Do I need to replace caliper bolts on my GS?
11-20-2014, 09:07 PM
#1
Drifting
Thread Starter
Do I need to replace caliper bolts on my GS?
I'm putting new rotors and pads on my 2011 GS and apparently the caliper bolts are supposed to be replaced rather than be reused. Is this correct and if so does anyone know why?
Does anyone have a good (as in affordable) source for the bolts?
Does anyone have a good (as in affordable) source for the bolts?
11-20-2014, 10:00 PM
#2
Team Owner
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St. Jude Donor '13
No one knows for sure, but we all suspect the reason is that new bolts come with a Loctite paste that GM knows is done properly. If they officially allow people to use blue Loctite and reuse the bolts, the lawyers are probably worried that someone would do it wrong and cause an accident with big liability.
Even my local dealership reuses the bolts, with blue Loctite, unless you tell them otherwise. Since they would make more money by selling new bolts at list price, that tells us something. But maybe they're wrong...
Some of the Trackheads here don't even use the Loctite, just torque down to spec and of course change frequently. No reported problems.
Me, I let them reuse the bolts one time with blue Loctite and then replace the next time. Probably too cautious, but that's me.
Enjoy!
Even my local dealership reuses the bolts, with blue Loctite, unless you tell them otherwise. Since they would make more money by selling new bolts at list price, that tells us something. But maybe they're wrong...
Some of the Trackheads here don't even use the Loctite, just torque down to spec and of course change frequently. No reported problems.
Me, I let them reuse the bolts one time with blue Loctite and then replace the next time. Probably too cautious, but that's me.
Enjoy!
11-20-2014, 10:06 PM
#3
Drifting
Thread Starter
No one knows for sure, but we all suspect the reason is that new bolts come with a Loctite paste that GM knows is done properly. If they officially allow people to use blue Loctite and reuse the bolts, the lawyers are probably worried that someone would do it wrong and cause an accident with big liability.
Even my local dealership reuses the bolts, with blue Loctite, unless you tell them otherwise. Since they would make more money by selling new bolts at list price, that tells us something. But maybe they're wrong...
Some of the Trackheads here don't even use the Loctite, just torque down to spec and of course change frequently. No reported problems.
Me, I let them reuse the bolts one time with blue Loctite and then replace the next time. Probably too cautious, but that's me.
Enjoy!
Even my local dealership reuses the bolts, with blue Loctite, unless you tell them otherwise. Since they would make more money by selling new bolts at list price, that tells us something. But maybe they're wrong...
Some of the Trackheads here don't even use the Loctite, just torque down to spec and of course change frequently. No reported problems.
Me, I let them reuse the bolts one time with blue Loctite and then replace the next time. Probably too cautious, but that's me.
Enjoy!
11-21-2014, 11:33 AM
#4
Safety Car
NO just use high temp locktite on the bolts on reinstall, I reused mine no problems 7 years! the stock have a bead of dry locktite on them
11-21-2014, 05:35 PM
#8
Tech Contributor
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I have been reusing the stock bolts for years. I don't bother with the locktite, I just hammer them on with the impact wrench. None have ever broken or come loose. I only replaced one bolt on my C5Z since it had a misshapen head that made it hard to use a socket on it.
Bill
Bill
11-21-2014, 08:55 PM
#9
Melting Slicks
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I've been reusing mine too, just torque to spec, no loctite, no problems. Had the calipers off a couple of times this year after track days, they bolts were hard to remove and had to use a breaker bar to do it.
11-21-2014, 10:24 PM
#11
Drifting
Thread Starter
Sounds like a plan.
Thanks to everyone who contributed. When I first started working on cars back when the dinosaurs roamed the earth and there was no internet this type of simple question would drive you nuts, now with the Corvette Forum these sort of questions are easily answered. Thanks again!
Thanks to everyone who contributed. When I first started working on cars back when the dinosaurs roamed the earth and there was no internet this type of simple question would drive you nuts, now with the Corvette Forum these sort of questions are easily answered. Thanks again!
11-21-2014, 11:07 PM
#12
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St. Jude Donor '13
That has been discussed in the past; the consensus was that they are not torque to yield, just a Loctite issue. But I never did the research to verify.