ECS to the rescue - Or how I despise specialty tools

[mitch808]

I recently changed the brake pads on my wife's X5, and found that I couldn't change the rotors, due to a single frozen bolt. Damn thing wouldn't budge, after even soaking it with some PB blaster.

The bolt's location as seen here (Not my picture):


So I went ahead and changed the pads anyways, have driven on those rotors with a noticeable lip, and below minimum thickness by around 0.5mm., for around 5k miles. It was time

That said, there is where ECS came to the rescue with their Impact screwdriver. This thing really saved my bacon in this case, and I've been working on cars for 15+ yrs, never needing something like this.
https://www.ecstuning.com/ES11416/

This video shows how it works:
https://www.ecstuning.com/ES11416/Video327-HD/

Basically, just set it for right or left turn operation, and bang it with a hammer, repeatedly. Took anywhere from 15 to 20+ solid whacks per side. When I reassembled, I put a dab of anti-seize on there, which I hope will make things easier in a few years....


Now off to bed the pads to these new centric rotors.

So if you're ever changing rotors on your own, have a frozen bolt like the one shown here.... This is the miracle tool that will fix it. I'm not sure if I'll need something like this again, but it's another tool and life lesson in the toolbox, and that ain't a bad thing.