Rounded head on brake disc bolt :(

1. user_7076 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Sep 2005 Milton Keynes Posts: 8504 Audi A1 S-Line, Mazda MX5 Kuro, Renault Clio 1.2,

   #1 25th August 2007, 21:00

   Have taken both struts off my car etc, I went to take the drake disc off of the drivers side strut and one of the two bolts that holds it on has been rounded off. Would it be a case of drilling out the original bolt and do you think I could do it without the need to re-tap it to a larger size.
   
   Or would it be more sensible to get a complete new strut?
   
   
   
   funny enough on the passenger side there was only 1 bolt holding the brake disc on at all..... I dunno what numpty the mot place got to put them on put they haven't got a clue.
   
   
   More moaning - euro car parts gave me rear drum brake bolts instead of front hub bolts so I'll either have to wait till tuesday or source elsewhere. And the wishbone balljoints are an absolute nightmare to get off. Also the people who replaced my drivers driveshaft used a hub bolt that didn't have the sleeve for staking on it so I'm pissed off at them as well.
   
   
   
   Moral of the story, if you want a job done properly. Do it yourself!!!
   
   
   Bring on tomorrow.
2. gregory87 Infrequent Poster Joined: Apr 2007 Chesterfield Posts: 165 Saxo VTS sold :-( but gti-6 now anyway :-)

   #2 25th August 2007, 23:36

   Stud or screw extractors (whatever you want to call em) should get that rounded-off bolt out. Should be able to get some for a couple of quid from B&Q etc. Pretty easy to use, screw it in as if you were tighten the bolt (clockwise) for just a few turns and then turn it anti-clockwise as if you were undoing a bolt. It should grip and loosen that bolt.
   
   Should do being the keyword lol.
   
   http://images.orgill.com/200x200/1918234.jpg
3. user_7076 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Sep 2005 Milton Keynes Posts: 8504 Audi A1 S-Line, Mazda MX5 Kuro, Renault Clio 1.2,

   #3 25th August 2007, 23:49

   great thanks mate I'll look into that
4. gregory87 Infrequent Poster Joined: Apr 2007 Chesterfield Posts: 165 Saxo VTS sold :-( but gti-6 now anyway :-)

   #4 25th August 2007, 23:56

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by snewham great thanks mate I'll look into that

   No worries mate....hope you get them off easily enough.
5. Badgersport Established Member Joined: Mar 2007 Wolverhampton Posts: 1055 106 xsi 16v, Fiesta Tdci

   #5 25th August 2007, 23:58

   Hey Matey,
   I had exactly the same problem when i took my strut off a few weeks ago so i got the dremel out and put a slit in the screw head so i could get a flat bladed screwdriver in. Managed to get it out in the end.
   
   Ste
6. user_7076 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Sep 2005 Milton Keynes Posts: 8504 Audi A1 S-Line, Mazda MX5 Kuro, Renault Clio 1.2,

   #6 26th August 2007, 00:19

   ok mate thanks for that, I'm sure I'll get it out in the end.
   
   Does anyone know if I actually need these screws as surely they're not required when the hub bolt etc are attached??
   
   I heard some people saying that they were just for use on the assembley line so that the brake discs didn't fall off before the hub nuts were put on..
7. gregory87 Infrequent Poster Joined: Apr 2007 Chesterfield Posts: 165 Saxo VTS sold :-( but gti-6 now anyway :-)

   #7 26th August 2007, 00:25

   Tbh i wouldn't like to refit mine without bolts in! You can probably buy replacement bolts from citroen for just a few quid.
   
   Thinkin bout it they wouldn't move about cos the wheel bolts would hold them in place, but for the sake of a fiver i personally wouldn't risk it!
8. user_7076 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Sep 2005 Milton Keynes Posts: 8504 Audi A1 S-Line, Mazda MX5 Kuro, Renault Clio 1.2,

   #8 26th August 2007, 00:29

   it's not the money it's the fact that the head is stripped on one of them but I just wondered if they were actually needed
9. Badgersport Established Member Joined: Mar 2007 Wolverhampton Posts: 1055 106 xsi 16v, Fiesta Tdci

   #9 26th August 2007, 10:01

   I was told that these screws were just to hold the disc but also when the wheel is attached the brake disc is being held by the wheel bolts. But like Gregory87 said i would much prefer the bolts there.
   
