Hello!
Im having a hard time to swap my rotor. One of the past owners has stripped 2 of the bolts and as you can see, i already did a groove for a screwdriver but they are too tight to open that way. Someone has used way too much of locktite and propably overtorqued them too.
Would it be completely crazy idea to weld allen key or screwdriver into that bolt? Or should i try to drill bolts away and hope for the best that the threads survive that? I don’t have much other ideas anymore
by Far-Act8066
19 Comments
I would drill the heads off them, then once you’ve slipped the rotor off, clamp what remains of the bolts with vice grips and turn them out that way. Then obviously use new bolts to reassemble.
More soaking in WD40 (or other penetrating fluid).
Try to get as little as possible on the disk, but there’s a chance you’ll need to replace the disk if it does get contaminated.
Cut a slot for a flathead with dremel. WD-40. Obviously need to take the wheel off. Also those bolts often have locktite, so a bit of heat might help.
Angle-grind the heads off then vice-grip the studs. Personally I wouldn’t even use that hub anymore if 2 of the bolt holes are stripped.
Also WD40 is not penetrating oil.
You could try dremeling a slot in to try and use a flat head screwdriver to undo them. I’d use a hot air gun (sparingly) on the affected bolts….but first, lashings of gt85.
Or, try the bolt as they are with a bit of latex glove or elastic band between the bolt and Allen key.
Good luck.
I had to drill one out a few weeks ago, just drilled the head off and then take the disk off. With the disc off you can usually grab the rest with locking pliers and unscrew the rest.
Reverse drill bit. It’s designed to cut into things in the in the same direction it would take to loosen the Bolt. Might be able to vice grip the head of the boat Bolt.
I would defnitely take the wheel off and put it on a wheel holder (like the Park Tool but really any metal dowel in a vice will work a treat for this). Or just have it off and on the bench. I’d do as other have suggested an either get a reverse drill bit to drill the heads off, or use a screw extractor. I’d also grab a heat gun to warm everything up and try to get that lock-tite moving before attempting to remove the screws whatever method I was using.
It looks to me like the dremeled slots are a little shallow. I would do another set cross-wise with them and try again. Go as deep as you can, and then use a really big flathead screwdriver with wrench flats, so that you can push it down hard while turning it with a wrench while you’ve got purchase. Using a heat gun to free up the loctite first as others mentioned is a good idea. If that doesn’t work, then obliterate the heads and see if you can get the stubs with vise grips.
Well for starters I would not try to remove them with the wheel on the bike.
Drill the head.
As u/Revolution647 points out, use a reverse drill that is smaller than the size of the bolt.
Ideally weld a nut and get it out.
Often you can get a grip with a torx wrench. Loosen up the bolt first to make it easier by some combination of hitting it with a mallet, heating it up, applying penetrating oil. You can also try cutting a slot for a flat bit using a hacksaw.
Cut the slots for the flathead a little bit deeper so there’s more purchase, then figure out a way to locally apply some heat (without applying it to the spokes) to soften up the threadlocker.
Use an extractor or https://www.homedepot.com/p/Klein-Tools-Reversible-Impact-Driver-Set-70220/203310639
This is why I use shimano centrelock rotors.
Pro tip: you only need to get one out and then you can use the rotor itself to get the last one out.
Cut the rotor off, leaving a spider arm under the bolt head. Then rotate the bolt and spider arm together to undo.
Put a bit of thin rubber inbetween the screwdriver and bolt than try to get it out if it starts spinning again without the bolt spinning stop get a peace that is a bit thicker try again after that stop and drill it out
Cut the rotor off, leaving a spider arm under the bolt head. Then rotate the bolt and spider arm together to undo.