Urgent. Need help w/ changing rotors!
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
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From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
Urgent. Need help w/ changing rotors!
Tomorrow we were going to change my front rotors (and pads). But looking through the Service Manual tonight, I'm starting to think that we will need to remove the caliper brackets first. Not a big deal, except that the Manual is very stern about saying that the "brake caliper mounting bracket bolts" (the ones that get 125 lb/ft of torque) must be replaced. No problem, except that I can't find any in stock around here. So the big question is, do we really need to remove those bolts to change rotors?
From previous posts, I suspect that the bolts are a single-use item, torqued to yield. Loctite alone will not solve that problem.
Help! And, thanks.
From previous posts, I suspect that the bolts are a single-use item, torqued to yield. Loctite alone will not solve that problem.
Help! And, thanks.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,122
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From: Annapolis, MD USA
Re: Urgent. Need help w/ changing rotors! (Gearhead Jim)
Jim - Don't reuse the bolts. I believe the front caliper rebuild kit (GM part #12530686) includes the bracket bolts as well as the pin mounting bolts and rubber parts. Costs less than $20.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
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From: Lynnfield MA
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Re: Urgent. Need help w/ changing rotors! (Gearhead Jim)
Just a little information... GM does state not to reuse the bolts but many believe that it is due to the lock-tite composite on the new bolts and not anything else. Many here that race use the bolts several times without any issues. Maybe more can chime in here and give you a consensus of opinion :yesnod:
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,019
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From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
Re: Urgent. Need help w/ changing rotors! (Smoke-N-Shot)
Thanks for the help, guys. The question of why GM says not to reuse the bolts was kicked around pretty well on a thread last year. One guy made a good case that the 125 lb/ft will stretch the bolts to their yield point, and using loctite does not solve that problem. I can't be sure, so I'll just get new ones.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 258
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From: Winnipeg Manitoba
Re: Urgent. Need help w/ changing rotors! (Gearhead Jim)
The funniest thing about this whole bolt scenario is that it seems that 99 % of GM dealers do not even stock them! How are they doing brake jobs without them? Obviously reusing them!
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 20,054
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From: Swansea IL
Re: Urgent. Need help w/ changing rotors! (Gearhead Jim)
I spoke with Bob, Ken Fichtner's parts manager he told me that he asked GM engineers about this and wanted a straight answer. They told him the only reason they "recommend" changing them is that many folks don't use lock-tite like the factory does. It's purely CYA. Since I couldn't locate the bolts, pins and washers and my local dealer wanted $97 for all the parts /pieces I figured I'd call Fichtner (a CF supporting vendor with a great reputation for service) He said I'll save you the $$ since you don't need them, just use lock-tite. So I ordered the Z06 rear brake cooling ducts.
Tom
USAF Retired
Tom
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Racer
Joined: Apr 1999
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From: Hawthorn Woods IL
Re: Urgent. Need help w/ changing rotors! (Gearhead Jim)
Jim,
just use removeable locktite. Swapped rotors several times on the same set of bolts with no problem. Believe me, they're still tight as heck thousands of miles later.
Of course, now that I say it out loud, my calipers will fall of in the next few hundred miles, probably at a hundred plus.
Seriously, bolts are cheap if you can get them, Locktite is cheaper and easier to get. Three different dealer Vette techs have told me they never replace the bolts too.
By the way, what rotors are you putting on? I just (today) installed Baer Enhanced rotors. Had the Eradispeeds but coldn't stand the huge rear rotors. Also had concerns about fitment because of the Fikse wheels.
just use removeable locktite. Swapped rotors several times on the same set of bolts with no problem. Believe me, they're still tight as heck thousands of miles later.
Of course, now that I say it out loud, my calipers will fall of in the next few hundred miles, probably at a hundred plus.
Seriously, bolts are cheap if you can get them, Locktite is cheaper and easier to get. Three different dealer Vette techs have told me they never replace the bolts too.
By the way, what rotors are you putting on? I just (today) installed Baer Enhanced rotors. Had the Eradispeeds but coldn't stand the huge rear rotors. Also had concerns about fitment because of the Fikse wheels.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,019
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From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
Re: Urgent. Need help w/ changing rotors! (THamilton)
I like to keep the car pretty close to stock, so I'm just using another set of stock rotors. I considered the GM Heavy Duty ones, but they get pretty mixed reviews on the Forum and anyway they are now out of production.
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From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
Re: Urgent. Need help w/ changing rotors! (Gearhead Jim)
To answer several question in this thread... you do not have to take off the caliper brackets to replace the pads... you do however have to remove the brackets to get the rotors off.. the brackets bolts are a bear to remove .. make sure you use loctite when replacing them.. I used mine over several times and with 44000 miles on my car I have had no problems..