Caliper Bracket Bolts Stuck
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 906
Likes: 2
From: Cornwall ON
Caliper Bracket Bolts Stuck
I need help.
Shadetree mechanic here. If there's nothing nice to say, please move along.
I'm trying to get the caliper bracket bolts off - got the front passenger side off with just a real good yank.
The other three brackets are being a total b&^(&. 13/16ths - turning it the correct direction to loosen. Won't budge. My guess is they've been there since manufacture date - what do I do to crack these bolts?
Is there some kind of penetrating lube/grease to use? Heat ? Heat the bolt head? Heat the caliper bracket? There's not a helluva lot of room to get a breaker bar in there - I'm working on Jackstands.
Thanks in advance,
Tim
Shadetree mechanic here. If there's nothing nice to say, please move along.
I'm trying to get the caliper bracket bolts off - got the front passenger side off with just a real good yank.
The other three brackets are being a total b&^(&. 13/16ths - turning it the correct direction to loosen. Won't budge. My guess is they've been there since manufacture date - what do I do to crack these bolts?
Is there some kind of penetrating lube/grease to use? Heat ? Heat the bolt head? Heat the caliper bracket? There's not a helluva lot of room to get a breaker bar in there - I'm working on Jackstands.
Thanks in advance,
Tim
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,332
Likes: 31
From: Silver Spring MD
Heat plus brute force
Rears are red Locktited and torqued to 125 ft lbs. Got those off with a breaker bar and about 5 feet of pipe slipped over the bar. Bent the bar loosening and straightened it back when I put the bolts back in. If removing the rear its a good time to readjust the parking brake. Should be just a slight drag on the rotor sliding it over the PB shoes. Clean the bolt threads and red Locktite them when replacing the brackets.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 5,284
Likes: 235
From: Rockledge FL
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,357
Likes: 1,592
From: Western NY
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 6,276
Likes: 227
From: Farmington CT
Cruise-In VII Veteran
SnapOn impact gun electric. It's a 21mm btw, but the conversion works on this size.
Don't ever 'jack' a wrench or bar; If you don't have an impact, hit the wrench with a object to 'mimic' the impact gun.
2135ti form Ingersoll is the standard in air(you can find them for 230 or so)
6 POINT always. 12 POINT will often make for a bad day.
hth
Don't ever 'jack' a wrench or bar; If you don't have an impact, hit the wrench with a object to 'mimic' the impact gun.
2135ti form Ingersoll is the standard in air(you can find them for 230 or so)
6 POINT always. 12 POINT will often make for a bad day.
hth
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,700
Likes: 298
From: Ft. Lauderdale Fl
SnapOn impact gun electric. It's a 21mm btw, but the conversion works on this size.
Don't ever 'jack' a wrench or bar; If you don't have an impact, hit the wrench with a object to 'mimic' the impact gun.
2135ti form Ingersoll is the standard in air(you can find them for 230 or so)
6 POINT always. 12 POINT will often make for a bad day.
hth
Don't ever 'jack' a wrench or bar; If you don't have an impact, hit the wrench with a object to 'mimic' the impact gun.
2135ti form Ingersoll is the standard in air(you can find them for 230 or so)
6 POINT always. 12 POINT will often make for a bad day.
hth
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 906
Likes: 2
From: Cornwall ON
Thanks!
Didn't use the jack method - Couldn't figure out how that would help.
Used PBBlaster from Canadian Tire on the front one that was stuck - it worked after one application.
Rears were still stuck.
Tried Impact Gun & 21 6 point - but haven't since I've doused again with PBBlaster. Thanks for the tips on how to break down the loctite. I'll borrow a torch if the impact doesn't work tonight.
Didn't use the jack method - Couldn't figure out how that would help.
Used PBBlaster from Canadian Tire on the front one that was stuck - it worked after one application.
Rears were still stuck.
Tried Impact Gun & 21 6 point - but haven't since I've doused again with PBBlaster. Thanks for the tips on how to break down the loctite. I'll borrow a torch if the impact doesn't work tonight.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 906
Likes: 2
From: Cornwall ON
Okay.
Internet guys 1. My car 0.
Used heat, jacked on the socket wrench to crack the nuts.
Passenger side I used the breaker bar against the frame to push down. Levers worked.
Time for a scotch now to celebrate.
Internet guys 1. My car 0.
Used heat, jacked on the socket wrench to crack the nuts.
Passenger side I used the breaker bar against the frame to push down. Levers worked.
Time for a scotch now to celebrate.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,357
Likes: 1,592
From: Western NY
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,335
Likes: 76
From: Bedford Va.
Heat the head of the bolt. You can also apply some heat to the bracket where the threads are.
MAP gas is hotter than propane-sold in the small tanks like propane.
Breaker bar and a good 6 point socket. Make sure you have full contact on the bolt before you start pushing/pulling.
I just did the rears on my car-yes those buggers were tight.
I had a few chosen works for them, toke a break, came back at them with some heat and all is good.
MAP gas is hotter than propane-sold in the small tanks like propane.
Breaker bar and a good 6 point socket. Make sure you have full contact on the bolt before you start pushing/pulling.
I just did the rears on my car-yes those buggers were tight.
I had a few chosen works for them, toke a break, came back at them with some heat and all is good.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
The bolts are HIGH STRENGTH lock tighted in place. Using a torch or a high temp heat gun to heat the bolt head will release the thread locker.
You dont need all that much heat and SHOULD NOT heat the bolt that much.
Heat it to approx 250-300 deg, the thread locker should release and you should be able to break it loose.
Heating the bolt RED HOT can weaken it and alter its tensel strength and hardness
Make sure that you wire brush out the old thread locker from the bolt threads.
Reapply the thread locker to the bolt just before reasembly and retorque it to the proper torque value.
Bill
You dont need all that much heat and SHOULD NOT heat the bolt that much.
Heat it to approx 250-300 deg, the thread locker should release and you should be able to break it loose.
Heating the bolt RED HOT can weaken it and alter its tensel strength and hardness
Make sure that you wire brush out the old thread locker from the bolt threads.
Reapply the thread locker to the bolt just before reasembly and retorque it to the proper torque value.
Bill
