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Stuck caliper bolt on a 1993 Caprice. Tried everything I know
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vintshave
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Jun 20, 2012, 6:19 PM
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Stuck caliper bolt on a 1993 Caprice. Tried everything I know
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1993 Chevy Caprice Classic 5.0 8cyl 80,000 miles.
Help me before I go insane...please!
I have a 1993 Chevy Caprice Classic. I am working on changing the pads on my front brakes. One side completed sucessfully. On the other, I was able to remove the top caliper bolt (The bolt is removed with a 3/8 Allen bit and socket wrench) but the bottom one is stuck.
How stuck?
Here is what I tried so far...
-Used the bit with a socket wrench (no dice)
-Held in the socket wrench while hitting the end with a hammer (no love)
-Soaked the area in PB overnight (nada)
-Used a breaker bar with the bit (ended up stripping the inside of the bolt)
-Hammered the area of the caliper where the bolt is frozen (aside from removing dirt, it's still in there)
-Heated the bolt-threads with a blow torch, then tried a Vise Grip on the outside (stripped the outside of the bolt)
I'm not sure what else there is to do and I am desperately looking for ideas. One thought I had was to use a sidecut saw to slice through the pin in a couple of areas to get it off.
DO you think that is the best approach? Any other ideas? I MUST get this off!
Thanks in advance!
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Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
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Jun 20, 2012, 6:41 PM
Post #2 of 11
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Re: Stuck caliper bolt on a 1993 Caprice. Tried everything I know
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At this point using a cut off wheel to cut the pin, so you can get the caliper out of the way is a good idea.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Jun 20, 2012, 6:46 PM)
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Sidom
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Jun 20, 2012, 6:42 PM
Post #3 of 11
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Re: Stuck caliper bolt on a 1993 Caprice. Tried everything I know
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If you have a small pipe wrench, see if you can get that on the oustside of the head & get it loose. A pipe wrench won't slip as easily as vise grips do
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Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
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Jun 20, 2012, 6:47 PM
Post #4 of 11
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Re: Stuck caliper bolt on a 1993 Caprice. Tried everything I know
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I'd try Sid's advice first.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
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nickwarner
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Jun 20, 2012, 7:04 PM
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Re: Stuck caliper bolt on a 1993 Caprice. Tried everything I know
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If you have access to a welder, weld a nut onto the head of the bolt that way you can put a breaker bar on it. You will need a good weld and the ability to heat the threaded section glowing red with a torch to break it loose most likely, so a propane torch isn't going to cut it.
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Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
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Jun 20, 2012, 7:10 PM
Post #6 of 11
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Re: Stuck caliper bolt on a 1993 Caprice. Tried everything I know
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If the pipe wrench idea doesn't work, you could try Nick's advice too, if you have a welder.
If you do end up cutting the caliper off, grind the head portion of the pin , so it is flush with the knuckle. That might release the tension on the pin so you can unscrew it by the remains of the pin on the other end.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Jun 20, 2012, 7:11 PM)
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Sidom
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Jun 20, 2012, 7:29 PM
Post #7 of 11
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Re: Stuck caliper bolt on a 1993 Caprice. Tried everything I know
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I see you are in the rust belt.......So you have lots of good tips to try......Since rust is a big factor the threads may not survive.
They do make oversize caliper bolts that will cut new threads into the bracket. If it's already had one then you would have to put in a heli coil or time sert....
Worst case scenairo you would need to change out the knuckle....
If you have to cut the pin, try to leave enough of the pin to get a good bite with a pipe wrench and give that one more shot after heating up the threads
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Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
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Jun 20, 2012, 7:30 PM
Post #8 of 11
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Re: Stuck caliper bolt on a 1993 Caprice. Tried everything I know
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I wonder if the candle wax trick would work on that?
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
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shaupt
New User
Jun 23, 2012, 2:40 AM
Post #10 of 11
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Re: Stuck caliper bolt on a 1993 Caprice. Tried everything I know
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i would try small cutoff wheel (air)
but more than likley ,its to damadged to remove ,cutting it apart may work
you may have to replae whole assenbly?
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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Jun 23, 2012, 4:03 AM
Post #11 of 11
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Re: Stuck caliper bolt on a 1993 Caprice. Tried everything I know
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This stuff suks and common to the rust belt areas especially. All these ideas can work. Said already that plain propane torch that may work to solder things but highly unlikely to get to the glowing point where these things will cooperate.
I call it my "blue wrench" - Oxy-Acet (one size fits all) for fast targeted heat to glowing. Not used yet is the pony Mapp gas with Oxygen said to be able to but has to be less heat and less targeted.
Heat to glowing does hurt the strength of the metals you need - be aware of that.
That bolt is toast and not a problem to get new. Cut off tool by air or electric is just faster or slower. They sell the wheels at common hardware stores or even a Dremel (don't have a good one) should do but may waste a few cut off wheels.
Back to pipe wrench. If totally rounded but still something there to grab worth a damn a good one self tightens its jaws.
If this bolt is that bad then think of other brake parts in harms way. Bleeder screws probably done with and those just snap easily and not worth fussing with vs trade it for a reman - both sides with brakes
Do yourself a favor now and get some PB (power blaster) and put some on anything you may need to deal with later. The flex hose to line then spray over that or brush on a film of grease proactively for when/if you are there next.
Yep - what seems so simple can snowball into your whole weekend!
T - Rusto-Chusetts, USA
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