Well I started my first diy today. New brake pads and rotors all around. Axxis Ults with brembo blanks.
Anyways, after about an hour or two of fighting with way over torqued bolts, and trying to squeeze a ratchet between the rear caliper and shocks. I get to see that dispite two independent BMW shops telling me I need new brakes, the pads appear to have plenty left! :rolleyes
But I figure w/e, I'll still get better performance with my new setup anyway. So on to removing the rotor.
Unfortunatly the little hex bolt to remove the rotor is completly rusted and stripped! :mad I have absolutly no idea what to do at this point. I realized the rest of the rotors could be the same, so just put the exsisting brake pads back on and put everything back together.
If anyone has any idea on getting that bolt out that would be great!

I still have cooling system, FDM, and tranny mounts to install some day this week, but after today I don't even want to try working on my E36 again :(

Pics of original pads (looks like plenty left) and stupid rusted rotor bolt:

http://i16.tinypic.com/4mme9fa.jpg

http://i10.tinypic.com/4ygmmnt.jpg

CRAP bro.. were you hammering your old rotor?? It looks like that hex bolt is going to need to be drilled out professionally if it is stripped. Don't worry about that bolt.. it is really common for that to happen. Good luck getting everything in.

...drill the head off, your getting new rotors anyway.

I did my brakes myself my very first time last week and I also ran into the same problem . I took a small socket that is a bit smaller then the hex bolt and I took a hammer and hit the hex bolt with the socket and hammer. At that point the hex bolt should ahve loosened and if it didn't then try and use some WD 40 around the hex bolt and let the WD 40 sit for 5 minutes and try hitting the hex bolt again with a small socket and hammer. This is how I resolved the hex bolt problem.
My hex bolt was somewhat stripped, but I managed to take it out and I drove 30 minutes to the closest BMW dealership just to buy 2 extra hex bolts. They were $1.99 a piece.....german cars.

I am a 5 year bmw tech and that happens all the time. You don't need to drill anything just hammer a 40 torx into the hole and u should be able to get it off with that if that doesn't work just break the rotor by hitting it from the inside with the hammer and remove the bolt with pliers

wont hammering the 40 torx into it push it further in? or do I do that from the back of the rotor somehow.

I still have cooling system, FDM, and tranny mounts to install some day this week, but after today I don't even want to try working on my E36 again :(


Well look on the bright side, the cooling system is one of the easiest DIY jobs right next to changing your oil. You shouldn't have a problem.

One thing to try is a product called EZ out. It essentially drills a new hole in the bolt to be pulled out.

Yea I got lucky when I did this a few weeks ago and I got it out, but I almost stripped it!

They sell EZ out's at sears for like 20bux and you can use it multiple times on different screws, so its worth the buy!

HOPE THIS HELPS

Its really not that hard....hammer the T40 in the head of the bolt and unscrew it slowly after letting some PB set in.......you should be good to gizzle my nizzle fo shizzle......!

Well look on the bright side, the cooling system is one of the easiest DIY jobs right next to changing your oil. You shouldn't have a problem.


Cooling system is owning me :( . Started around 2:30 in the afternoon, it's now 6:45pm and I just now got the fan off! I spilled coolant EVERYWHERE in my garage, took forever to get the dang engine bleed out, took forever to get the fan out. Now I can't get the fan frame off the radiator because the reservoir overflow hose near the power steering is so stuck on. I SUCK at working on this car.

FDM in SoCal? Let me know how long it takes for your engine to overheat.

FDM in SoCal? Let me know how long it takes for your engine to overheat.
hey i thought the same, but I had many replies to another thread that said it would be fine :cool

One thing to try is a product called EZ out. It essentially drills a new hole in the bolt to be pulled out.

Yea I got lucky when I did this a few weeks ago and I got it out, but I almost stripped it!

They sell EZ out's at sears for like 20bux and you can use it multiple times on different screws, so its worth the buy!

HOPE THIS HELPS

i tried that on a couple of bolts and screws around my car and for some reason all of them were stuck too much even for an eazyout.

Cooling system is owning me :( . Started around 2:30 in the afternoon, it's now 6:45pm and I just now got the fan off! I spilled coolant EVERYWHERE in my garage, took forever to get the dang engine bleed out, took forever to get the fan out. Now I can't get the fan frame off the radiator because the reservoir overflow hose near the power steering is so stuck on. I SUCK at working on this car.

haha it's really easy dude, you just need the right tools. A really long skinny screwdriver and a sledgehammer get the fan off within 5 seconds.

haha it's really easy dude, you just need the right tools. A really long skinny screwdriver and a sledgehammer get the fan off within 5 seconds.
Thats exactly what i was using haha, bought the screwdriver and huge wrench just for it. Though i was very hesitant to just hammer away but eventually I got it :stickoutt

FDM in SoCal? Let me know how long it takes for your engine to overheat.

I don't know how hot it is in Cali but my FDM has been fine in NY with 92 degree weather lately. In traffic with my ac on and no extra fan.

I don't know how hot it is in Cali but my FDM has been fine in NY with 92 degree weather lately. In traffic with my ac on and no extra fan.

Last month it was over 110 in my town in California.

FDM in SoCal? Let me know how long it takes for your engine to overheat.
fdm on my 4 banger in south florida and havent overheated yet. temp hasnt passed 190-195 deg farenheit (mechanical VDO guage.) you just have to do it the right way.

isnt that a 7mm allen wrench size?.. ok so take a 7.5mm and bang it in there and turn slowly while using wd-40 or some type of grease-cutting spray (brakleen work good)