Bicycle Mechanics - Can these be removed?

I removed my V brakes on my new stumpjumper to get ready for the disc installation. The "axels" the brakes ride on look ugly and stick out obtrusivly, so i wanted to remove them. They have flat areas at the base that suggests they screw out with a wrench. But i tried and they are EXTREMELY tight, so i wonder if they aren't screwed, but pushed in. Any ideas? Heres a pic....

http://www.onlinerock.com/musicians/dazco/post.jpg

Yeah they can be removed. The are usually about an 8mm wrench in size and have normal threads. Usually there is a locking compound on the threads to keep them from backing out when you remove the bolts that hold your brakes to the bosses. By the way they are called brake bosses not axles.

-Ryan

I'd check the manual on your particular shock. I read in one Marzocchi manual where they could not be removed. Apparently the hole went all the way through.

Hmmm... well, i'll check that out if i can download a manual. The rears tho.......what about them? They're of course on the specialized's frame.

I just left mine the bike shop gave me some rubber caps to put on them. If I ever decide to sell the bike I can remove the disc brakes and slap on a set of V's without having to deal with finding the bosses (or getting new ones) just cap 'em they're not hurting anything.

Thanks for the tips everyone. I got em out.

UPDATE:Well, one of the the rears wasn't quite so easy. Broke it off in the socket. Hope i like those discs cuz i won't be able to use V's anymore.:(

Dazco, You and I have EXACTLY the same luck :D
Seems I can never get through a project without something going not quite right. I finally outgrew throwing tools so thats a good thing but no matter how careful, no matter how slow I go, how careful or if I even read the instructions SOMETHING goofy will come up :D
Doug

Nobody ever listens to me. <shakes head>

Originally posted by Dougmt
Dazco, You and I have EXACTLY the same luck :D
Seems I can never get through a project without something going not quite right. I finally outgrew throwing tools so thats a good thing but no matter how careful, no matter how slow I go, how careful or if I even read the instructions SOMETHING goofy will come up :D
Doug

Count me in. I'm a relative newbie in bike mechanics, so I usually have to start my maintenance projects with finding and buying the proper tools. Fortunately I have outgrown buying cheap s#!t for tools, but not entirely without trial and error.

When I've finally got all the equipment and parts something goofy WILL come up.

:beer:

--J

I read somewhere that everytime you break a part while learning to be a bike mechanic, consider it tuition.

Cheers. :beer:

Nobody ever listens to me. <shakes head>

Hey, i read your post. BUT, I knew i might break one off and i was willing to chance it because if i ever sold the bike it would be with the disc brakes. Not exactly glad it happened, but no big deal really. Plus i may still be able to get the remaining threaded part out.

You can get it out. Or, take it to a machine shop. If they're nice blokes they'll do it for a fiver.

Yea, i figured that, and i'll take it there this weekend. It's nice having my LBS literally about 500 yards from my home !

A bit called an easy out will probably take the remaining portion out. If you dont know what that is it is basically a drill bit that is reversed so when you have the drill set on reverse the bit digs in and gets stuck thereby removing the broken off screw.

-Ryan

Ryan,

You're a *bit* late. :D I just read your post as i was preparing to post and say i got it out with an easy out ! I gotta tell ya tho, that was the toughest most stuck bolt i ever removed. Luckily it was hollow to begin with. But the easy out was a bit too big, so i drilled it out and spent about an hour pulling at it with all my strength. Finally i drilled it out a bit wider and tried again. When that thing finally moved i felt like i just won the friggin lottery ! Funny thing is, i'll likely never need it anyway if i like the discs anywhere near as much as everyone says. But nevertheless it just bothered me knowing it was broken off in there.

By the way, can i buy bosses that will fit my specialized frame most anywhere, or will i have to get em from specialized? (just in case i ever sell the bike and decide to keep the discs)

Thanks for all the info....