Not to mention GM puts Locktite on them.
New Brakes Installation Needed
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 4,494
Likes: 8
From: Niceville, FL
New Brakes Installation Needed
I started to replace my pads and rotors yesterday with a friend of mine. We took the front R wheel off and could not get the damn bolt that was holding the calipers unscrewed. This thing needed an impact wrench...anyone have any good instructions on how to do this? I hear PATCHES does, but never heard from him....thanks.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 889
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From: DFW tx
Get a 1/2" drive 2 foot breaker bar. Don't use a 12 point socket on the bolt. Turn the steering wheel to make the access to the bolt easier. Make sure you are turning the proper way, as the bolts are facing away from you. The breaker bar makes it much easier by giving you the extra leverage.
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Michael S. Palmer
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 23,283
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From: Lake Elsinore, CA
Hmm . . . I definitely emailed the procedures to everyone who asked for them. Perhaps you didn't receive them? I would be happy to send them again.
One thing: The procedures are detailed and illustrated but don't give you the technique on how to get the caliper bracket bolts off. They must assume you are a GM tech with the most powerful impact wrench made available as they seem to use them to tighten everything at the service dept.
One thing: The procedures are detailed and illustrated but don't give you the technique on how to get the caliper bracket bolts off. They must assume you are a GM tech with the most powerful impact wrench made available as they seem to use them to tighten everything at the service dept.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,251
Likes: 4
Originally Posted by mdbennes
I started to replace my pads and rotors yesterday with a friend of mine. We took the front R wheel off and could not get the damn bolt that was holding the calipers unscrewed. This thing needed an impact wrench...anyone have any good instructions on how to do this? I hear PATCHES does, but never heard from him....thanks.
There's a trick you were unaware of. 
The bolt needs to be restrained by an open end wrench. Between the caliper and the bracket is a round piece that has 2 flat spots on it. Slip the wrench on it and hold it from spinning. All you were doing is spinning the bolt in place. After that, your wife could brake it loose. 
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 19,496
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From: St. Louis MO
Originally Posted by drcoffee
There's a trick you were unaware of. The bolt needs to be restrained by an open end wrench. Between the caliper and the bracket is a round piece that has 2 flat spots on it. Slip the wrench on it and hold it from spinning. All you were doing is spinning the bolt in place. After that, your wife could brake it loose. I've found the trick to getting the bracket bolt loose is to use a breaker bar and hit it with a rubber mallet. That will break the loctite loose.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,251
Likes: 4
My Bad. I re-read it 4 times and kept coming back to "...and could not get the damn bolt that was holding the calipers unscrewed."
Sorry if I mis-read that.
EDIT: Torch and torque.
Sorry if I mis-read that.
EDIT: Torch and torque.
Last edited by drcoffee; Sep 13, 2004 at 03:53 PM.
Race Director
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From: Houston, Tx Got traction?
CI 5-6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07-'08
My friend Robert, put the ratchet on it and took a small swing and hit it with the palm of his hand, it broke loose the first try.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 4,494
Likes: 8
From: Niceville, FL
We tried that too, I guess with mine being a 00, it hasn't been touched since new....we are going in the shop tomorrow and using some REAL TOOLS and getting this bastard off...