DIY: How to remove stuck rotor screw in any car

The following is a generic DIY, true for Mazda, Honda, BMW or whatever car you have.
The rotor screw, in 99.9999% of Japanese and European cars, is the 6mm type.

DIY: How to drill stuck rotor screw

The following is a generic procedure for any rotors with stuck rotor screw. I use Mazda6 rotor (almost identical setup as Honda) for illustration purpose. BMW rotor screw sometimes get stuck after so many years in there.

This is why whenever you work on any brake job in any car, have those spare rotor screws ready.

NOTE:

1- Honda screw is M6 thread type. The head widest part is 12 mm. FYI: BMW uses Allen head.

2- Thread is 6mm, Head is 12mm, so use a 9mm or 11/32" drill bit. The rotor screw is made from soft metal, so when drilling it out, the moment you hit the rotor (which is made from much harder metal), you will hear a different sound/feel etc. ---> then stop drilling.

By now, you should have a "ring" at the tip of your drill bit.

3. Once the rotor is off (if rotor is stuck, use extractor bolts as mentioned on the 1st page of this thread to remove the rotor). Then remove the remaining part of the rotor screw with your fingers or vice-grip.

Pretty simple, isn't it? Go tell your mom you just did something good today!

My neighbor just bought an impact screwdriver, which worked like an absolute champ while doing a brake job on another neighbor's MDX. I sure wish we'd had one before we (I) spent the better part of an hour drilling out the screws on my wife's Honda when we replaced the rotors on it - NOT fun.

I don't think it's necessary to replace rotor screws. From what I've been told by several mechanics, they are only there because they're needed while the car is on the assembly line.

Impact screwdriver ftw and no, you don't have to screw the rotor back on afterwards.

Excellent DIY nonetheless!

Actually, I wrote this for those stubborn screws that refuse to come out even with Impact Driver.
And Yes I have an Impact Driver.

Originally Posted by cn90

Actually, I wrote this for those stubborn screws that refuse to come out even with Impact Driver.
And Yes I have an Impact Driver.

I've been quite fortunate not to come across one the impact couldn't handle. to you.

Originally Posted by BentValve

I've been quite fortunate not to come across one the impact couldn't handle. to you.

Then you should visit Honda forum, tons of those stuck screws in Honda Mazda cars, damn Japanese engineers using Phillips head instead of Allen (like BMW)! LMAO.

Originally Posted by cn90

Then you should visit Honda forum, tons of those stuck screws in Honda Mazda cars, damn Japanese engineers using Phillips head instead of Allen (like BMW)! LMAO.

Actually, I bought an impact driver because I used to own a civic, 5 of them to be exact. I've just been lucky I guess. Now if we are talking about LCA bolts, no luck there.

We use our other neighbor - the one who played O-line - to actually swing the hammer.

Originally Posted by cn90

Then you should visit Honda forum, tons of those stuck screws in Honda Mazda cars, damn Japanese engineers using Phillips head instead of Allen (like BMW)! LMAO.

You are on Ford, Honda and BMW forums. Did I miss any others?

How do you find time for all these forums? Do you not work a 40+ hr week?

franka,

You miss Volvo forum hehe.
(I have a 1998 Volvo and 2007 Honda Odyssey as well as the E39)
I work 60h/week.
I write the DIYs at night, after the kids are in bed...

Originally Posted by cn90

franka,

You miss Volvo forum hehe.
(I have a 1998 Volvo and 2007 Honda Odyssey as well as the E39)
I work 60h/week.
I write the DIYs at night, after the kids are in bed...

What is the model name of the sweet looking Volvo that I see on occasion? Looks a bit like a smaller E39. Very sleek.

Originally Posted by cn90

franka,

You miss Volvo forum hehe.
(I have a 1998 Volvo and 2007 Honda Odyssey as well as the E39)
I work 60h/week.
I write the DIYs at night, after the kids are in bed...

NOW I KNOW HOW HE DOES IT!!!

cn90 in an alien

For the crosslink record, here's a tale today of a drilled-out rotor set screw that failed miserably:
- E39 (1997 - 2003) > Rotor locator screw

And another person with a stuck allen head screw today:

Originally Posted by djchasman

Hey all. I am trying to change out the rear bearing and the hex bolt holding on the rotor is not budging. Any ideas on getting it off without damaging. Thanks all.