   Ste
10. Mark51p Super Moderator Joined: Sep 2006 Wakefield Posts: 14427 Golf GT

    #10 26th August 2007, 10:34

    the scew holdinmg the disc on can just be drilled out. it happened on mine and i just drilled the head off and smacked the fook out of it with a hammer till it came off
11. Banger_VTR Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Feb 2006 Co. Durham Posts: 2670 voiture tres rapide, deux ton

    #11 26th August 2007, 11:11

    mate before u go to the extremes of drilling, try gettin a little chisel and try knockin the stud round as these studs arnt normaly dun up tight, so get the chisel and make a mark on the stud on the edge so the chisel can get a grip and then try gently knockin it round
12. ShaneVtr Frequent Poster Joined: Oct 2006 Chesterfield Posts: 890 Mk1 Vtr

    #12 26th August 2007, 11:31

    if you can, just quick weld a bolt ontop of the rounded one and get it off with a socket or spanner. thats if you have a welder and you can weld lol.
13. Scottp Administrator Joined: Dec 2002 Glasgow United Kingdom (Scotland) Posts: 26097 Chelski Traktor

    #13 27th August 2007, 00:28

    those bolts mean dick all. They are purely there to locate the brake disc and hold it in place when putting the wheels on, the wheel and wheel bolts then hold it in place. DOnt worry about not having any
14. user_7076 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Sep 2005 Milton Keynes Posts: 8504 Audi A1 S-Line, Mazda MX5 Kuro, Renault Clio 1.2,

    #14 27th August 2007, 00:41

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Scott those bolts mean dick all. They are purely there to locate the brake disc and hold it in place when putting the wheels on, the wheel and wheel bolts then hold it in place. DOnt worry about not having any

    Excellant thanks for that Scott, out comes the drill
    
    
    hammering a flat headed screwdriver in didn't work and chiselling didn't work
15. Scottp Administrator Joined: Dec 2002 Glasgow United Kingdom (Scotland) Posts: 26097 Chelski Traktor

    #15 27th August 2007, 00:50

    i ran a number of discs without the locating screws due to rounding or loosing the buggers when i had them off
16. user_7076 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Sep 2005 Milton Keynes Posts: 8504 Audi A1 S-Line, Mazda MX5 Kuro, Renault Clio 1.2,

    #16 27th August 2007, 00:53

    I didn't think they were big enough to make much difference, Scott whilst you're here, do you know where I can buy a deep set ring spanner for dismantling the top of the strut?
    
    mine isn't deep enough and doesn't fit
    
    
    thanks
    scott
17. Scottp Administrator Joined: Dec 2002 Glasgow United Kingdom (Scotland) Posts: 26097 Chelski Traktor

    #17 27th August 2007, 01:05

    i loaned one from a mechanic friend, halfords ones are not deep enough. We have a local tool store in town that would have them but not sure of your area. I contemplated taking the struts off then taking them to a garage to remove for me, zip gun removes them no bother
    
    ebay maybe a shout, swan neck spanners they sometimes come under
18. user_7076 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Sep 2005 Milton Keynes Posts: 8504 Audi A1 S-Line, Mazda MX5 Kuro, Renault Clio 1.2,

    #18 27th August 2007, 01:07

    I bought one from halfords and found it wasn't deep enough. Have found a thread on ssc where someone bought a full set from B&Q so I'll have a look there if they're open tmw
19. Scottp Administrator Joined: Dec 2002 Glasgow United Kingdom (Scotland) Posts: 26097 Chelski Traktor

    #19 27th August 2007, 01:44

    http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/8-PC-DEEP-OFFS...QQcmdZViewItem
20. aj-vts Frequent Poster Joined: Aug 2006 Plymouth! Posts: 659 51 plate vts, b4 r plate vts

    #20 28th August 2007, 10:32

    i rounded of those little bolts on 3 out of 4 discs when i changed all my discs and pads on my old vts. just drill them out and leave them off tbh. once the wheels are bolted back on they hold the discs back in place perfectly as obviously the bolts go through the discs. i think those small bolts on the discs are only there to locate the discs correctly anyway. it will be totally fine without them.
21. user_7076 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Sep 2005 Milton Keynes Posts: 8504 Audi A1 S-Line, Mazda MX5 Kuro, Renault Clio 1.2,

    #21 28th August 2007, 10:53

    I managed to drill a hole through the centre of the bolt and then wedge a flat headed screw driver inside and turned it out. I'll only put them back on with one bolt as as people have mentioned, they don't secure the disc to the hub but merely keep it in place before you've put the hub nut back on.
    
