I've always done my own brakes and I've never had a car with that small set bolt holding the rotor in place. What is the purpose except to hold it there making it much easier to put the wheel back on? It can't hold much in the way of rotational force being so small(compared to the 5 lug posts). Of course I'm only asking as both of them simply snapped upon removal despite two hours of penetrating oil preparation.

 

Just like you said. to hold it in place. The passat doesnt have them and when you turn them, the holes move with it and you have to fix them before the wheels can go on. Really sucks to mess with.

 

That was what I had hoped. I was trying to see my neighbors passat who I share the garage with and did not see one. I figured it was fairly vestigile and I could live without it. Didn't stop my from startling the neighbors with some choice language though.

 

I think 95% if not higher have stripped atleast one of the bolts when trying to remove them. The best option i have seen is people putting in allen head bolts so it wont strip the next time. I f'ed up one and made the hole a little bigger and used a english standerd bolt instead.

 

I have just run into the same problem two years later lol

 

no biggie. mine were all broken off when i got my car, finally got around to drilling out the broken bits a year later, and managed to find some screws that fit. my plan that day was only to drill out the pieces because I was bored. Got lucky that I had replacement screws.