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To: HandyDandy

The caliper bolts I’m dealing with have a shallower head than those in the pic, and that is definitely part of the problem. In the past, I’ve not had big problems with such (on other vehicles.)

My mechanic buddy who I finally was able to get in touch with last night says they use air impact wrenches on these because they do sometimes require more effort than can readily be applied with a conventional wrench. “Just grab the air impact wrench and be done with it.” Granted, he’s in a high corrosion problems area.

The brakes were working fine except for the pad wear. Everything that should push in-out seems to be moving around ok, the caliper pin bolts are just locked / won’t turn.


120 posted on 03/21/2017 10:37:37 AM PDT by Paul R.
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To: Paul R.
A battery operated impact gun is fairly bulky. Make sure you have room to maneuver it before making that investment. A pneumatic ratchet would probably fit the bill but it doesn't sound as though you are set up for that. Your buddy has a fully equipped shop. Obviously the first thing he would do is raise the vehicle on a lift and remove the wheel. Then, from underneath, and working from the backside of the caliper, he'd use his air impact gun with appropriate extension and swivel impact socket to zap those bolts out with the pull of a trigger. It is quite likely that those bolts, from the factory, were micro encapsulated with locktite and will resist you all the way out. I do not understand why your boltheads are low profile. Did you ask your buddy about that?

Another poster had the right idea when he simply said, "leverage". One tip, that I almost hesitate to share, is using two wrenches, end to end. Sometimes when you have space constraints it's your best option. You put the box end of the correct size on the bolt head. Then (and this is the tricky part) you take a second wrench and slip its box end over one jaw of the open end of the first wrench. It takes coordination. You need to put the second wrench over the jaw that is facing the direction that you are going to pull. The two wrenches will lock together as long as you maintain tension. It's very easy to hurt yourself doing this, so I'd strongly advise not hurting yourself. Otherwise, "knock yourself out".

121 posted on 03/21/2017 11:33:36 AM PDT by HandyDandy ("I reckon so. I guess we all died a little in that damn war.")
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