Retaining Screws on Front and Rear Rotors.. What a pain!!!

[MotorCity Honda]

So I just finished my brake job and I just absolutely hate the screws that Honda uses to screw in the rotor..

I've done tons of brake jobs on previously owned Honda's and non Hondas and still ask myself why the hell they use these damn screws... no one else does (at least no other brand I've changed rotors on.

My last Honda I damn near had to cut them off. Instead I used one of those little hand held impact wrenches and that did the trick.. Hell I even left them off on my last Honda

My little impact wrench DID NOT DO THE TRICK THIS TIME!!

Yes, I am frustrated.. I mean a simple relaxing job like changing front and rear pads & rotors has to turn into such a b*tch all because of these damn screws...

I'm giving up for the day, I doused the f*ckers with wd-40 and used my impact wrench with NO LUCK!!!

I did get all my pads changed.

I'm thinking I may just ask one of the guys in our prototype garage at work if he can help me out and I'll do the work if he can just get the damn screw out... I feel, like crap.. I hate setting out to do something and not being able to accomplish my goal..

DAMN SCREWS!!!

[Aviography]

Just drill them out.

I always put anti-seize compound on the threads of these screws, and generally that will keep these screws from seizing.

[majky]

Originally Posted by Aviography

Just drill them out.

That's what I did when I replaced the rotors a couple of months ago. They would not break lose no matter what I tried. I also left them out of the new rotors.

[joerockt]

Try a ratchet with a socket that will hold a Phillips bit. That's what I've done in the past.

But yea, like suggested, just drill them out. You really dont even need them.

[chanke4252]

I did not put the retaining screws back on when the rotors were replaced. They aren't really necessary at all. It's not like the rotor won't rust onto the hub a little bit anyway.

[2006AS]

Try using a small chisel. Just hit it in a counter clockwise direction near the edge of the srew head and it should do the trick. I would certainly leave them off. There is really no need for them.

[James.uk]

In the "good ole days" we used to run a lead from the battery onto the problem screw, thus causing them to get very hot! it normally worked ok. But -- not sure you can do that now cars have dozens of computer sensors in them?
.

[RTexasF]

Jason,

Sorry it was such grief. Is your car driveable? In short, you got the pads on but gave up on the rotors, is that correct? I hope your boy wasn't with you to learn new words from Papa.

[bagbklyn]

Originally Posted by 2006AS

Try using a small chisel. Just hit it in a counter clockwise direction near the edge of the srew head and it should do the trick. I would certainly leave them off. There is really no need for them.

^+1 This is what my mechanic did with a phillips screw driver, he first banged it in with a hammer and then counter clockwise. Worked like a charm

[MotorCity Honda]

WOW, Thanks for all for the suggestions!

RTF, luckily my rotors are tip top - I was doing it to upgrade. I inspect my pads often with all the miles that I drive so me changing the pads was more preventative maintenance and not "Oh crap I need a brake job".

The boy was with his mom, he's helping with the oil tomorrow!

[MJL]

I had to drill mine out. Wish I would have done that first instead of dicking around with other options. Impact wrench didnt loosen anything for me after coating them in wd40 or parts blaster. Even some of my caliper bolts with anti-seize had a hard time coming loose.

[andysinnh]

Saabs have these as well. I swear they pick the metal for the screws that will have the MOST interaction with the rotor material and weld themselves to it. In these cases the hand impact-driver works well, but I have had to drill them out as well. Fun, Fun, Fun...

andy

[chanke4252]

SAAB!!!! (shakes fist at the heavens)

[turBeau]

As everyone else has said, leave the D*** screws out. They are indeed a pain and not needed. Makes me wonder if they did that to get us in the state that Jason was in and just say F it, I'm taking it to the stealer.

[2000GoldieV6]

I just did my pads and rotors a couple weeks ago. My screws weren't too bad, but i had to use the socket and phillips bit to get them loose after a good soaking with rust-b-gone. When i got to my passenger side, there weren't even any there. i went ahead and replaced with new so hopefully i won't have to do rotors very soon.