Drilling out Brake Rotor Screws

adk · Oct 16, 2013

I'm in the process of replacing my 7 year old brake rotors, and I can't for the life of me get the stupid little retaining screws out of the rotors. I've tried the impact screwdriver and it worked on one of the screws, but it's looking like I'm going to have to drill the others out.

I've never drilled out a screw head before, but it looks pretty straightforward. Any tips? My biggest concern is whether my cheap little craftsman drill bits (black oxide) will be able to do the job.

David08EX · Oct 16, 2013

It is super easy. The screws are very soft. Your cheap bits should work fine. It may dull them, but it will work. If it makes you feel better go buy a nice bit. Get one a bit smaller than the OD of the top of the screw. The shape of the tip should work fine to drill it out.

Mikey6p · Oct 20, 2013

Protip: These stupid screws dull out drill bits quickly. Get a good bit, or be making 4 trips to the hardware store in the process. Spoken from experience :facepalm:

JC86 · Oct 20, 2013

quick tap with a hammer.

TecTwoFive · Oct 20, 2013

make sure the bits you are using are cutting counter clockwise or you should just get a impact driver and hammer those retaining screws out.

Mikey6p · Oct 20, 2013

Impact driver works well also. A little less effective on screws with 90k miles

Dar-Dar · Oct 20, 2013

Get a screwdriver and hammer it on the screw very hard. Do that about 20 times. They will loosen up eventually. That's what I did when I installed my Centric Rotors.

Drilling out Brake Rotor Screws

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