Stuck caliper bolts *need help*
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 935
Likes: 20
From: Indianapolis Indiana
Stuck caliper bolts *need help*
What are my options if I can not get the two bolts out to remove a rear caliper on my vette?
I have pb blastered them to death, breaker barred it, heated it some etc.
The two bolts holding on it arent budging are start to round off now.
Can a brake shop burn out the bolts some how with a cutting torch or other tool?
thanks for any help
jim
I have pb blastered them to death, breaker barred it, heated it some etc.
The two bolts holding on it arent budging are start to round off now.
Can a brake shop burn out the bolts some how with a cutting torch or other tool?
thanks for any help
jim
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,095
Likes: 299
From: Midlothian VA
What are my options if I can not get the two bolts out to remove a rear caliper on my vette?
I have pb blastered them to death, breaker barred it, heated it some etc.
The two bolts holding on it arent budging are start to round off now.
Can a brake shop burn out the bolts some how with a cutting torch or other tool?
thanks for any help
jim
I have pb blastered them to death, breaker barred it, heated it some etc.
The two bolts holding on it arent budging are start to round off now.
Can a brake shop burn out the bolts some how with a cutting torch or other tool?
thanks for any help
jim
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 935
Likes: 20
From: Indianapolis Indiana
I forgot to mention, damage to the caliper is not a problem. Im trying to replace it.
I tried a breaker bar, with a multi sided socket (more than 6 sides).
What happens if the head breaks off?
screwed than ?
I tried a breaker bar, with a multi sided socket (more than 6 sides).
What happens if the head breaks off?
screwed than ?
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 11,520
Likes: 13
From: CORVETTE 77 385 C.I. TEXAS
You need to use good sockets & I agree w/ a good 6 point socket & breaker.
While I have got them off & have not tried this, may be worth a try.
While I have got them off & have not tried this, may be worth a try.
Originally Posted by cargo247
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 12,142
Likes: 54
From: Taylor Michigan
You need HEAT!
those spray bombs are useless, all your doing is wasting your time. The real answer is the flame wrench or heat and a lot of of it. A brake/muffler shop is one answer. They dont need to burn them out and screwing the caliper bracket and bolt and can save your parts..Your problem may be enhanced by the fact you dont have enough heat where you are...and the brakes are partially apart...try a canned propane torch which you may have or the nearest hardware will have...
oh, cherry red
those spray bombs are useless, all your doing is wasting your time. The real answer is the flame wrench or heat and a lot of of it. A brake/muffler shop is one answer. They dont need to burn them out and screwing the caliper bracket and bolt and can save your parts..Your problem may be enhanced by the fact you dont have enough heat where you are...and the brakes are partially apart...try a canned propane torch which you may have or the nearest hardware will have...
oh, cherry red
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,317
Likes: 22
From: Marina CA
Get a 15mm deep 6 point impact socket, beat it on the bolt and use an air impact wrench to rattle the bolts backwards and forwards to break the bolts loose. That's how I got 2 of them loose in the 68.
Chase the threads with a tap afterwards and you should be good to go.
Chase the threads with a tap afterwards and you should be good to go.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,095
Likes: 299
From: Midlothian VA
I've also had success with a sixpoint socket and a sledge against the breaker bar as the "impact" is more persuasive and a high pressure pull on the handle.
Impact wrench might work but it's difficult to get in that tight area.
Last edited by Hammerhead Fred; Oct 21, 2009 at 09:22 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 924
Likes: 2
From: Kearneysville West Virginia
These guys are all correct. I just went through this. I used a six side socket and a breaker bar. They all came out except for two, that broke off. I removed the caliper and soaked the broken bolts and heated them, and they twisted right out. I did not have to drill them out. I would chase all the threaded holes with a tap before installing the new bolts.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,427
Likes: 1,560
From: mount holly NC
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods)
There are no nuts!
As stated just use a 1/2 half inch 6 point socket and and a breaker bar and turn counter clockwise to loosen. If need be, with the car high enough in the air, put a pipe on the end of the breaker bar. Are you attacking the correct bolts?
PG.
PG.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,095
Likes: 299
From: Midlothian VA
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
4-foot long black-iron gas pipe [extension] fit over your breaker bar handle. Give it a good tug and they'll come loose. Using a torch in the area of brake lines/fluid and rubber is not necessarily a good thing....
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,417
Likes: 336
From: Texas
if you cant get an impact on them, then you're going to have to warm them up mechanically, by using a small steel drift or blunt end punch, on the center of the head to loosen up the rust welded threads. then use the 6 point socket and breaker bar.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,164
Likes: 1
From: Europe, France
I think heating will not help : You can only heat the bolt head and these bolts are too long for the heat to reach the threads. I would first try an impact wrench with a 6 points impact socket, like some people said.
High frequency vibrations can help them break loose, just like a hammer would do. If they still don't move after that, I would try with a long enough breaker bar. The worst that could happen would be to cut the head of the bolt, but even then the caliper will go off and you will be able to heat and remove what remains of the bolt.
High frequency vibrations can help them break loose, just like a hammer would do. If they still don't move after that, I would try with a long enough breaker bar. The worst that could happen would be to cut the head of the bolt, but even then the caliper will go off and you will be able to heat and remove what remains of the bolt.
Last edited by 73StreetRace; Oct 22, 2009 at 09:11 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 12,706
Likes: 329
From: Scottsdale Arizona
I'd go with the impact wrench. If you don't have one, you can certainly rent one.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 935
Likes: 20
From: Indianapolis Indiana
Yes, I did mean to say bolt and not nut. My kid was yelling at me cause he wanted to watch kermit the frog "rainbow connection' on YouTube.
I did find a nice 6 sided socket and used a breaker bolt and finally got the bolts off and than the caliber.
On a side note, I think what threw me off and always has with heating to remove a stuck bolt, is how it works?
In this example, if I had heat the bolt head how does that help remove the bolt? I thought that heating the bolt would make it expand which wouldn't that make it tighter?
It must work cause everyone says it does. But in this case I'm not sure how it does.
jim
I did find a nice 6 sided socket and used a breaker bolt and finally got the bolts off and than the caliber.
On a side note, I think what threw me off and always has with heating to remove a stuck bolt, is how it works?
In this example, if I had heat the bolt head how does that help remove the bolt? I thought that heating the bolt would make it expand which wouldn't that make it tighter?
It must work cause everyone says it does. But in this case I'm not sure how it does.
jim
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 6,422
Likes: 591
From: McHenry Illinois
When you heat the bolt it expands, then when it cools the rust is usually broken loose, don't try to remove the bolt till it's cool. If you can heat the part it's threaded into, it will expand the hole and then back the bolt out while it's hot.
