slikpro

The front brake rotors have two philips screws that require a special screwdriver to loosen or tighten them up.

The brake mechanic hit it with a hammer, does anyone know what this tool is called??

Thanks.
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WATERBONGS

scottySP20

I would think that he hit it with a hammer to loosen the screw dur to it being in a place where things get hot and metal gets tighter when it get hot and cold on a regular basis.
Thus before you try and loose then wrck the screww you bang it with a hammer you make it want to come out easier.
Something I have done on may screws.

a223818

Sounds like an impact driver. It has different bits like a screwdriver. When you hit it with a hammer the force turns the bit a small amount. You use it to free up rusted screws or bolts.

slikpro

Impact Driver sounds right.

I tried removing those two screws with a regular screwdriver and stripped them. I took it to the shop and they took them off like butter with this tool.

Thanks for the info.
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Christiana25 cam

carguycw

Another trick is to chisel them off. Use a chisel with sharp corners, press one corner against the edge of the screw with the chisel angled backwards and parallel to the top of the screw so it will turn the screw counterclockwise, then hit the chisel sharply (but not too hard) with a hammer. This will usually break the screw loose enough to unscrew easily.

Three cautions: (1) Don't place the chisel where it will damage the screw slots, (2) don't aim the chisel towards a car part that could be damaged if the chisel slips and flies into it, and (3) don't aim the chisel towards a car part with sharp edges that will injure your hand if the chisel slips and your hand goes flying too.

shumax

It's called a torx screw. You can buy the tool at Autozone for $5. Attach it to a 3/8" ratchet or a 1/2" ratchet depending on which size you buy.

Curt B. Shumaker

carguycw

A Torx screw is not a tool, it's a special type of screw with slots shaped like a 6-pointed star (rather than an "I" like a flathead screw or a "+" like a Philips screw). The screws that hold on a Proteges' brake rotors are regular Philips screws. AFAIK there are no Torx screws anywhere on our cars; if there are, I've never seen them, and I've looked just about everywhere.

To remove the brake rotor screws, you need an impact driver or a hammer and chisel.

shumax

Really? Then I was given bogus information. Are you telling me to remove the caliper i need a hammer and a chisel? That there is no bolt that you can remove to swing the caliper up to unload the pad?



Curt B. Shumaker

carguycw

No, no, no. We are talking about the brake ROTORS.

The brake caliper is held on by bolts just like you said. To swing up the caliper, you need to remove the lower bolt, which has an *Allen* head, not a Torx head.