In the process of trying to swap my SRAM code brakes over, I absolutely destroyed the torx screw holding the brake clamp together.
I am certainly an amateur and am willing to admit I screwed up bad here but I feel like the Hulk put my bike together.
I was able to remove the torx screw holding the other brake lever with great difficulty.
A few solutions I’ve thought about:
- A hacksaw to create a spot for a large flathead to unscrew it.
- A powerful drill to attempt to unscrew it with some help from a rubber band or duct tape.
- Invest in a screw extractor in order to remove.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
by esgibtnurbrot
12 Comments
If this were my bike, I’d go with rubber band and/or duct tape first, then move on to screw extractor. I’d skip hacksaw because I could easily scratch or even compromise the integrity of the clamp.
Try using a bigger torx first, if it doesn’t work I would go for the hacksaw solution and replace it.
Drill out the head. Gotta be careful not to nick the mating surface for the bolt face to bad.
The clamp will just flop open and you can get a new one.
If the clamp is trash, they are like $10
Hammer the next size bit into it, should work.
easy out, then replace screw and next time use the correct size torx bit or driver.
I’d use what’s called an “easy out” to remove it, and then replace it. Also be sure to use correct size torx tool next time. For example a #20 is not a replacement for a 25.
I hate cheap aluminum torx screws! WTF do bike companies use them?
u/esgibtnurbrot get a triple square slightly larger and bang it in and bobs your uncle
Just get an extractor kit, so long as it’s not loc-tite in there you should be ok
[here is a 60 second video on how it works](https://youtu.be/dM47RoD10uA)
I used a screw extractor for the first time recently, and it was magical! Worth the $6.50 for a set.
fwiw you can buy single extractor bits at a hardware store if you want to go that route. Will not cost you much.
Cut a line into the screw head and use a flat head screwdriver. Heard someone say just use an Allen key, or even use some strong glue on screw with something that has leverage, but depends how tight it’s on