Date: Sun, 19 Nov 2000 00:06:21 -0800
Reply-To: Todd Last <Rubatoguy@MINDSPRING.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Todd Last <Rubatoguy@MINDSPRING.COM>
Subject: Re: Brake Caliper Bolt Saga
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You might want to think twice about getting the caliper bolt at a junkyard.
Bentley states that the two bolts that hold the caliper to the brake carrier
are: "Self locking bolts - always replace." P. 46.5
Todd
'88 Westy
Mark Ingalls wrote:
> Hello All,
>
> While in the process of inspecting my recently acquired 85 GL I inspected
> the front brake pads and they were down to maybe 1/1000 inch of pad left.
> Well the PO got his moneys worth out of that set of pads.
>
> I moved the the rear drums and with a borrowed impact wrench I took off the
> 46mm (1&13/16inch) nut. Low and behold the rear brakes were past the rivit
> and the drum is scored badly. Also lifted the rubber boot for the brake
> cylinder and fliud squirted out. So I ordered pads and linings and cylinders
> from BD. Ordered Wheel bearing seals for the front and rear wheels from
> Rocky Mountain Motor Works. Will go to a salvage yard in Lincoln Nebraska
> for the rear drum.
>
> While taking the front calipers off the lower bolt on the right caliper
> would not budge. I used the impact wrench on it. It wouldn't go, so I
> borrowed a bigger impact. Still no go. I was doing this over a few days
> period so I was squirting penetrating fluid on it every day.
>
> I work at a power plant so I talked it over with some of the machinists and
> the plan I came up with was to use a mapp/oxygen torch I bought from
> Menard's. I heated up the area on the steering knuckle that the bolt was
> threaded into. I had to heat for maybe 1/2 hour because this cheap torch I
> have puts out so little heat. Once it was hot enough that 'spit sizzles'
> (300-400 degrees F) I took some special penetrating oil we have at work, and
> with a Q-tip I wicked the penetrating oil into the space between the caliper
> and the steering knuckle. I then let it all cool for 2 hours.
>
> I then went back and tried the impact wrench, still no go. I then tried my
> cheapie breaker bar combined with a 1 1/2 foot cheater pipe and a 6 point
> 19mm socket. I put a lot of torque to it and I heard a POP! I thought I had
> broken the pin in the cheap breaker bar but NO! The bolt had given up and
> came loose!
>
> The bolt that came out is now a little twisted so that will be on my salvage
> yard shopping list also.
>
> One note is that using a torch close to the brake caliper like I did may
> result in the caliper seals failing, I will have to see what happens when I
> bleed the system and afterwards.
>
> I am also replacing the beat up CV joint bolts so I will be so close to
> having the rear bearing housing out that I am going to take it out and
> refresh the grease in them also.
>
> I have a 75 bug with a 2213 engine so I've been blasting around with that in
> 15 degree F weather while this job is getting along. Had to put synthetic
> oil in the bug for this cold of weather if I wanted to turn any decent
> RPM's.
>
> So long Volks,
>
> Mark Ingalls
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