Getting caliper brackets off?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 148
Likes: 0
From: Chicago Illinois
Getting caliper brackets off?
So today i started the project of painting my calipers, brackets and rotor hats but i can't break the bolt on the brackets loose. I tried breaker bars, hammering the breaker bar but still nothing these suckers are on there good. Is there anything im missing or can try or are these reverse threads or something like that? Let me know what you guys think. thanks.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 6,774
Likes: 363
From: Midland TX
So today i started the project of painting my calipers, brackets and rotor hats but i can't break the bolt on the brackets loose. I tried breaker bars, hammering the breaker bar but still nothing these suckers are on there good. Is there anything im missing or can try or are these reverse threads or something like that? Let me know what you guys think. thanks.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,987
Likes: 18
From: DuBois PA
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15
I used a breaker bar with an impact swivle. I didn't think of the heat idea until I got to the rear where it was a bit tougher to shoe horn in the breaker bar!
Last edited by tstar; May 19, 2010 at 03:23 PM.
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Try a little heat - the bolts should break free.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,820
Likes: 2
From: San Diego
You don't need to take them off to paint them if you use artist's brushes. I painted what I could see with them on the car. Got the paint brushes at Home Depot. Cost total about $10 to $15. Only way to know they aren't painted on inside is to lay under the car behind the wheel. I haven't found too many people looking at my car from that angle yet. 
Cruising
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Diamond Bar CA
On the right side I used my floor jack to 'raise up' the end of the appropriately sized wrench I had on the bolt head. Did the same on the left side just enough to break the bolt loose (because on left side you would actually be tightening the bolt). After just barely moving the bolt, I was able to give the same end of the wrench a couple of good whacks with a big headed hammer which did the trick.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,938
Likes: 65
From: Rochester Hills MI
i used a breaker bar and was able to get mine off. they were very difficult i must admit. i got under the rotor, and put my foot on the caliper, and used my leg strength to pull on the breaker bar to turn the bolt.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 148
Likes: 0
From: Chicago Illinois
You don't need to take them off to paint them if you use artist's brushes. I painted what I could see with them on the car. Got the paint brushes at Home Depot. Cost total about $10 to $15. Only way to know they aren't painted on inside is to lay under the car behind the wheel. I haven't found too many people looking at my car from that angle yet.
Last edited by stealthC513; May 19, 2010 at 03:34 PM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 148
Likes: 0
From: Chicago Illinois
i finally got them off, i went for the propane torch and it was empty 
so i just got a bigger hammer and went to work, not as smooth as i hoped for but it worked. Do any of you know about the rubber covering on the shaft where the bolts for the calipers go, when taking the shaft out i popped one of the rubber fittings off, do i need to replace it or just pop it back on. Thanks again guys.
so i just got a bigger hammer and went to work, not as smooth as i hoped for but it worked. Do any of you know about the rubber covering on the shaft where the bolts for the calipers go, when taking the shaft out i popped one of the rubber fittings off, do i need to replace it or just pop it back on. Thanks again guys.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 299
Likes: 2
From: North Carolina
So today i started the project of painting my calipers, brackets and rotor hats but i can't break the bolt on the brackets loose. I tried breaker bars, hammering the breaker bar but still nothing these suckers are on there good. Is there anything im missing or can try or are these reverse threads or something like that? Let me know what you guys think. thanks.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 16,376
Likes: 404
From: Should this thoughtful, valuable contribution meet with no acknowledgement or 'thanks' this post----
i finally got them off, i went for the propane torch and it was empty so i just got a bigger hammer and went to work, not as smooth as i hoped for but it worked. Do any of you know about the rubber covering on the shaft where the bolts for the calipers go, when taking the shaft out i popped one of the rubber fittings off, do i need to replace it or just pop it back on. Thanks again guys.
so i just got a bigger hammer and went to work, not as smooth as i hoped for but it worked. Do any of you know about the rubber covering on the shaft where the bolts for the calipers go, when taking the shaft out i popped one of the rubber fittings off, do i need to replace it or just pop it back on. Thanks again guys.just push it right back on...there is a small lip that it must sit in. be sure to lube your caliper pins while you are at it...my right side was frozen dry, and I had the warped rotor symptom, but my rotors were fine, which, means only 1 brake shoe side was doing the work. BTW, I had no trouble loosening the bolts everyone is commenting on..just eat some Wheaties first ladies!
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,987
Likes: 18
From: DuBois PA
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Ladies? Hell, your slider pin was dry cuz your Calipers were floppying around and knocked all the grease off em! THAT's why your bolts were so easy to remove!!!!
Tim
Tim
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,332
Likes: 31
From: Silver Spring MD
LONG PIPE ON A 1/2" breaker bar
Didn't need PB Blaster but used a 5' pipe over my 1/2" BREAKER BAR.
They are on TIGHT. GM says replace the bolts. BS. Clean the threads and use red Locktite when reassembling. Used a wire and bristle brush and spray break cleaner to clean the calipers before using brush on Duplicolor caliper paint. Applied several coats and the look like new several years later.
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