[Paul R.]

I suspect the penetrants never get to where they need to be: The threads on the end of the bolt facing me. (For those not familiar with typical brake caliper setups, the bolts have a mostly smooth shaft, with threads at the end that screw into the caliper "body", said threads facing outward toward the wheel, but buried into that caliper "body". They are a long way from where penetrating oil can be applied.)

I have considered heating the caliper body in the location of the threaded portion of each bolt, but, I figure that will destroy the Neoprene(?) boots that protect part of the upper shaft of the bolt.

Any ideas?

[Windflier]

Here’s the link to my earlier thread concerning frozen machine screws:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3534175/posts

Over 200 replies, and tons of gearhead knowledge.

[OldMagazine]

To help a socket stay on a bolt head modify a 6 point socket by grinding it shorter which which will remove the chamfer and increase the grip.

[lacrew]

Use the socket to break the head off. Once you get the caliper off the car (disconnected from the brake line and everything), you will have a 1/4” tall stud to beat on, put in a vise, whatever it takes.

[BobL]

Try heating with a hair dryer. For some reason they get really sticky.

[WinMod70]

I’m not a Ford guy but on GMs you can take the whole works (caliper and bracket) off, two bolts. Then put in a vise and work on the pins. I have heard some of the Ford caliper pins/bolts tend to corrode a lot; might be a good idea to pick up couple of new ones and boots (might come as kit) before you rip into it.

[right way right]

Lefty Loosey, Righty Tighty?
If the heads are rusty and the 13mm wrench fits loose try a 1/2 inch wrench or socket hammer it on then hit the wrench or rachet with a hammer.

[ConservativeMind]

Kroil products are meant for this.

[redangus]

Ran into the same problem with seat belt bolts in a 98 Tahoe. Found the only way that worked was flooding them with Kruoil, stuffs great, then after a day of rest heated them up with a butane torch and put a good size pipe wrench on the head for grip and steel pipe on the handle for leverage. Have fun.🤣

[ForYourChildren]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKTM-kAnRdM

I don’t know if this helps, but it is fun anyway.

[Boogieman]

Heat causes metal to expand, cold causes metal to contract. Maybe try cooling it with some canned refrigerant or something to loosen them up?

[Regulator]

MouseMilk

Never fails.

[al baby]

Breaker bar and a length of pipe Also make sure you had your Wheaties but not the ones with Bruce Jenner on the box

[gop4lyf]

I did the front brakes on my Ram during Christmas. I had to use quite a bit of muscle to break them loose. Too bad that your bolt heads are shallow. That really exacerbates the problem.

[Mr. K]

aren’t some of these bolts REVERSE THREADED?

[kitchen]

Kroil, heat on the nut only, a 6 point socket on a breaker bar, then, while tensioning the bar, smack it with a dead blow hammer.

I'm assuming this a nut and bolt situation. If the above fails, get a nut splitter. You should replace all the hardware - springs, clips, bolts, boots, etc.- any time you dismantle a critical component, so don't worry about effecting heat treatment because your tossing them anyway.

[Organic Panic]

If they are hex head bolts don’t use 12 point sockets or those terrible spline drive sockets. I have a set of original metrinch sockets you can still find on ebay that are fantastic for tough bolts. Kobalt (lowes brand) also carries a cam drive socket, or use to, that would work too. At the minimum use a six point socket. If the bolt sheers off with those you were screwed anyway.

[AzNASCARfan]

The best penetrating oil is a home made mix of 50/50 acetone and transmission fluid. I have a small spray bottle for this, I only mix up a little at a time, when I need it because the acetone will evaporate out.

I cant find it now, but saw a study done years ago where they spayed a bunch of nuts and bolts down with salt water for awhile to get the corrosion going real good, then tested a bunch of different things like wd40, pb blaster etc. and recorded the torque required to break each loose after the soaking process...

The acetone/transmission fluid mix won hands down.

[1Old Pro]

forget the whiskey, try beer muscles.

[AppyPappy]

Leverage.

[Hiro Protaginast]

If it’s the caliper pins, they’re frozen in there. You’re probably better off replacing the calipers.