Consensus on brake rotor set screws?
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 2,531
Likes: 15
From: SF Bay Area
I did my front brakes over 1.5 years ago, drilled the screws out, if I have thought of the freeze method would have tried that. did not give them a minutes notice, came right out and never put back, no issues with front brakes. drill'em throw 'em away.
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 1,045
Likes: 1
From: Chicago
Please please please do not even go there.
There is absolutely zero chance that not putting those screws in will cause anything on your car to fail in any way. The closest leap of logic one could possibly even make out of that is that somebody inadvertently cross-threaded some other mounting bolt (which still usually doesn't cause a failure) while they were hastily changing rotors and that maybe putting these screws in place could have prevented that form of human error.
That is an Olympic level triple-jump of logic.
The only reason they were ever put on the car was for efficiency in the assembly process.
This is what you DO need to put on them if you put them back.
Impact screwdrivers and punches are what you don't need if you put on what you do need.
And don't overtighten.
But you might as well leave them out.
People here may say it's not needed but after the accident that killed Cale I would put them in. After I had to get mine out with an Easy Out, I put the new ones in with HIGH TEMP anti-seize compound. I don't know exactly what happened that cause the brakes to fail on Cale's car but why take chances. If it was put there by the factory, I'd say put them back in.
There is absolutely zero chance that not putting those screws in will cause anything on your car to fail in any way. The closest leap of logic one could possibly even make out of that is that somebody inadvertently cross-threaded some other mounting bolt (which still usually doesn't cause a failure) while they were hastily changing rotors and that maybe putting these screws in place could have prevented that form of human error.
That is an Olympic level triple-jump of logic.
The only reason they were ever put on the car was for efficiency in the assembly process.
Originally Posted by SpitfireS' timestamp='1240946509' post='16063125
This is what you DO need to put on them if you put them back.
Impact screwdrivers and punches are what you don't need if you put on what you do need.
And don't overtighten.
But you might as well leave them out.
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 5,296
Likes: 2
From: Delaware, OH
CRC sells a penetrant with "freezing action." I've never tried it, but it sounds interesting. If I ever come up against a screw/bolt I can't remove I'll have to give it a try.
Anyone else have any experience with this product?
Anyone else have any experience with this product?
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
I really really have to agree with this. Like 3 days ago, I actually tried drilling and extracting these screws. After about 5 minutes, I did the chisel trick and, they all gave way very quick, i was able to finish backing them out by hand.
I can drill them out in less than 1 minute each (that includes a pilot hole with a smaller bit, then switching out to a larger bit). I hate those things...
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 445
Likes: 1
as soon as i buy a different car, i take the wheels off and i take the screws out, lol.... then i go ahead and take the main caliper and braket bolts out and antisieze the crap out of them. nothing more frustrating when u wanna do a brake job in a day and the stupid screws wont come out or bolts are seized up
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 578
Likes: 1
From: New York
Heres the method that always works. Been doing it for 20 years.
Fabricate a punch, the exact size as the screw head. it must be perfectly square.
Holding it nice and straight, give it 3 shots with a 4 lb sledge.
The screw will now be loose...even though you did no turning action on it.
Fabricate a punch, the exact size as the screw head. it must be perfectly square.
Holding it nice and straight, give it 3 shots with a 4 lb sledge.
The screw will now be loose...even though you did no turning action on it.
I stil use the impact driver though.
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,832
Likes: 2
From: Phoenix
Had to do a bearing assy on my left rear and those 2 took me and another person a day to figure out but got those 2. I recently got rotors and just drilled out the other 6 after I briefly attempted them with pb blaster and impact driver. Used an 18v dewalt with a Fastenal bit. Cakewalk. But for some reason I put back the 2 in the left rear. Lol
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 3,301
Likes: 213
From: Greenwood, AR
I've never had a problem taking mine off with an impact screwdriver. I do reinstall with some anti-seize and only snug them down. I know they're not needed as many cars don't use anything to hold the rotors on, but it's nice when you work on the brakes at times. When I upgraded my front and rear brakes to Wilwood kits, I went ahead and bought all new screws.