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Replacing rear rotor question

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Old Mar 18, 2013 | 07:11 PM
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Default Replacing rear rotor question

I bought four new rotors and I started to put them on today and on the first wheel I started on (right rear) the bottom bolt on the caliper bracket is not wanting to come out, anyone had this same issue? Thought about pulling out the heat and trying to warm it up to see if that would work. Any words of advice are welcomed.
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Old Mar 18, 2013 | 07:20 PM
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If by " heat", you are meaning a butane torch, you should be ok.
There is red loc tite on those threads.
Along with red loc tite & the more than 100 lb ft, makes them very hard to break loose.

I suggest, if you are going to be doing that type of work on your car to purchase a premium impact gun to go along with an air compressor.
Makes short work of breaking such bolts loose..an easy task. (with out the use of heat)
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Old Mar 18, 2013 | 07:27 PM
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Sorry, I did mean a butane torch not a cutting torch or anything like that, I am using my impact and it still would budge, so I'll try that and see if I'm successful. Thanks for your reply.
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Old Mar 18, 2013 | 08:00 PM
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Default I used brute force, a breaker bar and six point socket and about 5' of pipe

Adding some heat on the bolts from a propane torch would have helped but I used elbow grease and a long extension (5' of pipe over the breaker bar) to crack the 125 ft lb locktited bolts loose. Bent the breaker bar in the process. When I reinstalled the bolts first cleaned the bolt threads of old locktite, then added new red locktite and retorqued to 125 ft lbs. This straightened out the breaker bar.
A LOT OF FUN
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Old Mar 18, 2013 | 08:10 PM
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Default rotors

One thing that will help you is to break the tie rod loose at the spindle and rotate the spindle so you can get some muscle on the bolts.
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Old Mar 19, 2013 | 12:19 AM
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Muscled them with a breaker bar. They really are a bear to break loose.
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Old Mar 19, 2013 | 03:18 AM
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I ended up buy an electric impact wrench to do mine. zipped them right off.
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Old Mar 19, 2013 | 07:41 AM
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Originally Posted by baxsom
I ended up buy an electric impact wrench to do mine. zipped them right off.
Check out Harbor Freight....(breaker bars and electric impact wrenches)(and large amounts of P B Blaster).

Last edited by runner140*; Mar 19, 2013 at 07:42 AM. Reason: add
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Old Mar 19, 2013 | 09:18 AM
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Originally Posted by bighank
Adding some heat on the bolts from a propane torch would have helped but I used elbow grease and a long extension (5' of pipe over the breaker bar) to crack the 125 ft lb locktited bolts loose. Bent the breaker bar in the process. When I reinstalled the bolts first cleaned the bolt threads of old locktite, then added new red locktite and retorqued to 125 ft lbs. This straightened out the breaker bar.
A LOT OF FUN
I snapped three sockets and two socket wrenches (all Craftsman) while trying to break mine loose with a five foot breaker bar. It finally took me holding the third replacement wrench and fourth socket with a breaker while a buddy pounded on the breaker with a sledge hammer, and this was after soaking the bolt with about 1/4 can of PB overnight. Those back bolts are more fun than a slinky on an escalator...
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Old Mar 19, 2013 | 11:45 AM
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IIRC, GM doesn't recommend reusing those caliper bolts. I think it recommends replacing them. With the amount of torque that is put upon them, they must stretch somewhat.
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Old Mar 19, 2013 | 07:14 PM
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Default there were a total of 2 of these bolts in over 20 GM dealships in Wash DC area

Originally Posted by zeke2u
IIRC, GM doesn't recommend reusing those caliper bolts. I think it recommends replacing them. With the amount of torque that is put upon them, they must stretch somewhat.
Looks like nobody replaces those bolts.
Mine still good after 15 years.
If you want to pay the vette tax I am sure your dealer will supply them to you.
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Old Mar 19, 2013 | 08:13 PM
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Originally Posted by zeke2u
IIRC, GM doesn't recommend reusing those caliper bolts. I think it recommends replacing them. With the amount of torque that is put upon them, they must stretch somewhat.

The maximum torque those 15mm bolts can see without yielding should be around 150 ft-lbs. GM only recommends replacing those because they come with loc-tite pre-applied.
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Old Mar 19, 2013 | 08:17 PM
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Originally Posted by zeke2u
IIRC, GM doesn't recommend reusing those caliper bolts. I think it recommends replacing them. With the amount of torque that is put upon them, they must stretch somewhat.
Since I track my car I go through alot of rotors. I've had mine on and off well over a dozen times. No problem using the bolts over again and I use Locktite blue.
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Old Mar 20, 2013 | 12:37 AM
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Originally Posted by Johann1122
I bought four new rotors and I started to put them on today and on the first wheel I started on (right rear) the bottom bolt on the caliper bracket is not wanting to come out, anyone had this same issue? Thought about pulling out the heat and trying to warm it up to see if that would work. Any words of advice are welcomed.
I thought it was insane advice when I'd heard it - but it worked:

Once you're securely on jackstands - put your wrench + breaker on the bolt. Put your jack under neath the lever of the wrench / Breaker bar. Jack it up.
It'll flex, then crack the nut loose.

Sounds crazy. Worked for me.
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Old Mar 20, 2013 | 01:06 AM
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I use an old shade tree trick. I go to the grocery store and in the spice rack I get a bottle of pepermint oil. I put a few drops of that on really tight bolts and the next day they come right off. YOu still have to put 125 lbs of torque on the bolt, nut, whatever to get it off though.
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Old Mar 25, 2013 | 02:33 PM
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I got mine loose by putting and impact driver socket (six sides vs 12 for regular socket) on a 1/2 drive ratchet wrench (12 inch), and banging on the wrench handle with a small sledge hammer.
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Old Mar 25, 2013 | 07:33 PM
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Big breaker bar and jack the car up so you can use it.

no problem reusing the bolts....I have been reusing mine for 11 years on my 02 z06
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Old Mar 25, 2013 | 07:48 PM
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I'm glad I saw this post...I just changed mine a week ago and when i took those bolts out i did it with a Boxed end Hand wrench with no problem and then installed them back in with the same....So i need to get under there and retighten them i didnt know about the 125# torque...or If im breaking loose bolts with locktight and 125# torque with just my hand....well then i need to get laid!
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