It’s tough to see exactly what’s going on in there. If the bolt is just stuck in there after the head came off, try the following:
Get a small drill bit and drill out the center, then get a slightly bigger bit and drill it out, then the old bolt should fall apart or be easy to poke out of there.
Tap it with a dimple tool so the bit doesn’t wander when drilling. Then maybe helicoil?
Various-Cup-2716 on
Drill all the way and use a nut from behind
mestapho on
If you can’t drill and tap – You could get by with 5 bolts just fine. Weight weenies run 3 all the time. It’s not optimal.
OkHistory488 on
Helicoil if all else fails. I’ve done it!
skibumsmith on
5 bolts is enough. They’re intentionally over engineered.
PmMeYourGuitar on
you could try a bolt extractor. I got a set from harbor freight cheap when I rounded out a linkage bolt. if you’re careful, the threads may still be in tact when you’re done
MattySiegs on
You got 5 others, you’re fine!
_FireWithin_ on
Buff it.
whimpirical on
Can you thread a rotor bolt in from the backside? Tighten with pliers grips and it might engage the right-sided bolt with the broken head and push it out. I’ve had success with this with broken stem bolts
Mikucki on
If the outer material is aluminum put a sacrificial nut over it and weld inside the nut. Then just put a socket over the nut and remove as normal. Used to get broken bolts off aluminum engine heads that way works great
Super_Pulga on
Some heat and en extractor will work. Seems like you’ve already tried drilling.
mtbohana on
Just go by a screw extractor or EZ-Out. No meed to drill unless it stuck or cross threaded in there.
jhermaco15 on
did you just hold a drill over that bolt and fall asleep for a few hours jfc
CT_Reddit73 on
Why are you even attempting to work on something mechanical when you don’t even know about ez off or a bolt extractor kit?
2johnnies on
5 bolts will hold it grand. What do you need to be braking for anyway?
Greedy_Pomegranate14 on
try an ez-out.
Terrasmak on
What brand hub is it ?
What kind of riding do you do
What size rotor ?
All things considered, you can run with one less bolt , find a machinist or replace the hub.
trisomie52 on
Buy a New Bike !
No, drill it out, or bring it to an mechanic 🙂
Blahman240 on
You should have ground the rotor off until you got to just a stud with a grinder and then removed the stud with pliers, ask me how I know this works… I’d rather replace a rotor then a hub/wheel
MountainRoll29 on
New bike day!!!
BikeCookie on
I’ve seen racers use only 3 bolts to save weight. I’m not recommending this approach, it has risks that they are willing to accept.
But will say that 5 out of 6 bolts will be okay for a while. The risk is that your rotor may be out of true or may warp more easily.
pimpbot666 on
EZ-Out tool can get it. Also, is there any of the stud sticking out the backside of the hub where you can get to it with some needle nose pliers? Sometimes, you can turn it from behind
Domowoi on
XC guys regularly run like 3-4 bolts on the rotor, so it most likely holds fine with 5, but I would personally get it to a professional and find out if you can rescue that. Maybe helicoil, maybe drill and tap a larger hole, whatever that takes…
Mistah_Conrad_Jones on
Assuming it’s not cross-threaded, it’s a fairly simple 5 minute fix using a broken screw extractor and the proper sized drill bit. If it’s cross threaded, then it’s a ten minute fix by drilling and tapping.
27 Comments
Happy new wheel day
Drill and tap it.
It’s tough to see exactly what’s going on in there. If the bolt is just stuck in there after the head came off, try the following:
Get a small drill bit and drill out the center, then get a slightly bigger bit and drill it out, then the old bolt should fall apart or be easy to poke out of there.
Tap it with a dimple tool so the bit doesn’t wander when drilling. Then maybe helicoil?
Drill all the way and use a nut from behind
If you can’t drill and tap – You could get by with 5 bolts just fine. Weight weenies run 3 all the time. It’s not optimal.
Helicoil if all else fails. I’ve done it!
5 bolts is enough. They’re intentionally over engineered.
you could try a bolt extractor. I got a set from harbor freight cheap when I rounded out a linkage bolt. if you’re careful, the threads may still be in tact when you’re done
You got 5 others, you’re fine!
Buff it.
Can you thread a rotor bolt in from the backside? Tighten with pliers grips and it might engage the right-sided bolt with the broken head and push it out. I’ve had success with this with broken stem bolts
If the outer material is aluminum put a sacrificial nut over it and weld inside the nut. Then just put a socket over the nut and remove as normal. Used to get broken bolts off aluminum engine heads that way works great
Some heat and en extractor will work. Seems like you’ve already tried drilling.
Just go by a screw extractor or EZ-Out. No meed to drill unless it stuck or cross threaded in there.
did you just hold a drill over that bolt and fall asleep for a few hours jfc
Why are you even attempting to work on something mechanical when you don’t even know about ez off or a bolt extractor kit?
5 bolts will hold it grand. What do you need to be braking for anyway?
try an ez-out.
What brand hub is it ?
What kind of riding do you do
What size rotor ?
All things considered, you can run with one less bolt , find a machinist or replace the hub.
Buy a New Bike !
No, drill it out, or bring it to an mechanic 🙂
You should have ground the rotor off until you got to just a stud with a grinder and then removed the stud with pliers, ask me how I know this works… I’d rather replace a rotor then a hub/wheel
New bike day!!!
I’ve seen racers use only 3 bolts to save weight. I’m not recommending this approach, it has risks that they are willing to accept.
But will say that 5 out of 6 bolts will be okay for a while. The risk is that your rotor may be out of true or may warp more easily.
EZ-Out tool can get it. Also, is there any of the stud sticking out the backside of the hub where you can get to it with some needle nose pliers? Sometimes, you can turn it from behind
XC guys regularly run like 3-4 bolts on the rotor, so it most likely holds fine with 5, but I would personally get it to a professional and find out if you can rescue that. Maybe helicoil, maybe drill and tap a larger hole, whatever that takes…
Assuming it’s not cross-threaded, it’s a fairly simple 5 minute fix using a broken screw extractor and the proper sized drill bit. If it’s cross threaded, then it’s a ten minute fix by drilling and tapping.
5 bolts is more than enough