Removing Grub screws on side pull brakes

[HLaB]

Hoping somebody has a good tip for removing them. Each time no matter how spottless they are and having pre greased I find it impossible with an allen key and resort to needle nose pliers, surely there must be a better way ?

 

[Broadside]

Hoping somebody has a good tip for removing them. Each time no matter how spottless they are and having pre greased I find it impossible with an allen key and resort to needle nose pliers, surely there must be a better way ?

I have had to drill them out previously. If you can trust yourself to put the pad holders on the right way then just remove the grubs altogether, they don't do anything and are only there as a safeguard against people installing them facing the wrong way...

 

[Pumpkin the robot]

Use a decent allen key and they should not round off the heads in the screws. Make sure the allen key is well seated before trying to remove the screw.

 

[raleighnut]

If an allen key looks even slightly 'worn' replace it then throw the old one away. (unless you have access to a quality bench grinder and then you can grind the worn portion away)

 

[Pumpkin the robot]

Some of the cheaper allen keys are only case hardened, so if you grind the ends off them they are very soft. Its one part of my tool kit I spend the most on.

 

[youngoldbloke]

Copper grease = no problem