Rotor removal

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Mar 8, 2009 | 11:23 AM

LiveLifeLarge

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Joined: Jul 2008

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Rotor removal

I'm taking off my front rotors to polish them. The manual says to replace the T40 TORXX screws if discs are removed.

Is this necessary to do everytime or is it just if you have to remove them because of warped discs?

Thanks

Mar 8, 2009 | 11:25 AM

dawg

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Jun 2006

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From: Vermont

If you're going to polish them I would replace the rotor bolts with the chrome hardware anyway since it would look better.

Mar 8, 2009 | 01:03 PM

Uncle Scrooge

Road Warrior

Joined: Feb 2007

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From: Oklahoma

And here I was feelin all proud of myself because I took time to wipe the brake dust off my rims!

Mar 8, 2009 | 01:09 PM

n8dc

Stellar HDF Member

Joined: Mar 2007

Posts: 2,034

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From: Michigan

i didnt replace mine and i actually put a little polish on a rag and put the bolts in the cordless drill and polished bolts... go easy as you dont want to polisd the cad plating off just polish it.. Mine look great but also beware the rotors are gonna look like crap where the shoes run after 50 miles

.. On my 06 the service manual says i dont have to replace the pulley bolts until they have been used 3 times?.... If their not damaged use blue locktite and put em back in the rotors..

Mar 8, 2009 | 01:44 PM

Harleypingman

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Joined: Apr 2006

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From: Roswell, GA

I'm always reluctant to depart from HD's Service Manual's directions, especially when the cost of compliance is cheap--in this case 10 bolts.

The bolts come with a coating; probably something similar to Loctite and HD recommends replacement with new ones for that reason--PROBABLY.

Mar 8, 2009 | 02:11 PM

stro1965

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Joined: Feb 2007

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From: Bellevue, NE

Quote:

Originally Posted by dawg

If you're going to polish them I would replace the rotor bolts with the chrome hardware anyway since it would look better.

I replaced mine with chrome last year when I polished the discs. I recently pulled them again to powdercoat the wheels and re-used the bolts. Not convinced it's necessary to replace them every time.

Mar 8, 2009 | 02:25 PM

Tinman265

Road Master

Joined: Jan 2008

Posts: 959

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From: Oswego, IL

If these are torque to yeild bolts, they must be replaced.

I would not risk my life from the rotor bolts breaking off in a panic stop and having the rotor do who knows what over a few dollars.

I have a VW that uses this type bolt and the most common dammage is just about dropping the engine on the ground if they are not replaced when doing a timing belt change.

It is not if they will fail but when.

Last edited by Tinman265; Mar 8, 2009 at 09:10 PM.