Throw your brake bolts away?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 198
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From: Ok
Throw your brake bolts away?
I am taking the brake rotors off and the book says that when you remove the caliper bracket you are to discard the bolts and buy new ones. Is this true? Does anybody else do this? Should I just clean the bolts and use locktite.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 7,625
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From: Director of Bands
St. Jude Donor '08
I did the first time. Some of the bolts (I did brakes at all 4 corners) I had to buy at the dealer... and they were about $7 a piece!!!!!! 
I don't think that they are true torque-to-yield blots (someone correct me), and I have heard of people cleaning them and reusing them with blue loctite a couple times before they pitch them and buy new bolts.
I don't think that they are true torque-to-yield blots (someone correct me), and I have heard of people cleaning them and reusing them with blue loctite a couple times before they pitch them and buy new bolts.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,111
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From: My redneck of the woods louisiana
i did when i overhauled my entire brake assemblies with new pads rotors and calipers but that was because the new calipers came with the pins and bolts, well 3 of them did 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,753
Likes: 14
From: backwoods upstate ny
when i first started working on c-4's, back about 20 years ago, the first three or four times i went to the dealer for new brake bolts...then the parts manager asked me what i was doing with em--nobody else ever bought em and they didn't use em in house
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 824
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From: Camden SC
For some good reading, try Google, "torque to yield". Pay close attention to clamping specs on aluminum. Aluminum and I have have never been close.
I've wondered about those bolts. I'd probably use the new ones, unless of course it was Sunday and the dealer was closed.
dlmeyers 90 coupe zf6 3speed shocks
I've wondered about those bolts. I'd probably use the new ones, unless of course it was Sunday and the dealer was closed.
dlmeyers 90 coupe zf6 3speed shocks
Drifting
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,979
Likes: 48
From: Lakeport CA
I have to admit I'm one of the ones who also buys new. Brakes have only been off a couple times in the 12 years I've owned the car. All times were for upgrades... I figure the Helms calls for it & is it REALLY that much $ for peace of mind on the brakes. Which IMHO are one of the last things I want to see fail on the road.
YMMV...
YMMV...
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 198
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From: Ok
Before this, the only bolts I ever heard of that were replaced after removal were the rod bolts on the '73,'74 Super Duty 455 Pontiac Trans Ams. I think I'll reuse this time around then when I upgrade the rotors I'll buy new. Thanks
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
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From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
The reason that the service manual says to toss the bolts and use new is that the new bolts comes with a threadlocker already on the new bolt.
If you clean the threads of the bolts (don't forget to chase the female threads to clean out any residue!!) and apply some blue loctie, you can reuse them. Don't use red loctite as that stuff requires heat to release the material.
The bolts are not a torque-to-yield type but given the high torque setting for the front bolts, it would be a good idea to replace them after a few uses. I go thru a lot of front rotors on my 87 autocross and track day car so I keep an extra set of new bolts in the tool box, but I reuse the front bolts 2 times before tossing.
The rear bolts are not as big a deal as the torque value is nowhere near as high as the front bolts although the bolt is smaller.
If you clean the threads of the bolts (don't forget to chase the female threads to clean out any residue!!) and apply some blue loctie, you can reuse them. Don't use red loctite as that stuff requires heat to release the material.
The bolts are not a torque-to-yield type but given the high torque setting for the front bolts, it would be a good idea to replace them after a few uses. I go thru a lot of front rotors on my 87 autocross and track day car so I keep an extra set of new bolts in the tool box, but I reuse the front bolts 2 times before tossing.
The rear bolts are not as big a deal as the torque value is nowhere near as high as the front bolts although the bolt is smaller.
Drifting
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,730
Likes: 1
From: Charlotte NC
St. Jude Donor '05
Yeah I agree, I don't believe they are a torque to yield bolt.
I think the major reason why they want you to replace them is they often corrode and get very rough. I've done a few brake jobs before where the pin is actually dipped and very rough from corrosion.
I think the major reason why they want you to replace them is they often corrode and get very rough. I've done a few brake jobs before where the pin is actually dipped and very rough from corrosion.
I reuse my bolts with blue loctite
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
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From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
He's replacing the rotors so the brackets have to come off.The service manual also recommends tossing the bolts that hold the caliper guide pins. These are much smaller and torqued to a much lower value, but the factory replacement bolts also have a pre-installed threadlocker on them.
I clean the threads on those bolts and use blue loctite on them just like the caliper brackets.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 24,337
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From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
Typical GM, throwing out the baby with the bathwater.
I'm going to safety wire my brake bolts if I can find a small drill bit strong enough to cut em.
I'm going to safety wire my brake bolts if I can find a small drill bit strong enough to cut em.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 30,845
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From: Boston, Dallas, Detroit, SoCal, back to Boston MA
Originally Posted by CentralCoaster
Typical GM, throwing out the baby with the bathwater.
I'm going to safety wire my brake bolts if I can find a small drill bit strong enough to cut em.
I'm going to safety wire my brake bolts if I can find a small drill bit strong enough to cut em.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,438
Likes: 3
From: Florissant MO
I'm a big believer in new bolts and loctite.
2001 Z28 - had brake job done - too busy that time to do it myself. Six months after brake job one of the bolts on the rear caliper mount backed off and fell out. Caliper swung down and scraped the heck out of the inside of my new chrome wheels.
My fault because I didn't check their work.
Use new bolts, torque wrench, loctite = very cheap stopping insurance.
2001 Z28 - had brake job done - too busy that time to do it myself. Six months after brake job one of the bolts on the rear caliper mount backed off and fell out. Caliper swung down and scraped the heck out of the inside of my new chrome wheels.
My fault because I didn't check their work.
Use new bolts, torque wrench, loctite = very cheap stopping insurance.