Brake Caliper Removal

[yogi_123rd]

Ok gurus out there, what gives. When removing the brake caliper pins, I discovered that apparently GM uses both a pin with an allen head socket and a T50 torx bit socket for removing the same caliper. What size is the hex head allen wrench that should be used. It is somewhere near SAE 3/8. The question is "is there a metric equivilent or should the SAE 3/6 size be used?".

Other posters have sworn that it is a pin with a hex head socket and others swear it is a pin with a Torx bit socket (for the same year car). I believe them now. It almost sounds like perhaps a particular factory used interchangable parts. Now that I have seen both type pins holding on the same brake caliper, can anyone enlighten me as to what is going on or if GM changed the pin in the newer models?

[wrightz28]

I know I'm a day late and a dollar short on this one, but, It's not too uncommon to see a 'hodge podge' of goofy things from GM. Much like the 'modified McPherson' suspension of mid 80's so that they could get rid of as many parts as possble from the outgoing SLA suspension as a means of cost control for the conversion.

Now I've seen them mess around with dash panel screws where half would be torx and the rest phillps head. But something like brake hardware I wouldn't think they'd knowingly do (although stranger things have happened). I'd honestly say it's an aftermarket supplier issue. If memory serves, Gm used the allen key pins on the larger sized calipers and torx for medium.

Oh, and off the top of my head, I think 3/8" goes to a 10 or 11mm, drwaing a blank on exatcly which one.

[gottabike]

Wright is right. I was told it was a torx bit but its not. Its a 10 mm or a 11mm I cant remember which but make sure you have something for leverage to loosen and tighten them back up because its not easy with the standard sized wrench

[wrightz28]

Originally Posted by gottabike

Wright is right. I was told it was a torx bit but its not. Its a 10 mm or a 11mm I cant remember which but make sure you have something for leverage to loosen and tighten them back up because its not easy with the standard sized wrench

4 simple words for a happy life:

half inch breaker bar.

used with finesse of course.

[pirho451]

All I know is that my former '93 PA and current '94 LeSabre use a 3/8" hex head for the calipers.

Jonathan

[Greg Newlin]

My experience is the same as Jonathon's. 3/8" hex headed socket does the trick for my '93 Park Avenue.