You really should have all of them. Hit up a local bikeshop, they will almost certainly have spares sitting around.
Forsaken_Ocelot_4 on
What’s going to be cheaper, a small bolt or a trip to the dentist?
BavardR on
Yes bolts are not decorative get a replacement
Chemical-Passage2214 on
Steve Peat won the 2009 Downhill World Championship running only 3/6 rotor bolts front and rear in order to cut weight. You will be fine, I would order some new ones cheap online and you will be fine to ride till they show up
Negative_Feed_1303 on
It’s engineered so that missing one bolt doesn’t result in failure.  You can drive a car on a wheel missing one lug nut.  It’s not ideal or advisable, but with billions of cars on the road it happens in this messy world.
liamemsa on
1. Probably
2. But it’s not worth it when as others have said your local bike shop will literally have a huge container full of them. You could also likely find a bolt of similar length/threading at a hardware store.
Atxmattlikesbikes on
I disagree with everyone who has already posted. You are fine with 5. That said, ask around for a 6th and slap it in there when you can.
People forget the weight wennie days of XC racing when folks regularly raced with 3 bolts.
steezymtbrider on
You’ll be fine for a bit. Any shop is going to have more spares than they know what to do with. Most of them should hook you up for free. (At least I would)
FunIncident5161 on
Yes you could run it. But bolts are cheap enough that it’s easy enough to replace it. But if you’re on an extremely tight budget steal a bolt from the back disk brake. The rear brake is under a lot less stress than the front. 75% of braking power comes from the front wheel.
sjanzeir on
Missing bolt aside, what’s that rotor doing on backwards?
tomsings on
Steal an M5 bolt from your bottle cage until you can find a proper replacement.
[unless of course it grinds against the frame/fork]
bluepivot on
As you can see from the various answers, maybe – maybe not. If you have to use it, then go ahead. Rotors can be finicky and you might get some deformation. That is why you should also have a Park Tool DT-2.2 Rotor Truing Fork to easily straighten the rotor if needed. Good luck!
cowbythestream on
Good opportunity to replace or upgrade the rotor!
bramski on
You’ll be fine. Did that once for a week. If the rotor is loose or misaligned due to loose bolts you’ll barely be able to pedal since the rotor will just smash into the calipers.
Beluga-ga-ga-ga-ga on
I knew guys who would only run three bolts for “weight savings”. Not advisable, but they got away with it for years. Get a replacement bolt when you can, but it’ll be fine until you do.
EducationalDelay4974 on
When I’ve bought rotors they come with new screws. Have you checked the packaging?
ajmckay2 on
Get a new bolt… They’re easy to find.
In the meantime steal a bolt from the rear wheel. My thought is the rear wheel sees less stress since anything past moderate braking force will cause the wheel to lose grip. The front wheel sees higher loads.
datagutten on
When I replace rotors I keep the old screws for cases like this
crohnscyclist on
I’ve ran 3 of the 6 for years. I’m a very fast racer and never had an issue (albeit only 155lbs so yrmv)
Rizzikyel on
Idk if that’s grease from the hub or you applied it to the bolts, either way it has no business on a rotor. 1. It will eventually work itself towards the braking surface and contaminate your pads, 2 you want thread locker on those bolts not grease, grease and threadlocker don’t work together.
PS: You’ll be fine with one missing bolt, but ideally you want to get a replacement.
21 Comments
You really should have all of them. Hit up a local bikeshop, they will almost certainly have spares sitting around.
What’s going to be cheaper, a small bolt or a trip to the dentist?
Yes bolts are not decorative get a replacement
Steve Peat won the 2009 Downhill World Championship running only 3/6 rotor bolts front and rear in order to cut weight. You will be fine, I would order some new ones cheap online and you will be fine to ride till they show up
It’s engineered so that missing one bolt doesn’t result in failure.  You can drive a car on a wheel missing one lug nut.  It’s not ideal or advisable, but with billions of cars on the road it happens in this messy world.
1. Probably
2. But it’s not worth it when as others have said your local bike shop will literally have a huge container full of them. You could also likely find a bolt of similar length/threading at a hardware store.
I disagree with everyone who has already posted. You are fine with 5. That said, ask around for a 6th and slap it in there when you can.
People forget the weight wennie days of XC racing when folks regularly raced with 3 bolts.
You’ll be fine for a bit. Any shop is going to have more spares than they know what to do with. Most of them should hook you up for free. (At least I would)
Yes you could run it. But bolts are cheap enough that it’s easy enough to replace it. But if you’re on an extremely tight budget steal a bolt from the back disk brake. The rear brake is under a lot less stress than the front. 75% of braking power comes from the front wheel.
Missing bolt aside, what’s that rotor doing on backwards?
Steal an M5 bolt from your bottle cage until you can find a proper replacement.
[unless of course it grinds against the frame/fork]
As you can see from the various answers, maybe – maybe not. If you have to use it, then go ahead. Rotors can be finicky and you might get some deformation. That is why you should also have a Park Tool DT-2.2 Rotor Truing Fork to easily straighten the rotor if needed. Good luck!
Good opportunity to replace or upgrade the rotor!
You’ll be fine. Did that once for a week. If the rotor is loose or misaligned due to loose bolts you’ll barely be able to pedal since the rotor will just smash into the calipers.
I knew guys who would only run three bolts for “weight savings”. Not advisable, but they got away with it for years. Get a replacement bolt when you can, but it’ll be fine until you do.
When I’ve bought rotors they come with new screws. Have you checked the packaging?
Get a new bolt… They’re easy to find.
In the meantime steal a bolt from the rear wheel. My thought is the rear wheel sees less stress since anything past moderate braking force will cause the wheel to lose grip. The front wheel sees higher loads.
When I replace rotors I keep the old screws for cases like this
I’ve ran 3 of the 6 for years. I’m a very fast racer and never had an issue (albeit only 155lbs so yrmv)
Idk if that’s grease from the hub or you applied it to the bolts, either way it has no business on a rotor. 1. It will eventually work itself towards the braking surface and contaminate your pads, 2 you want thread locker on those bolts not grease, grease and threadlocker don’t work together.
PS: You’ll be fine with one missing bolt, but ideally you want to get a replacement.
Remove the opposite one to balance it out.Â