Question about caliper bracket bolts.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,529
Likes: 0
From: Gonzales LA
Question about caliper bracket bolts.
I was waiting on my rotors/pads to come in and put some temporary pads on. I was able to get the 15mm bolts off and take the caliper loose to change the pads but couldn't break the 21mm bolts free that hold the caliper bracket that sets around the rotor. I received my rotors and just wanted to make sure that these bolts don't have a reverse thread to them before I shear the bolt. Also any tips for getting them loose? If I pull any harder I'm going to lift the car, bend the wrench, or crap my pants.....maybe all three at once. 
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,066
Likes: 0
From: Canonsburg home of Yenko Chevy (gone but not forgotten) Western PA
Originally Posted by Ubenripped
I was waiting on my rotors/pads to come in and put some temporary pads on. I was able to get the 15mm bolts off and take the caliper loose to change the pads but couldn't break the 21mm bolts free that hold the caliper bracket that sets around the rotor. I received my rotors and just wanted to make sure that these bolts don't have a reverse thread to them before I shear the bolt. Also any tips for getting them loose? If I pull any harder I'm going to lift the car, bend the wrench, or crap my pants.....maybe all three at once.
Use a short breaker bar or ratchett and tap or hit with a hammer on the end of the wrench hold the socket with the other hand keep hitting till loose(easy to do).
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,200
Likes: 0
From: Branchburg, NJ
Haha- I just did this last week. Those 21mm bolts aren't reverse threaded, they're just torqued to 100 lb-ft. It takes a LOT of muscle to get em off. Try a really long breaker bar, or get another person to push on the wrench while you're pulling. Seemed to work for me! 
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,841
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
Originally Posted by C5 ChemE
Haha- I just did this last week. Those 21mm bolts aren't reverse threaded, they're just torqued to 100 lb-ft. It takes a LOT of muscle to get em off. Try a really long breaker bar, or get another person to push on the wrench while you're pulling. Seemed to work for me!
anyone could lift 125 ft/lbs with a small breaker bar... the problem with these bolts is they have red loctite which sets up like cement. a Little heat, or setting the breaker bar in such a position that you can put a jack under the bar, using the weigh of the car, jack the breaker bar and you will break the loctite. a breaker bar with a small pipe to increase breaking force also works....
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 16,795
Likes: 62
From: Lake Havasu City, AZ
I thought it was a piece of cake to brake(pun intended) them free... until two days later when the groin strain hit me..... 125 ft-lbs with red locktite is not the easest thing to break free
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,132
Likes: 1
From: Morganton, NC, USA
Use a propane torch and put the flame on the nuckles that the bracket is bolted to for 60 seconds. That will soften and loosen the Loctite. Be careful in there with the flame as there are rubber and plastic parts that you don't want to burn. The front wheels can be turned to get the rear part of the rotors pointing out. This should allow the handle on the breaker bar to come outside the wheel well for better leverage or an extension. Too bad, but you can't do this with the rears.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 7,393
Likes: 7
From: Los Angeles CA
Originally Posted by Ubenripped
Locktite, heck it feels like they used jbweld. I'll give it a try this weekend.
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 15,960
Likes: 21
From: West Norriton PA
St. Jude Donor '08
If you don't have an impact gun, go down to sears and get their 1/2" drive flexibile head (jointed) rachet thats about 20" long. It breaks the bolt free easily about $27 bucks.
