Hi guys (and gals)
Today I proceeded to change the front brake pads and rotors on my 2001 TL. I got pads and caliper removed just fine but when I got to the rotor, there were these two screws holding them in place. I tried all sorts of screwdrivers to remove the screw but it did not come out. The screwdrivers just kept slipping. Then I went too all the auto stores in the area and they had no special tool to remove them. I finally gave up and put everything back together again. Then, I opened the box which had the new brake pads in it... Guess what... there were four new screws in there... why would they give me new screws? more importantly, how the hell do I remove the exiting ones. This problem basically wated 4 hours of mine. Please help....

 

You need to use a torch and patience to remove the rusted on screws. Any basic mechanic will give you the same advice, heat is the only way to do it. Once they're off you can either screw a couple of bolts into the little empty holes to pop the rotor off, or you can just hit it off with a mallet (my favorite).

You have basically the same car as the 98-02 Accord, there are directions in the FAQ in that forum for rotor removal.

 

I forgot what the tool is called, but it is for this same situation. One end of it is for you to hammer it and the other side is like a screwdriver. So when you hammer the tool, it will turn the screw, giving it much more force then when you would do it by hand.

 

i changed my rotors about three weeks ago. i had the same problem. i used a torch to heat it up a hammer. then i drill these screws to get them out. it took me about 10 minutes just to heat it and drill these screws out.

 

Once I get these screws out, Do I need to replace them? I don't have these kinds of screws on my Infiniti. I think they are just here to annoy people who try to work on their cars. Another question, If I drill a hole in the center of this screw, wont I just end up with a stuck screw with no place to put a screwdriver into.. how will it just fall out? And wont I mess up the threads that this screw tightens into?

 

Technically no you don't have to replace them, since you have 5 lugs holding everything on. I think it's kind of stupid.

 

when u drill them out. u do not have to replace them. beacuse they are useless. as 98 coupev6 said "5 lugs holding everything on."

 

when u tight the brake caliper it will hold the rotors in it's place.

 

AcuraTL: Is correct! But on all the hondas that i've had to change rotors on I just use a center punch and a hammer and work the screw out with that and it works everytime!

vnt

 

That's it......it's called a center punch. :thumbup: