Brake replacement for dummies

jj · Post by jj » Sun Jul 15, 2007 10:15 pm

It is really easy to drill out the old bolts, first time I did it I used a selection of blunt drill bits and brute force and it was fine. After I had drilled them off I didnt bother replacing (a lot of people dont bother with them) and it was fine.

Digital · Post by **Digital** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 10:33 pm

Thanks JJ, not sure I follow though, as surely once you've drilled out the old bolt you'll need a new thread for the new one? Pardon my complete technical incompetence and ignorance, I'm still at the numpty level when it comes to stuff like this...

I was really pleased when I saw how easy it was to replace the pads and how easy the disc should be to replace today, just annoyed that I couldn't do it all myself

Jamie

Brunty · Post by **Brunty** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 9:57 am

Only drill out the bolt head if you've mangled it in an attempt to remove it already.

If you don't already have a set of allen sockets get some from halfords, you can apply MUCH more torque that way.

As JJ said, most owners (me included) don't bother to replace the screw, all it does it locate the disc while you put the wheel back on.

Brunty

Digital · Post by **Digital** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 7:02 pm

Brunty wrote:Only drill out the bolt head if you've mangled it in an attempt to remove it already.

Initially I tried using an Allen key, then when that failed used a socket from my set, but even that didn't do the trick.

Hadn't realised that you could do without the bolt, does that mean that it's basically the wheelnut that's holding everything together?

Cheers,
Jamie

MacK · Post by **MacK** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 9:30 am

Digital wrote: Hadn't realised that you could do without the bolt, does that mean that it's basically the wheelnut that's holding everything together?

Yep the four wheel nuts clamp everything together, the wee screw/bolt just stops the disc from moving when the wheels are off. (if it isn't rusted on)

Post by **Shug** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 3:05 pm

...and it's worked on S1s for years (we don't have the daft wee bolt to rust solid in the first place)

MacK · Post by **MacK** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 4:52 pm

S1's have studs though don't they?

Less chance of the disc moving when the wheel is off.

jj · Post by jj » Tue Jul 17, 2007 4:56 pm

Shug wrote:...and it's worked on S1s for years (we don't have the daft wee bolt to rust solid in the first place)

YEAH s1`s FTW down with S2s....

/noops

Kev · Post by **Kev** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 5:28 pm

Another thing to try before you start drilling them out is, round the bolt off with the allen key, which you've already probably done, then hammer in a torx bit. Usually does the trick. I always tend to use a bit of grinding paste as well.

Digital · Post by **Digital** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 6:40 pm

Thanks for the suggestions, I've just booked it into Falkland for them to sort it out however

At least I know what to do next time, thanks all

Starting to realise how much money I've spent over the years on getting brakes done when I could have done it myself...