How do I get the v-brake posts out?

[el_d00der1n0]

I have an 08 FSRxc. I bought it with rim brakes, but yesterday I put on discs.

I managed to unscrew the v-brake posts out of my fork, but I can't seem to get them out of the braze-ons on the frame. From the other end of the braze-on, I can see it's threaded, but they don't budge. I've torn the posts up a bit with the vice grips -- still no luck.

Any ideas how to get them out without doing any damage to the frame?

[autoduel]

A little heat with a propane torch should bust loose the lock-tite.

[2wheel_lee]

You were right on with the Vice Grips. They can be very difficult to remove, espeically on Specialized bikes. I just replaced the ones on my Tricross with ti studs. They did not come out very easily. I swore I was going to break something.

Be careful using a torch - the paint doesn't like being heated.

[el_d00der1n0]

Originally Posted by autoduel

A little heat with a propane torch should bust loose the lock-tite.

Like a pipe sweating torch? I assume that would only be applied to the post?

[autoduel]

Yeah, apply heat only to the post, if the paint starts to bubble, it's too hot! Try holding it for a few seconds, try to loosen, hold a few more seconds, try again, etc.. until it breaks loose.

[OffRoadie]

I'm telling you man, green electrical tape.

[el_d00der1n0]

Originally Posted by OffRoadie

I'm telling you man, green electrical tape.

I'm going with orange -- just to be different.

[OldDogDan]

Try a product called Silikroil -- way better than Liquid Wrench -- it will work. Heat is a last resort.

[Rockinthecasbah]

ues a heat gun or blowdryer and watch the paint , if you touch it with the torch the pain is gone

[DISCO]

Swap the vise grips for a large (12-15") crescent wrench if the flats are still intact. If not a pipe wrench could be your friend here. The last resort would be to dremel them flush with the reinforced cut off wheel. If all else fails high explosives could do the trick but, no promises when it comes to the paint.

[el_d00der1n0]

Originally Posted by DISCO

Swap the vise grips for a large (12-15") crescent wrench if the flats are still intact. If not a pipe wrench could be your friend here. The last resort would be to dremel them flush with the reinforced cut off wheel. If all else fails high explosives could do the trick but, no promises when it comes to the paint.

The big crescent wrench was the first thing I tried. It just rolled the corners off.

Someone today at Elfin suggested a soldering iron to heat it. That sounds interesting cuz I don't have to worry about the paint like I would with, say, explosives.

[DISCO]

It's no good because it will only expand with heat. Try a small pipe wrench because at least you can get a grip on the round part. Otherwise I would just cut them off to keep debris from falling in the frame.

[el_d00der1n0]

Originally Posted by DISCO

It's no good because it will only expand with heat. Try a small pipe wrench because at least you can get a grip on the round part. Otherwise I would just cut them off to keep debris from falling in the frame.

Does Al expand? That makes sense.

I tried the pipe wrench just now. It sounded like a brilliant plan, but it didn't work either. It basically did the same thing the vice grips were doing.

At this point, I'm thinking hacksaw, or leave them there and invent some really cool beer panier that attaches to v-brake posts.


The braze-ons are sort of an afterthought I think. The threaded holes go all the way through, so it's for asthetic reasons I want to be rid of them.

Thanks everyone for your help.

[DISCO]

Yeah that sucks, I had a BMX frame that I managed to break a bolt off inside the post. The only thing that worked was to torch in a new one but that was Cro-Mo and were talking Al. The hacks saw sounds like your best bet but since the posts are hardened steel it could take a while. If you have a corded drill you can get cut off wheels for it and it will be much faster. Just make sure the wheel is of the reinforced variety or you will need eye protection.

Another Idea is to drill a hole through it sideways and maybe a 4mm or so Allen could get you enough to break it loose with out bending. Lacking all else Clamp the bugger in a vise tight enough to ovalize it and use the frame for leverage. But power tools are the quick and easy route.

[el_d00der1n0]

Originally Posted by DISCO

Yeah that sucks, I had a BMX frame that I managed to break a bolt off inside the post. The only thing that worked was to torch in a new one but that was Cro-Mo and were talking Al. The hacks saw sounds like your best bet but since the posts are hardened steel it could take a while. If you have a corded drill you can get cut off wheels for it and it will be much faster. Just make sure the wheel is of the reinforced variety or you will need eye protection.

Another Idea is to drill a hole through it sideways and maybe a 4mm or so Allen could get you enough to break it loose with out bending. Lacking all else Clamp the bugger in a vise tight enough to ovalize it and use the frame for leverage. But power tools are the quick and easy route.

Are they steel? The vice grips and pipe wrench did a number on them. I had shards coming off.

[bjammin]

Hey Brian, if you get a chance, bring it by the shop on Sunday and I'll have a go at it. I'm thinking EZ-Out.

[el_d00der1n0]

Originally Posted by bjammin

Hey Brian, if you get a chance, bring it by the shop on Sunday and I'll have a go at it. I'm thinking EZ-Out.

I don't think I'll make it there today. We have LPQ ride going on. Maybe next weekend?

[HELLDOG]

Righty tighty, lefty loosy. Make sure your going the right way. You never know. Just thought I would throw that out there. The crescent wrench should have done it for sure.

[OldDogDan]

Even though we're older now, chemicals are your friend. Let some Silikroil (best) or Liquid Wrench soak in the threads a few hours (a little bit from both ends). Then use vise-grips really really tight so they don't slip further and round it off to nothing. That worked fine for me. But have the heat gun or propane (not welding!) torch handy as the last resort. Put the heat on the braze-on (weld-on?!), not the post. If moderate heat doesn't work, more won't help. ...And you know, cosmetically the leftover "braze"-ons bug me too. I was thinking of cutting them off and grinding them down (carefully! don't let the heat-treated aluminum get very hot!), but it's a lot of work when you could be riding instead. So I just left 'em.

[el_d00der1n0]

Originally Posted by bjammin

Hey Brian, if you get a chance, bring it by the shop on Sunday and I'll have a go at it. I'm thinking EZ-Out.

I bought some screw extractors last weekend and tried a couple of different sizes. Still not budging. I'm thinking fire is the only way to go now.

Anybody know if the blue tank (propane?) is hot enough?