Today I tried to change my pads and rotors. Was going well until I tried to remove the 2 phillips head screws holding first rotor on. Couldnt get them by hand and they stripped with electric drill.

In order to get the Rotor off I had to drill out the stripped screws, and now the hub holes have no thread. Would I be safe using a longer replacement screw and putting a nut on the end because of no thread on hub?

Or would I need a whole new hub? Because the rotors get hot would I need a special grade screw to take the heat? Anyone have tips to prevent stripping the screws on the other rotor?

Anyone have the specs of the replacement bolt I need so I can call around to look for it? I would look it up myself, but im stranded at my mom's and its a 48k dialup connection.

 

There is absolutely no need for those rotor screws. Just reassemble without them and you are good to go.

 

^ What he said. They aren't really necessary.

 

thanks, I just left them off. Definitely needed new rotors, I used a hammer to knock out the old pads and one of them snapped in half.

I tried to bleed my brakes after, I got the front 2 but on the rear two both bleeder nipples broke off.

Car stops much better now though, and no more squealing and squeaking.

 

If ever strip a pan or button head screw. Use a Dremel tool with cutoff wheel to grind a slot into the head. The slot should be as long as the head and wide enough to accept a flat-blade screwdriver. Of course, use WD-40 or equivalent before turning the screw. In fact, this is good practice with almost any rusted bolt or nut.

Also, if you can't turn the screw or bolt manually, don't go at it with a power driver. As you found out, that's a great way to strip it.

 

The best way to get those screws off are with an impact driver(or any other stubborn screw). Once off, leave em off for good.