Posted on 03/20/2017 9:07:15 AM PDT by Paul R.
Advice needed: It's either corrosion or a gorilla with a wrench, or both, but I cannot get the brake caliper bolts on our Ford Explorer out. FoMoCo exacerbates the problem by using bolts with shallow heads, so it is difficult to keep a socket on them. I have tried various penetrating oils such as PB Blaster, smacking the bolt heads with a medium hammer, etc. to no effect. More info. in my 1st comment...
Glad you were successful and thanks for the link. Anti-seize has it uses but brake components is not one of them. I spent too many years working on race cars and we always used lock tight on caliber mounting bolts. Probably over kill because we went over the car every week, especially brake and steering components. That said, I do use brake grease on the pins (bolts on GM), not on threads, and on the calipers where the pads slide.
Honestly, Free Republic is not where I would go to for expert advice on automotive repairs, just sayin’.
I’m going to try Mouse Oil on the frozen screws on my machine. It was the consensus of the gearheads that it’s the number one best product to free frozen bolts, etc. I also picked up some PB Blaster as a back-up.
I’m glad to know about the homebrew formula of ATF fluid and acetone. I can always fall back to that in future if I’m in a pinch.
Congrats on your project.
The real point should be... torque the bolts to spec. And spec is much higher than what one might be able to “feel”. Tightened mine as best could with a hand torque, then took it to a friend with an air torque wrench to finish it. It is a problem if they loosen, needless to say. Thanks.
Bolts on 2002 Bonneville were not shallow like you describe on your Blazer, and getting the correct engagement of the hex wrench, not “pinging” it off on the edges.
Great discussion, and brought back to mind the “journey” with wife’s car. Before doing this on another vehicle, am going to buy an air torque wrench (ouch). Am not going through what you(and me) did, again. Putting a rotor on the other side.
things one has to do to save expense of money one doesn’t have, and stay safe.
You’re right. Last brake job did with the full manual, was over a year ago, and not good to give advice on that basis, and on a different make vehicle. Got a NASCAR certified young fellow nearby I run things by. He was on crews from some big name drivers with Hendrick i’m thinking.
Probably old , but he told me they glued lug nuts in place on the wheels for pit change— no hand nut starting or messing with them. Can’t remember what glue.
“Suspicions” by Eddie Rabbit.
When I was millwrighting we would heat a frozen bolt cherry red like you say and then dump water on it and hit it with an impact gun. If that didn’t work we would torch them.
Trump dumped the Paris Accord.
The Bolts should just fall out and day now.
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