Brake pad screw problems

[Mr Peps]

Hi

This evening I tried to change my brake pads. 10-30pm on a Sunday probably isn't the best time to do something to the bike you're riding to work tomorrow.

I've got Aztec brake pads and even though I hadn't over tightened the screws that hold the brake pad in place I rounded two of them (I have decent set of allen keys) and had to resort to pliers to remove them.
Took a long time and needed Gin & Tonic after.much swearing and annoying my partner!

I searched this forum and googled it and it seemed I'm not the only one who has had prolems with these screws (different brands).

Does anyone know if the Aztec screws are just poor quality or am I just being cack handed?

Also has anyone just left them out with no problems? I know that they stop the pads comng out if the wheels go backwards with the brakes on but is there any chance of the pads coming out if you don't do this very unlikely thing?

BTW I joined here Wednesday last week and had my first p******* for six montths the same day and now this. I'm not blaming you!

Sorry if this is long but I had another G&T.

 

[fossyant]

Probably corroded in place. When you fit new ones I often remove the screws, add coppa slip and refit.

The hex slot is only tiny and doesn't take much to round off.

 

[Garethgas]

I agree with fossyant.
I would also add that sometimes, hex bolts get partially filled with muck, leaving you very little purchase. If the bolt is clear and you have good quality hex keys, then it's probably corrosion/deterioration of the bolt.
Whenever I change the brake blocks, or indeed loosen any bolt, I remove it completely and add some sort of grease, coppa slip being a good choice.
This reduces the problem in future and makes any on road repairs much quicker and easier.

 

[Globalti]

When using an Allen key make sure you wiggle it completely into place before trying to turn it.

 

[Shut Up Legs]

I had a similar issue with a few of these bolts, and ended up getting a few spare ones from a local bike shop.

 

[youngoldbloke]

^^^^ Copper grease. I've had trouble with the Aztec ones, but don't they supply spares with new pads? The ones in my Shimano pad holders seem to be made of sterner stuff, but use COPPER GREASE.

 

[Acyclo]

^^^^ Copper grease. I've had trouble with the Aztec ones, but don't they supply spares with new pads? The ones in my Shimano pad holders seem to be made of sterner stuff, but use COPPER GREASE.

Or better still, thread lock. I use Loctite 222 on stuff like that. I got a little bottle on Ebay for a pound or two. Grease rots rubber dontchaknow.

Contrary to opinions expressed here and elsewhere thread lock does not make it more difficult to undo fasteners, it actually makes it easier by preventing galvanic corrosion and so on. It also makes unintended loosening far less likely. What's not to like?

 

[Rob3rt]

Don't tighten them very tight, ride your bike lots so you need to change brake blocks regularly and thus have to remove them regularly. Works for me!

 

[HLaB]

I've rounded my brake pad screws once before and used needle nosed pliers to grip the outside of the screw and unscrew it.

 

[Mr Peps]

Thanks for the advice. Will try copper grease, I'd not heard of that, and leave them the new ones as loose as I can with them staying in.
I think part of the problem was the pads hadn't been changed for too long.

 

[Tim Hall]

I changed brake pads yesterday, so it's all fresh in my mind.

Both screws showed traces of grease on the threads, suggesting that they had stuck last time I removed them. One of them had two flats filed on it, to enable a pair of pliers to grip better. Both hex holes had crud in them, preventing the allen key from engaging to full depth.

I once dropped one of the screws on the garage floor the day before a hilly 150km audax. Oh how I laughed when the pad fell out. No, I don't understand how either.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

We ended up with something similar one Sunday morning 2 weeks ago. My bike had to be operational next day, brake pads were very well worn down and no-one could get those screws undone. We now have 4 spare cartridges (only 1 of the 4 screws would come undone despite taking them to my LBS in desperation... 3 LBS's later we found someone selling new cartridges.)

When I changed the pads on my OH's road bike last weekend, 1 of his would not unscrew either!

This weekend, we finally managed to get all of the old screws out, by taking a hacksaw to them and making them into a flathead screwdriver 'thread'....

 

[MickeyBlueEyes]

I can't stand the screws where you have to use an allen key on them, SwissStop used to have Phillips screwdriver ones but seem to have reverted back to allen key on the set that arrived today