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Brake Caliper Mounting Bolt

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Offline jdpuhalla

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Brake Caliper Mounting Bolt
« on: June 26, 2009, 05:35:05 PM »
So I'm trying to replace my brake pads on my 2000 4-door tracker, but the top mounting bolt on the caliper will not budge no matter what i do.  I have it soaking in WD-40 and have been using a breaker bar but i'm all out of ideas.
I do not have access to a compressor or impact wrench so that is out of the question.  I need to get this done ASAP so anything can help.
2000 Chevy Tracker 4 Door.  Mostly Stock.

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Offline zukimoo

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Re: Brake Caliper Mounting Bolt
« Reply #1 on: June 26, 2009, 06:06:31 PM »
if you don't have a torch and you got a welder you can weld a big nut on the end. The heat might help break it loose.

If the last person that put the bolt in used loctite or some chemical lock product you need to release that. Heat is the only way to get that loose.Even a small torch can get enough heat to release the loctite.
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Online fordem

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Re: Brake Caliper Mounting Bolt
« Reply #2 on: June 26, 2009, 07:46:08 PM »
ummm - do you really need to remove the top bolt?

Most of the calipers I've worked on you can remove one bolt and pivot the caliper on the other pin - we are discussing the bolts that hold the calipers to the slide pins, right?
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Offline jdpuhalla

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Re: Brake Caliper Mounting Bolt
« Reply #3 on: June 26, 2009, 08:12:55 PM »
yeah, and i've been trying to pivot the caliper up but the damn thing won't budge, who ever did the brakes last must have torqued it on to tight.
2000 Chevy Tracker 4 Door.  Mostly Stock.

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Online fordem

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Re: Brake Caliper Mounting Bolt
« Reply #4 on: June 26, 2009, 09:06:34 PM »
Sounds like the pin is seized in the mounting bracket.

On a GV and I believe on a Tracker the calipers are single piston floating calipers - the caliper itself is supposed to slide on the two pins which means the pin should rotate in it's holes in the mounting bracket, depending on the construction of the particular caliper, it will not rotate on the bolt either because the bolt screws to the caliper or because the pin has flats that lock it to the caliper.

It may be possible to heat the bracket and free the pin, but the heat is going to destroy the rubber components so it's beginning to sound like you'd be better off replacing the entire caliper including the bracket with a rebuilt unit - the bracket should be attached to the spindle with two large bolts, I think 17mm across the flats.

BTW - brakes being what they are, if you're replacing one caliper, I'd replace both.
« Last Edit: June 26, 2009, 09:11:03 PM by fordem »
'98 SQ420 Grand Vitara
'05 JB420 Grand Vitara
'16 APK416 Vitara
'21 A6G415 Jimny

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Offline beercheck

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Re: Brake Caliper Mounting Bolt
« Reply #5 on: June 27, 2009, 06:54:29 PM »
I don't mean this like it might sound, but....you are doing the lefty-loosey bit right, right?

I only mention it because I had a bit of a brain fart myself this spring..  Boy did I crank that sucker down tight.
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Online fordem

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Re: Brake Caliper Mounting Bolt
« Reply #6 on: June 27, 2009, 10:05:35 PM »
That's a good point BC - especially when working on a brake caliper, because the pin bolts are usually facing away from us.
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'05 JB420 Grand Vitara
'16 APK416 Vitara
'21 A6G415 Jimny

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Offline sir lance

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Re: Brake Caliper Mounting Bolt
« Reply #7 on: June 28, 2009, 10:13:25 AM »
if you have a floor jack, take the handle off and slide it over your breaker bar and pull, works every time for me,  all you need to do is crank your wheel all the way to one side or the other to get enough room......


i did brakes on a  4wd gmc 1 ton pickup, factory spec is  250 foot pounds on the caliper bolts  :o

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Offline beercheck

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Re: Brake Caliper Mounting Bolt
« Reply #8 on: June 29, 2009, 08:20:17 PM »
That's a good point BC - especially when working on a brake caliper, because the pin bolts are usually facing away from us.

That's exactly what did me in.
'03 ZR2 2dr Tracker, '02 XL-7 drivetrain and electrcs
XL-7 front coils
1.5" rear coil spacers
Monroe 32316 shocks w/2" extenders
235/70-16 Bridgestone Destination A/Ts on stock XL-7 Alloys RRO Rock Rails (Presently removed, as they rusted to all hell; all the bolts were rusted to dust.  Real nice, RRO...) http://www.trivia-nights.com

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Offline Skyhiranger

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Re: Brake Caliper Mounting Bolt
« Reply #9 on: June 30, 2009, 08:12:45 PM »
Be sure to use a 6 point socket, that way you lessen the chance you will round the bolt head off.
Also what I usually do is use a hammer and smack the breaker bar to help bust the bolt loose.  The "jarring" seems to loosen it up easier than using a cheater bar.

Are you trying to take the slide pin bolts out, or the caliper mounting bracket bolts out (12mm vs. 17mm socket, IIRC)?  If you are trying to take the slide pin bolts out, I'm surprised you having twisted them off yet, they are small bolts and are only supposed to be torqued to somewhere around 20 ft. lbs.  Now if you are trying to take the caliper mounting bracket bolts out, then I could see where you are having a problem....they are bigger bolts, usually rusted, and are torqued somewhere around 60 ft. lbs, IIRC.
BTW, I always take the caliper mounting bracket bolts out, instead of the slide pin bolts, when doing brake work.  Just my preference.
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Offline Uncivilized

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Re: Brake Caliper Mounting Bolt
« Reply #10 on: July 02, 2009, 03:35:24 PM »
I just replaced my pads yesterday and had the same issue with the passenger side. It would move a little but it was tight and couldn't slide the caliper out. To free the pin from the caliper bracket, I pulled back the pin boot and sprayed in some penetration fluid, then got the caliper up enough to use a large set of channel locks on the caliper to work it up and down while adding spray till it would slide out. I then cleaned up the pins with brake clean spray and greased.