Q&A

What size is the caliper mounting bolt?

What size is the caliper mounting bolt?

17mm for the caliper to bracket. 18mm for bracket to hub.

What does the caliper bracket bolt to?

Plain and simple. They’re often called “caliper bracket bolts” because they attach to the part of your caliper called the bracket, and hold it tight to the spindle or steering knuckle.

Are caliper bolts one time use?

Yes, they are one time use torque to yield bolts.

What is the torque on the brake caliper bolts?

Over torquing the caliper guide pin bolts: Caliper guide pin bolts typically need a 13mm wrench to remove. It is a rookie mistake to go nuts on these bolts and break the heads off. Typically these bolts require only 25- to 35-ft/lbs of torque.

What is a brake caliper bracket?

A brake caliper bracket mounts to the steering knuckle and acts as both a stopping surface for the brake pads as well as a caliper mounting device. A brake abutment, on the other hand is built into the steering knuckle itself. The brake caliper also mounts to the steering knuckle.

How do I know if my caliper pins are bad?

Here’s how you can tell if your brake caliper has gone bad:

  1. Pulling to one side. A seized brake caliper or caliper sliders can cause the vehicle to pull to one side or the other while braking.
  2. Fluid leaks.
  3. Spongy or soft brake pedal.
  4. Reduced braking ability.
  5. Uneven brake pad wear.
  6. Dragging sensation.
  7. Abnormal noise.

How tight should you tighten caliper bolts?

Over torquing the caliper guide pin bolts: Caliper guide pin bolts typically need a 13mm wrench to remove. It is a rookie mistake to go nuts on these bolts and break the heads off. Typically these bolts require only 25- to 35-ft/lbs of torque. Be gentle!

Can I reuse caliper bracket bolts?

GM say to replace any bolt that was been loctited, however the small caliper bolts can be cleaned up and reused with a new drop of blue loctite without dramas. But the larger caliper to knuckle bolts MUST never be reused as they are torque to yield. TTY bolts are fastened to a higher torque than non TTY bolts.

Can I use anti seize on brake caliper bolts?

Anti seize is no good for slide pins, it tends to solidify and not do its job very well for what it needs to to. I use a dab of blue loctite on the bracket bolts and a leave the caliper bolt threads dry. Never had an issue with those seizing, even in PA.

How do you free a stuck caliper?

Often a simple C-clamp can be used. To remove a caliper piston that has become seized, the hydraulic pressure of the brake system itself can be used. Remove the caliper from the disc, and pump the brake pedal to move the piston past the corroded portion. Now you should be able to disassemble and rebuild it.