how to loosen caliper bolt?

[carjock]

I have a 2000 camry 4 cylinder. Today I tried to
change my front brake pads. Took the wheels off
grabbed the closest-size wrench to loosen
the caliper bolts (there are three bolts on the caliper,
middle one ties to the brake line, the ones left and
right to it are the ones I am trying to loosen).
After a few attempts and some damage to the hex
head, I gave up. Mainly because I couldn't find the
actual size of the bolt head in the first place.
Can someone tell me the actual size of those bolts
and if there's a special tool to loosen them? They
seem extremely tight. Also squading in front of the
rotor with my right hand on the wrench, should I
pull right (clock wise) or push down left (counter-clock
wise) to loosen the bolt?

thank you!!

[Joe W]

If they are an allen wrench or bolt they are metric(not sure of the exact size),but if they look like a star shape they are torx bolts and are special tools sort of like an allen wrench.These are all available at an auto-parts store.When you look at the rotor you would move the wrench/socket clockwise,that is the tool would move towards the top of the car.

[INGO]

Have 99 Ranger, In 3 Months Have Lost 3 Brake Bolts, Destroying Rims And Tires....why??? What Is Going On.
Mechanics Are Baffled.
I Have Aluminum Alloy Wheels On My Car, My Tire People Have Me Come Back After 50 Miles To Check Lug Tightness, Should This Be Done On The Ranger Wheels?????

[Mike Gerber]

carjock,

I just did the front brakes on my 98 Camry yesterday; they should be the same. First of all, always think "righty tighty, lefty loosey", reguardless of which wheel you are standing in front of. I'm sure you will figure it out. Second, don't touch that middle bolt; it attaches and seals the rubber brake hose to the caliper using 2 copper sealing washers. It it not necessary to remove it to change pads. If you loosen it you will have to bleed the caliper. Third, if you are only changing pads and are not cutting or replacing rotors, you only have to remove the bottom bolt and then pivot the caliper assembly up. It should move with a slight bit of effort. If it doesn't, then you have a problem with the slider pin that the caliper bolt bolts up to. Now you can take the pads and v springs out of the caliper mounting bracket. Incidently, Toyota calls these brackets the "torque plates". Lastly, the hex size is a 14MM, although you may have to hold the hex on the slide pin with a 17MM open end wrench to brake lose the bottom caliper bolt.

Good luck with your brake job.

Mike