Disk rotor bolts

Nickle1988

Hey people
Just got hold of a wheel today for free at work (result). One problem i need to remove the disk rotor but the bolts are really tight and i feel if i try and turn any harder with a torx key im gonna round them off it is like this with every bolt. So main question is does anybody know how to remove a seized disk bolt. Its a Atomalb Gi Hub so i really dont want to destroy it.
Thanks Nick

MarvintheAndroid

Get yourself a good quality T-handle torx key from you local tool stockist. Being able to apply good downward force while turning smoothly should help.

You can also use anti-sieze (WD40 etc) and leave to soak in overnight.

Marv

Nickle1988

ok yea will do i know this sounds bad because the bolts are not in great condition what do i do if they do round off

MarvintheAndroid

If you really get stuck and damage the heads you will need to resort to the following.

Drill out the centre of the bolts say two thirds of their diameter. Then use a broken screw extractor which is available from good tool stores.

http://www.screwfix.com/search.do;jsess ... or&x=0&y=0

This winds backwards into the hole you drilled and locks into the hole using a fluted spiral, continuing to turn will cause the screw to unlock and back out of the hole. I used one on car disc brakes once and it was amazing.

The small size of the screws you are using might be a bit tricky, but you should be OK.

Marv

Rockhopper

A bit of gentle heat will help to break the locktite thats probably been used. Use a decent torx bit and give it a tap with a hammer to make sure its in correctly then use a short bar to undo it.

MarvintheAndroid

I'm no great expert, but I don't think I'd want to use heat in this case, applying enough heat to crack the threads could damage the paint or distort the bearing tracks. Sounds a bit risky to me.

Marv

Andy B

Boiling water poured over the bolts should help loosen the threadlock. I've done it several times to threadlocked parts.

Rockhopper

I said gentle heat, not get a blow torch on it!! Boiling water, hot air gun, hair dryer etc.

Nickle1988

Good new they came off without rounding off. The way i did it was a as previously said poured boliling water over the bolts to get the loctite to free up a bit and they cracked off really easy. The one thing i am doing however after this is that it was the head of the bolt had sort of seized onto the outside of the disk making it alot harder. So now i am putting a tiny bit of copper slip under the head of the bolt. This obviously aint gonna effect it because the loctite on the threads will hold it.
Thanks for the advice guys

MarvintheAndroid

Good tip, thanks.

Marv

Rockhopper

Loctite itself acts as an anti sieze compound. The problem you might find with coppa slip is that when the wheel spins really quickly the grease will get flung out. Even a tiny bit will go a very long way. (Dont ask how i know this!!)

Nickle1988

yea a tiny bit of copper slip does go along way there is a tiny bit under the head off the bolt and the excess got wiped off so it will not fly onto the rotor, just stops the head seizieng on