brake rotor / disc retaining screws stuck
 

Hey so I'm trying to get my rear brake rotors / discs off but on each disc one of the retaining screws is stuck and I'm not sure what to do to get them out.

I tried using an impact gun + 3/8ths phillips No. 3 bit but all that happened was the attachment below and it bent the bit also.

Not sure what to do now, I haven't fubared the other discs screw but it won't budge so any tips would be greatly appreciated.

Hit a screwdriver with a hammer to loosen it a little of course you need to soak it with penetrating oil and then try to take it out by hand if this fails just use a small bit in the center then keep going up till it takes the head off.

^what tinvestor said. Hit it with heat as well. But the easiest thing would be to apply brute force with a screwdriver and a hammer. Then once its out, find a new screw to replace it with.

Hmm I don't have a torch or anything, and I'm guessing a lighter won't do the job. =P

Think I could hold a soldering iron to it for like 10 minutes or something to try and heat it up?

Hmmm i doubt the soldering iron will do the task, perhaps you could go to home depot and buy a small propane unit, the little bottles with a pushbutton ignitor.

The screws primary use is ease of assembly at the plant because the rotor goes on, then the car goes down the line so it is not a necesity to replace it.

air tools and lots of torque, thats how we got mine out last time

Well i tried the electric impact gun which worked just fine on my super-over-torqued lugs previously but all that it accomplished on the screw was the attachment above and fubaring the 3/8ths drive bit. Craftsmen though so I just got a replacement.

Heat can help but like I said not important to put it back in so just drill it out and save the trip to the store.

The absolute easiest way to get those screws out is to use an impact driver. This tools is meant for those kinds of jobs.

^
what he said

try using an e-z out or just break out the smoke wrench

impact driver for the WIN.

stick that bitch on there, beat the shit out of it with a sledgehammer.

or just drill the head off, thats what I did. drilled a hole in the middle that's the size of the screw. when the drill gets past the head, it will brake loose and you can start trying to get your disc off. Once the disc is off its easy to get the rest of the screw out. Just don't drill the whole way trough or you migh damage the hub (like me :()

Like Jacob says--impact driver. Pre-tension in the correct direction, hold it very tight against the screw and smack it real hard with a hammer. Guaranteed!

Best kept secret in the tool department. :)

I was about to suggest that. I had a problem with one brake rotor screw and my dad has one of those. One quick smack with a hammer and it was loose. It's one of those tools you'll use 5 times in your life, but each time it'll be the only tool to get the job done, so it's worth it.

If you haven't screwed up the head on the others, the impact driver that's been mentioned is by far your best bet.

However, I did the same to mine and just drilled it out with a good bit. Honestly, it was easier than it might sound and it worked better than screwing with EZ outs or anything like that. Just get the right sized bit and drill the head off -- eventually you'll get enough bite on the head that you'll probably be able to unscrew it.

And someone mentioned it above, but you don't need to replace the screws. They are there to hold the hub on during assembly -- but guess what, your lug nuts do the same thing. Don't bother to replace them otherwise you'll just have the same problem later if you ever want to get them back off.