Brake Caliper Problem
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,582
Likes: 137
From: SoCal CA
Brake Caliper Problem
Last week I noticed a grinding noise coming from my left front wheel when I braked. I thought it was the pad so i bought new pads. When I removed the wheel I noticed that the bottom caliper bolt was completely missing!
The caliper was swinging from the top bolt like a swing. I found a bolt that fit, but Im going to get an exact replacement from the dealer. Has this happened to anyone else? I drive normal, nothing crazy. Let me know if this problem sounds familiar.
BTW, I bought new ceramic pads. Are they better than the semi-metalics on the C5?
The caliper was swinging from the top bolt like a swing. I found a bolt that fit, but Im going to get an exact replacement from the dealer. Has this happened to anyone else? I drive normal, nothing crazy. Let me know if this problem sounds familiar.BTW, I bought new ceramic pads. Are they better than the semi-metalics on the C5?
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 16,795
Likes: 62
From: Lake Havasu City, AZ
Obviously someone did not proprely torque/loctite the caliper guide pin bolt the last time the pads were changed.
the ceramics will give you a lot less brake dust and based on what you describe as your driving style no to little loss in braking ...
the ceramics will give you a lot less brake dust and based on what you describe as your driving style no to little loss in braking ...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,332
Likes: 31
From: Silver Spring MD
swinging calipers
The caliper and pad bolts both have red RED LOCKTITE on them. To keep them there. While ceramic dust is lighter it is still there. Semi Metalics don't nead to HEAT UP before braking hard. I like me C5 to STOP, so I stayed with SM.
BIGHANK
BIGHANK
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 2,884
Likes: 260
From: Jamison Pa
St. Jude Donor '11-'25
Semi-metalic vs ceramic
Do a search and you will find lot's of posts about the pros and cons of different brake pads.
Semi-metalic brake bads do stop better, but I could not live with the dust so I changed to ceramic pads. I leave a little extra room in front of me when driving.
I hope you caught the problem before it became a major expense.
Bob K.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 9,909
Likes: 1,858
From: Hot Springs AR
I thought it was the pad so i bought new pads. When I removed the wheel I noticed that the bottom caliper bolt was completely missing! The caliper was swinging from the top bolt like a swing.
.
.
BTW, I bought new ceramic pads. Are they better than the semi-metalics on the C5?
The caliper was swinging from the top bolt like a swing. .
.
BTW, I bought new ceramic pads. Are they better than the semi-metalics on the C5?
The caliper bolts should be torqued to 22 lb-ft, and the caliper bracket bolts should be torqued to 125 lb-ft.
HTH, and have a good one,
Mike
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 992
Likes: 2
From: Granville Ohio
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16'17-'18-'19-'20-21
As mentioned above, someone missed on the brake caliper bolt torque. Use of loctite has been debated (I use it, others don't), but one thing I'd do is check all the other bolts in your brake caliper/brackets.
The caliper bolts should be torqued to 22 lb-ft, and the caliper bracket bolts should be torqued to 125 lb-ft.
HTH, and have a good one,
Mike
The caliper bolts should be torqued to 22 lb-ft, and the caliper bracket bolts should be torqued to 125 lb-ft.
HTH, and have a good one,
Mike
Must be torquedI use locktite on the bracket bolts, but not on the caliper bolts. I use Raybestos Quiet Stop Ceramic Pads, very pleased. Virtually no dust. Glad you caught it before you had any brake failure and acccident.
Last edited by OhioDave; Jul 10, 2007 at 11:15 AM.
