Should You Replace Caliper Bolts?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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For this reason — stuck caliper bolts — Carlson

recommends replacing them anytime you replace your calipers

. Doing so makes sense. Your brakes are a system that is put under enormous pressure and over months and years. Eventually, things wear out and rust.

Are all caliper bolts the same?

Not properly torquing the caliper bracket bolts:

Not all caliper bracket bolts are the same

. Torque ranges can vary from 30- to 110-ft/lbs. Also, some bracket bolts can be torque-to-yield or require liquid tread lockers.

How often should you replace brake calipers?

Your brake calipers realistically last anywhere between 75,000 to 100,000 miles or

10 years

.

Should you lubricate caliper bolts?

Before putting the caliper bolts back into their spot, they need to be lubricated properly. Brakes are one of the hottest places for your car, so you’re going to need

high-temperature grease

. This lubricant is synthetic and can withstand the high temperatures that your car’s brakes will reach.

Can you reuse caliper 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.

Are caliper bolts torque to yield?

The bolts are Torque-to-Yield (TTY) fasteners that stretch. … Rear

caliper should be tightened to 100 Nm (74 lb ft)

and turn the bolt 60 degrees. In the engine world, TTY fasteners allowed for smaller fasteners while improving clamping loads. It took engine builders a while to recognize these types of fasteners.

What happens if you don’t grease caliper pins?

Over time,

the slide pins lose their lubrication

and don’t slide the calipers so well. This lack of lubrication causes a few things to happen. … While there is a rubber cover protecting the slide pins, they experience brake dust and rust buildup, which hinders the calipers from sliding.

How do I know if my caliper pins are 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 brake caliper bolts be?

Because caliper bolts MUST stay on, they need a LOT of torque. AutoZone, for example, recommends

113 pound feet of torque

. To put that number in perspective, the average person can, according to NASA, apply about 15 pound feet with a bare hand.

How do I know if I need new brake calipers?

A technician can spot the early warning signs of a failing caliper – corrosion,

dirt buildup

, leak, reluctant guide pins, and more – before they become a major issue. If a caliper already has problems, the technician might notice uneven brake pad wear resulting from a caliper that is either stuck open or stuck closed.

Can you drive with a bad caliper?

If you have a stuck caliper, the brake pad will not completely disengage from the surface of the brake rotor. This means you will be driving with the brakes applied slightly all of the time. Driving with a stuck

caliper can create stress on the transmission

, causing it to fail earlier.

How much does it cost to get calipers replaced?

The average cost to get your brake calipers replaced can range greatly from

about $350 all the way up to $800

. If you head to AutoZone you’ll see that front brakes calipers can cost you anywhere from about $40 up to $440 depending on the kind you need in the vehicle that they are designed for.

Can you use WD40 on brake calipers?


WD40 should not be put on your brakes since it can reduce friction where it

is needed and even break down and damage brake components. While spraying WD40 may temporarily reduce a brake squeal or squeak, it could also cause the brakes not to function correctly when you need them most.

Can you put too much grease on caliper pins?

Because the excess

lubricant

can melt or some chemicals can flash off. … If excessive lubricant finds its way onto the caliper piston’s boot, the lubricant will attract metal particles that can destroy the rubber. too much!!!!! Shims need only a small amount of lubricant.

How often should you grease caliper pins?

If you have uneven wear on a pad or something like that, suspect that there’s probably an issue with the caliper or the sliding mechanism of the caliper. Now the thing here is that you should be checking your brakes and lubricating all this stuff about every 12-15 thousand miles or

once a year

.

Jasmine Sibley
Author
Jasmine Sibley
Jasmine is a DIY enthusiast with a passion for crafting and design. She has written several blog posts on crafting and has been featured in various DIY websites. Jasmine's expertise in sewing, knitting, and woodworking will help you create beautiful and unique projects.