[Closed] Will it end in fire an tears .... Only 5 rotor bolts ....

I've had 4 holding on a rotor for about 4 years now.I'll get round to putting the other 2 in........tomorrow.

I'm sure someone can dig out that photo of Steve Peat's V10 with only 3 rotor bolts, apparently to save weight.

I suspect you'll be fine.

EDIT: Here you go

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Just move your brake to the front wheel.

just make sure you release the brake whenever it passes over the radial point of the missing screw. 😉

If you're worried, (though I would mostly be bothered about the aesthetic of having one missing) couldn't you put a longer bolt through with a nut on the back? Bit of Loctite probably wouldn't go amiss.

Ashima you say, make sure you measure it to ensure it doesn't wear down too much...

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I've seen a few times where people say that if you're going to have less than 6 bolts, you should have 3- the idea being that equal distribution of force is more important. That doesn't sound right to me but IANAME so who knows

Superficial - Member

I'm sure someone can dig out that photo of Steve Peat's V10 with only 3 rotor bolts, apparently to save weight.

To be fair, they only had to hold it on for 3 minutes. Probably a big part of the reason for having so many, is so that it's not instant death when one drops out.

I've run 5 bolts on a rear hope xc for years. I'm not a skinny rider and the hub is still going strong.

I ran 3 wheel nuts in each wheel of my Hillman Imp for months after a wheel fell off and I lost 4 nuts. You'll be fine.

I think 5 will be fine, but is there room to slide a plain nut behind the stripped boss and run a longer bolt?

I think the stress distribution over five bolts will be far less than the change between a 160 to 203 rotor.

Additionally, if the factor of safety is 2 or 3 (design strength vs operational loading) you are just reducing this slightly, not taking it to the point where the operational loads are greater than the combined shear strength of five bolts.

slowoldman - Member
I ran 3 wheel nuts in each wheel of my Hillman Imp for months after a wheel fell off and I lost 4 nuts. You'll be fine.

I was being convinced by this until I got to "after a wheel fell off" 😆

I ran 3 wheel nuts in each wheel of my Hillman Imp for months after a wheel fell off and I lost 4 nuts. You'll be fine.

7 wheelnuts? Are you sure the three letters on your vehicle weren't E-R-F rather than I-M-P?

Start with 16. Lose 4 = 12 remaining.

Redistribute as three per wheel.

HTH.

I was being convinced by this until I got to "after a wheel fell off"

That's why I lost 4 wheel nuts. I found the wheel, it had bounced over a hedge into the local golf club. I did feel a bit of a numpty wandering on to the green to collect it. I was driving home slowly after feeling a bit of a wobble at the front end. King pins or track rod end I thought. Then, oops, showers of sparks. Luckily it was drum brakes in those days so I rolled to an undignified but undamaged halt. Popped the wheel back on but had to borrow one nut from each of the other wheels.

It's all true.

Many years later had the same issue on a rally (see any common link here?). Front wheel fell off in a shower of sparks, big spin in the road, disc and front suspension wrecked.

Makes a note to never let slowoldman help with a wheel change...