Clarkey said:
Use an extractor, out in 2 mins flat no problem.

Or more likely extractor snapped off in 3 seconds flat, big problem.

Drill it out.

rodenal · 24 Nov 2014 at 08:27

Iceman said:
The only point is to hold the disc to the hub when you refit/remove the wheel to stop it moving. Once the disc has been fitted for a few days it will stick anyway.

Exactly, two seconds of annoyance when putting the wheel back on, even then if you're having that much bother with it moving just stick the brake on a bit!

InvaderGIR · 24 Nov 2014 at 08:35

rodenal said:
I can't honestly figure out why you're so desperate to get this out? Are people remembering that it's a brake disc screw here..what's the point??

What?

He's probably wanting to change the discs which means it needs removing (either just the head via a drill or the whole lot) so there is every need to remove it. :confused:

rodenal · 24 Nov 2014 at 08:36

To be more clear - I can't figure out why he is so bothered about getting it out without just drilling the head off it and accepting the rest may or may not come out.

nutcase · 24 Nov 2014 at 08:43

snapdragon69 said:
Just drill about 6-8mm drill to take the screw head off and the disc will come off, the stub is then usually loose, but if not, use molegrips to unscrew as already said.

This. It's more likely the head that is seized than the threaded portion. Drill the head off, unscrew by hand being careful of the sharp edge left by drilling the head off. 2 minute job if you're lucky.

InvaderGIR · 24 Nov 2014 at 08:55

rodenal said:
To be more clear - I can't figure out why he is so bothered about getting it out without just drilling the head off it and accepting the rest may or may not come out.

Gotcha. It did seem like an odd comment to make given you're not a car numpty.

Conanius · 24 Nov 2014 at 18:27

rondenal - I'm keen to get it out, I don't mind if I don't have use of it after...

What I'm keen on doing, is not screwing up the removal, so the disc is still stuck on, and I can't reattach the wheel

Lopéz · 24 Nov 2014 at 18:33

Honestly forget extractors and all that crap, just get a decent drill bit and drill the head out. I don't know if you have ever drilled a screw out before, but if you use a reasonably large bit then the head of the screw just drops away ams leaves you with a little stub. You can either continue to try and drill out the stub, or just leave it as it is.

Scooby_WR1 · 24 Nov 2014 at 18:35

Use a left handed drill bit when drilling it out as there is a chance of it grabbing the screw and unscrewing it out.

-westy- · 24 Nov 2014 at 19:00

Lopéz said:
Honestly forget extractors and all that crap, just get a decent drill bit and drill the head out. I don't know if you have ever drilled a screw out before, but if you use a reasonably large bit then the head of the screw just drops away ams leaves you with a little stub. You can either continue to try and drill out the stub, or just leave it as it is.

This. No point messing around. Plus, you already have the rounded off recess as a pilot hole - just drill it out and get rid.

Jonny ///M · 24 Nov 2014 at 19:08

The last time I had this I didn't have a drill but managed to grind enough of the head off with an angle grinder. Job done.

Fuzz · 25 Nov 2014 at 07:36

If it hasn't sunk in to your grey matter yet.

Drill the head off,
Remove disc,
Grab hold of the stubby bit left with moleys and unscrew it.
If it's seized just leave it alone and fit the new disc over the top of it.
Job done!