Help!!! Stripped Caliper Bolt Head
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: Greenwood MO
Help!!! Stripped Caliper Bolt Head
As I was changing my brakes and rotors this afternoon I attempted to remove the top caliper bolt on the passenger side and somehow stripped the bolt head. I am not exactly sure how this happened since I was using a 21 mm socket with a 1/2 " drive breaker bar. Could anyone tell me what I can do to remedy this problem. I am no longer able to untighten the bolt using the existing socket. I am afraid that if I continue I am going to make it worse and it will have to be drilled out . I know that it took all of my strenghth to turn it just a bit but I was able to loosen it before it got stripped. Take a look at my pics below of the stripped head and socket and breaker bar that I was using.
I am questioning whether I should have used a different shaped socket although it was 21 mm. It was a star pattern socket instead of the typical hex pattern that properly forms over the bolt head. Help would be greatly appreciated...... These caliper bolts are a pain in the butt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://69.240.228.176/html/modules.p...view_album.php
TIA
Steve
I am questioning whether I should have used a different shaped socket although it was 21 mm. It was a star pattern socket instead of the typical hex pattern that properly forms over the bolt head. Help would be greatly appreciated...... These caliper bolts are a pain in the butt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://69.240.228.176/html/modules.p...view_album.php
TIA
Steve
Last edited by Clamshell; May 6, 2005 at 07:39 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,322
Likes: 2
From: New York NY
Cruise-In VI Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05
Originally Posted by donnyonee
try a 6 sided socket, you might have to pound it on the bolt since you muffed the head a little.
That is the wrong socket you are using. The bolt looks a little rashed, but not stripped. Just get yourself a 21mm hex socket (6 sides) and give it another try. Once you get it out I would recommend replacing it. Also, use either blue or red loctite on the bolt when you reinstall it.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 8,762
Likes: 2
From: Murphy TX
What they said and a hearty lesson learned 
Don't try and use a 12 point on a high torque bolt because you are only applying force on the points of the nuts.
I think you'll be ok with a good socket. You can buy an impact socket set and then you're all set to go when you eventually want an impact gun.
Don't try and use a 12 point on a high torque bolt because you are only applying force on the points of the nuts.
I think you'll be ok with a good socket. You can buy an impact socket set and then you're all set to go when you eventually want an impact gun.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: Greenwood MO
Well I used a six sided socket and now the bolt has broken off! I think who ever put these on at the factory over torqued them!!!!!!! 
I think I am going to take it to the mechanic because I am afraid to attempt to drill the rest of the bolt out myself . I am also afraid of the possibility that the other bolts will have the same problem. Any suggestions? Can I get these bolts as a seperate part from GM or do I have to buy a kit? What do you guys think? Man this has been a frustrating experience.
I think I am going to take it to the mechanic because I am afraid to attempt to drill the rest of the bolt out myself . I am also afraid of the possibility that the other bolts will have the same problem. Any suggestions? Can I get these bolts as a seperate part from GM or do I have to buy a kit? What do you guys think? Man this has been a frustrating experience.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 174,312
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From: Here
Pilot of Beer Force 1
Tampa Regional Coordinator
CI 4-5-6-7-8 Veteran
Organizer St. Jude Fundraiser
I believe in the Beer Fairy
you can buy the bolts from the dealer I am sure...
now..go to Sears and buy their kit for removing bolts with rounded heads...they have 2 different kits..both cost about $20.....best $40 I have spent on tools in awhile...good luck
here:
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/searc...=searchresults
now..go to Sears and buy their kit for removing bolts with rounded heads...they have 2 different kits..both cost about $20.....best $40 I have spent on tools in awhile...good luck
here:
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/searc...=searchresults
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,119
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From: Spring Branch Texas
There has been some great advise posted. You should try to do it yourself! Once you are successful (which you will be), then you have learned how to handle this common problem. If you need to buy some new sockets, etc, so be it. Again, then you have the hardware to handle this situation whenever it occurs.
PS - beer will also help loosen the bolts!
PS - beer will also help loosen the bolts!
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 174,312
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From: Here
Pilot of Beer Force 1
Tampa Regional Coordinator
CI 4-5-6-7-8 Veteran
Organizer St. Jude Fundraiser
I believe in the Beer Fairy
Originally Posted by RCK1999
PS - beer will also help loosen the bolts!
or calm your nerves after you draw blood
It also attracts friends over to draw some of their blood 
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
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From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Blue lock tite is loosened by shock. RED lock tite is loosened with heat or brute force. If you take the other bolts out and remove the caliper, is there any of the bolt sticking out??? If it is heat it up and use vise grips or better yet a pipe wrench!!
If you drill dead center in the broken off stud, heat it with a torch and drive in an easyout, it will come out!
Just make sure that you drill a big enough hole to get enough of the easy out into the stud so that you do not break the easy out. Leave enough meat in the caliper so that you dont mess with the threads
If you drill dead center in the broken off stud, heat it with a torch and drive in an easyout, it will come out!
Just make sure that you drill a big enough hole to get enough of the easy out into the stud so that you do not break the easy out. Leave enough meat in the caliper so that you dont mess with the threads
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,251
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I'd like to add something here and please correct me if I'm wrong but I believe heating the parts will remove the temper or reduce the parts strength and may put you at risk in the future of failure under load. You should check on it before torching the bracket assembly.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
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From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Adding heat to the stud so that it loostens the red lock tite should not hurt anything. Roasting the spindle arm until it is cherry red is not the way that it should be done.
BC
BC
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
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From: At the beach in little Rhody
Originally Posted by Bill Curlee
Adding heat to the stud so that it loostens the red lock tite should not hurt anything. Roasting the spindle arm until it is cherry red is not the way that it should be done.
BC
BC
If you look at the Permatex web site, they tell you at what temp the loctite starts losing its strength.