    
    Thanks everyone for the help, project is nearing the end now
22. Mysticp Scotland Joined: Jul 2005 Edinburgh Posts: 9556 Saxo 1.6i 16v VTS, 2 Classic Minis

    #22 28th August 2007, 10:59

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by snewham I didn't think they were big enough to make much difference, Scott whilst you're here, do you know where I can buy a deep set ring spanner for dismantling the top of the strut? mine isn't deep enough and doesn't fit thanks scott

    If theres a machinemart near you, i got a set for that exact reason from them for about £8
    
    How are you going about getting the wishbone balljoint out? Thats next of my list of repairs!
23. user_7076 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Sep 2005 Milton Keynes Posts: 8504 Audi A1 S-Line, Mazda MX5 Kuro, Renault Clio 1.2,

    #23 28th August 2007, 11:03

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Mystic If theres a machinemart near you, i got a set for that exact reason from them for about £8 How are you going about getting the wishbone balljoint out? Thats next of my list of repairs!

    wishbone balljoint you just have to wedge yourself in the arch and push down hard on the wishbone unti it pops out, get someone else to move the strut out the way when the balljoint pops out.
    
    To get the upper balljoint out get a balljoint seperator from halfords for £7.99. I think you can get one for the lower balljoint as well but it isn't that hard to get out yourself.
    
    Scott
24. willsy West Midlands Joined: Nov 2005 Nuneaton (West Mids) Posts: 13835 '64 Volvo V40 R’Design, '89 Ph1 309 GTi, ‘97 Mk1 S

    #24 28th August 2007, 11:07

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Scott those bolts mean dick all. They are purely there to locate the brake disc and hold it in place when putting the wheels on, the wheel and wheel bolts then hold it in place. DOnt worry about not having any

    Probably a bit late now but only just seen this thread (where have i been?)
    
    Exactly what scott said anyway, theyre only there for location purposes to save you from having to move the disk round to line up the holes for putting the wheel nuts in.
    
    With the wheel off the car the disks are held in place securely by the pads and calipers so thats all good. Had to drill one out on mine, wasnt worth fannying about with
25. Mysticp Scotland Joined: Jul 2005 Edinburgh Posts: 9556 Saxo 1.6i 16v VTS, 2 Classic Minis

    #25 28th August 2007, 11:19

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by snewham wishbone balljoint you just have to wedge yourself in the arch and push down hard on the wishbone unti it pops out, get someone else to move the strut out the way when the balljoint pops out. To get the upper balljoint out get a balljoint seperator from halfords for £7.99. I think you can get one for the lower balljoint as well but it isn't that hard to get out yourself. Scott

    Oh, i think i misread ya, thought you were removing the balljoint from the wishbone, mine needs replaced
26. user_7076 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Sep 2005 Milton Keynes Posts: 8504 Audi A1 S-Line, Mazda MX5 Kuro, Renault Clio 1.2,

    #26 28th August 2007, 11:22

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Mystic Oh, i think i misread ya, thought you were removing the balljoint from the wishbone, mine needs replaced

    ohh, well I haven't got that far yet
27. willsy West Midlands Joined: Nov 2005 Nuneaton (West Mids) Posts: 13835 '64 Volvo V40 R’Design, '89 Ph1 309 GTi, ‘97 Mk1 S

    #27 28th August 2007, 11:25

    Wishbone ball joint is harder to get back in than get back out, especially if you're trying to do that alone.
    
    Upper ball joint most of the time you can tap up with a hammer.
    
    The best tool ive found for doing both of these is this one which is from screwfix (that site is amazing)
    
    Balljoint seperator
    http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/...96961&ts=96624
    
    
    This is the ball joint remover, but this one from screwfix isnt quite big enough
    
    http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/...16021&ts=96664
28. willsy West Midlands Joined: Nov 2005 Nuneaton (West Mids) Posts: 13835 '64 Volvo V40 R’Design, '89 Ph1 309 GTi, ‘97 Mk1 S

    #28 28th August 2007, 11:27

    Also (sorry for harassing your thread Scott The spring compressors from screwfix are great, brilliant design and clamps more of the spring than others that ive seen, muchos safer (bargain for £11.99 aswel)
    
    http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/...45986&ts=96790