Brake Caliper Bolt Question

[articgrandamgt]

I was in the process of changing my wheel hub and was taking off the caliper bolts and got one of them out but the other one is striped. I was just going to take it in to like tuffy to see how much they would charge for just getting out the striped one and replacing it with a new bold. Please any ideas would be helpful. Thanks

[73stingray]

Those bolts seem to have ridiculously small heads for how much torque is on them. Add in a few years of dirt and corrosion and they're really easy to strip. I ended up taking a grinder to one to make some flat spots to get a big crescent wrench on. You might be able to get a small pipe wrench on it too, after all they're made to grab round pipe.

[3100]

use Allen socket that is one size bigger, use hammer to jam it in the hole of the old Allen bolt head. hope it helps. If that does not work try using torx bit again one size bigger and hope that it will give you good grip.

[doctorhrdware]

Or go out and get the screw removal bits. The bit is has reversed something like theads that grips the screw head that is stripped out.

[73stingray]

Originally Posted by 3100

use Allen socket that is one size bigger, use hammer to jam it in the hole of the old Allen bolt head. hope it helps. If that does not work try using torx bit again one size bigger and hope that it will give you good grip.

My brake calipers all have hex head bolts on them... both the caliper mounts and the slide pins.

[3100]

find flat head screw driver that will give you the best grip (tight fit) it is better if the head is bit bigger so that you have to use hammer to jam it in. Screw driver must be the one that you can put open end wrench on. Use your left hand to keep pressure on the handle, and use wrench as close as possible to the bolt. (do not spray it with PB blaster or wd 40 you will only make it worse) If you have brake cleaner spray the head of the bolt and let it dry for 10 sec. before you try the above mentioned. good luck

[doctorhrdware]

I had a slide pin break in the caliper mount bracket. I bought 2 caliper mounting brackets. I think I paid about $30 for both. I figured if I hasd to replace 1 I might as well replace both at the same time. You might have to cut the bolt off or snap it off.

[3100]

Originally Posted by 73stingray

My brake calipers all have hex head bolts on them... both the caliper mounts and the slide pins.

allen socket or hex socket head is the same thing

[73stingray]

Allen head bolt:

Hex head bolt:

There's no way you could use a torx bit or an allen wrench on a hex head bolt. Allen head bolts are typically used where they'll be seen because they look nicer, no reason to have one on the back of a brake caliper.

[Godofwarmike]

the ones on my grand prix were the same as yours. i used a torch to get them really hot then poured really cold water almost frozen on them till they cooled down. ended up breaking a few rachets before i got them free. and PB blaster or WD-40 will do nothing cause of all the rust and gunk in there. get the biggest bit you can in there with 1/2 in drive or you will ruin your tools. breaker bars work great with a 3 foot pipe on the end.

[3100]

Originally Posted by 73stingray

Allen head bolt:

Hex head bolt:

There's no way you could use a torx bit or an allen wrench on a hex head bolt. Allen head bolts are typically used where they'll be seen because they look nicer, no reason to have one on the back of a brake caliper.

we are both right but it is just that we created small confusion, did you notice that I said allen socket (allen socket or hex socket is the same thing) However, I do not agree with you on this "Allen head bolts are typically used where they'll be seen because they look nicer, no reason to have one on the back of a brake caliper." In your case it is true for center caps and home furniture, but for other cases I say that this is for safety reasons not everyone has allen socket, and if you do have it chances are you are professional or you know what you are doing. And most of the GM cars use slide pins (very hidden) with allen head. I was thinking that he had difficulties with slide pins.
here is the link for:encyclopedia - scroll down and to the right http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hex_key

[articgrandamgt]

Yup the one bottem picture is the one that I am talking about. What a pain in the butt, just completly rounded. I like how the top one came out with no problems what so ever and this one not so much. Gotta love when you plan to fix something that takes 1 hour and ends up taking 3 days. Ugh!

[doctorhrdware]

I used an acetylene torch to get the bolts off from the caliper brackets. When I replaced the rotors on the front wheels. The bolts came out very smoothly.

[3100]

ok in this case use one size smaller old 12 point socket hit it on with the hammer and get it done ----100% works

sometimes used cars come with lugs that you need key for but we don't but dealer wants after market wheels off the car so we don't have other choice but to use old one size smaller 12 point socket jam it on the bad head completely and end of the story...then I need to use wise to take the bad bolt out and continue with the rest. trust me 100% consider it done.
post back (when there is a will there is a way)

[xeroinfinity]

Yeah thiers to much confusion hhere. lol

If the O.P. would have stated the year this wouldnt have goten to 2 pages.
Thier's 3 different types of atttachments GM used on GAs over the years. Up to 94-95 they used the torx bits, then the allen, and the newest used the 1/2"-13mm.

If using a torch, if you get it to hot it'll just snap the head off the bolt because you'll soften the metal.
Try vise grips and a hammer first !

And I wouldnt consider wikipedia as much of a resource.