I set out this weekend to replace the rotors and brake pads on the E30 convertible. The rear end didn't present any challenges (other than the sheer amount of corrosion I had to clean up), but not so when I got to the front. Once I got the corrosion scraped off and I could see the rotor retaining screw and I could see it was stripped. Not having a better plan, I decided to drill off the head so at least I could get the rotor off. I finished the pad install, and put on the new rotor with about 1/8th an inch of the old screw still sticking out of the hub. The stub didn't hold the rotor, but at least it stopped it from spinning when I pressed the rotor against the hub. Same thing happened on the other side.
So here's my question: Does the retaining screw matter? Can I live without it or am I better off drilling out the rest of the screw and retapping it?
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