Right, I’m getting sick of the wee screws that hold the inserts of road brake blocks rounding out. Have tried a number of different allen keys, including some brand new pedros ones and they all just seem to spin inside the bolt. Any ideas of how to remove them without resorting to power drills.

Failing that, any reccomendations for non-cartridge style road brake blocks?

Don’t tighten them up so much.
Put a dab of grease on the thread before you tighten them up, and then don’t over tighten them.

Have a search for disco brake pads and get some of the non cartridge types. Cheap and do a good job.

Hammer in an oversized torx bit?

Probably no good to use again but new blocks usually come with a fresh bolt.

e2a: once they’re out, refer to aP’s post

cut a slot in the head with a junior hacksaw or dremil and use a flatblade screwdriver.

just use older Campag cartridges, no retention screw. Pain in the arse changing the pads though!!

Tried cutting a slot and hammering in a torx bit to no avail. These were brand new blocks with cartridges after the last lot went the same way so someone at shimano is doing the over-tightening. Will get some new ones and loosen/grease the bolts.

What a pain in the undies.

Molegrips worked for me…

+ 1 for molegrips

Pair of long-nosed pliers has always been enough for me.