tricks to getting brake disc screws out
 

I am putting new rotors on and I am having some trouble getting these screws out without stripping them. If there is some trick besides spraying it with WD40 and just being patient that would be great.

Ive had to drill a good bit of them out, after a while that metal head just gets so soft that the screwdriver bit wont bite. It doesnt take long.

if you take a punch and bang around the head od the screw it will normally break loose enough to back out. they are a bitch though but i managed to do all 4 rotors and only strip one.

Yea, I just did that. I will try the punch idea.

I had to drill all of mine off to replace all my rotors. After about two bits trying to get those mofo's out I gave up. I don't think you even really need those screws in there when replacing the rotors. I think the caliper would hold them plus the wheel when put back on..not totally sure on that so don't quote me.

before anyone breaks out another drill i will point you to SEARS where you find an Impact Driver. it's not an air tool, rather it is a hind tool that comes with an assortment of impact grade bits. it is designed specifically for this job. place the philips bit in the driver, place the driver and bit into the screw, rotate counter-clockwise to make sure the driver is loaded in the proper direction and smack it with a hammer. the screw should come loose and will be able to be removed with your hands. this works for about 98% of these types of retained rotors.

Ray

Ditto the above. No problems getting them out. They are soft, so if any problems, just drill the heads off, remove the rotor and then you might be able to grasp then with grips. They aren't need, so no worry about replacement anyway.

ya the impact driver is a good tool to have in general. make sure you hold it completly strait though cause my buddy stripped some screws trying to use it wrong

on my way to sears

i took a big phillips head screw driver and put a monkey wrench(pipe wrench) on the handle and it gave enough torque to break them loose without stripping. works everytime with my rotors. the screws are not usually stuck on, they are just torqued to where you cant get enough leverage with your hands to break them loose. might be worth trying before you buy a tool at sears.

Well, I got the impact driver, now how the hell do I use it? Just put the bit on the screw and hammer?

Make sure it's set to turn the right direction, like a ratchet. Then, set it and whack the hell out of it!

I have done it like this: Huge screwdriver....250 lbs of weight(at that time) and turned.......no problems........i will go to Sears tho......seems less strenuous.

Yeah, that impact tool works great. If you put the screws back in, use new ones! And put anti-sieze on the threads.

Yea, i got it to work and that is probably the best tool i have ever bought. thanks for the info.

I couldn't get my impact driver to work...but i just drilled them out.

actually here is something you can try real quick. I had to take a screwdriver and instead of placing the screwdriver directly where it is supposed to go I put it slightly counter clockwise of the phillips head then hit as hard as I could on the screwdriver with a hammer, this forces the screw to turn to the left thus making it loose enough to turn the rest of the way with the screwdriver. THis worked for all of the screws because they where all seized.

just drill them out and be done with it.