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Stubborn caliper bolt

T

Teancum

New member
So i thought I'd do my fronts on my 03 GT. I've done brakes hundreds of times before, so I figured it'd be no problem. I got the top caliper bolt loose but nothing I do with my basic toolset will help get the bottom loose. I've raised the car up as high as I dare (with jack stands) and put a pipe over my ratchet, pulling as hard as I can. I only succeeded in breaking the gear in my ratchet. I've literally wore myself out trying to get this fool thing loose.

Thoughts?
 


you could try some heat, heat it up with a small propane torch, the kind you do copper pipe soldering with, heat the area where the bolt goes into the caliper, not the bolt its self, you want the threads to expand. and try a breaker bar, if you have a 1/2 drive it will be stronger too.
 
have you tried soaking it with PB blaster yet? works 85% of the time... the other 15% use some heat like scottydogs said!!
 
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But seriously try heat and/or tapping the bar when you are cranking it off.

I had the same problem last weekend on my wife's Trailblazer. I bent my 12" breaker bar about halfway down that bolt was so stuck. Eventually I got a longer pipe on a new breaker bar and cranked it off that way.
 
u dont have to take it out just take the one out and swing the caliper back away from the pads, pop the new pads in and swing the caliper back put the bolt back in and tighten, done..
 
dpzelenak said:
u dont have to take it out just take the one out and swing the caliper back away from the pads, pop the new pads in and swing the caliper back put the bolt back in and tighten, done..
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ya know, you just reminded me, my one back brake had a stuck caliper bolt, and mine rolled open too, i was so happy when i figured that one out, sadly i forgot about that trick.

actually i had to remove the caliper bracket with the caliper still on it, so i could put new disks on the rear, that was a mouse trap!
 


If you have a friend who has impacts try that. I too had a stuck caliper bolt and it wouldn't come off with a breaker bar and a huge pipe. Eventually I just took it to my buddy's shop and it came off within seconds after using an impact.

When you do get it off be sure to use a ton of anti seize on the caliper bolt to insure it slides good. I had one snap off inside the caliper bracket and was PITA to get off. I had to drill a hole inside the broken caliper bolt, tap it, thread a bolt in it, and use a acetylene torch and pry it out.

That's what happens when those caliper bolt pins seize up. Anti-seize will keep that from happening.

Hope this helps
 
Teancum said:
I'm doing the rotors, too, otherwise I would.;)
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you can still remove the rotors, just leave the stuck bolt in the caliper, remove the caliper bracket bolts, remove them both at the same time, it worked on my rear brakes when i had a stuck bolt and installed new rotors, watch your fingers the caliper can give you a good pinch if it closes up on ya.
 
Thanks for the advice all. I've taken a one week break as its our only car and will reattempt to get the bugger off this Saturday.
 


that's a pretty awkward bolt to get to on the ground in my opinion. mine was tough to get out the first time, i finally just got in a spot where i could get almost all of my body weight on the wrench. i was tucked up underneath the wheel well (i'm a pretty small guy) and knew i was in for a world of hurt when it gave. hit my head on the fender and cut my hand on something, but i got it. totally worth it lol
 
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