Removing Calipers Question
05-13-2009, 04:03 PM
#1
Removing Calipers Question What size are the bolts to take off all 4 calipers? Also how many bolts per caliper are there?
I have not done my brakes since 2006, but the car is not my DD and since i did the brakes i only put on less than 5K miles
The reason i am asking is b/c i am going to be painting my calipers. One final question is, what do you use to clamp down on the brake line going to the caliper so that it does not leak everywhere?
Thanks for all the help
Here are some really quick pics of a caliper and bracket
I have not done my brakes since 2006, but the car is not my DD and since i did the brakes i only put on less than 5K miles
The reason i am asking is b/c i am going to be painting my calipers. One final question is, what do you use to clamp down on the brake line going to the caliper so that it does not leak everywhere?
Thanks for all the help
Here are some really quick pics of a caliper and bracket
Last edited by TORCHD 02 TA; 05-15-2009 at 11:47 PM.
05-13-2009, 04:10 PM
#2
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Hi TorchD!
First off let me mention that I grew up in Lombard and still have family there, so I felt I just had to help you out.
There is actually a really good write up over on install university. The specific thread can be found here
I hope that helps.
And BTW, painting calipers sucks. I highly recommend you get in contact with the Powder Pro. He's a board sponsor and is also located in the Chicago Area. He powder coated my calipers (after I painted them and all the paint chipped off in less than a year) and they look great. I couldn't be happier.
First off let me mention that I grew up in Lombard and still have family there, so I felt I just had to help you out.
There is actually a really good write up over on install university. The specific thread can be found here
I hope that helps.
And BTW, painting calipers sucks. I highly recommend you get in contact with the Powder Pro. He's a board sponsor and is also located in the Chicago Area. He powder coated my calipers (after I painted them and all the paint chipped off in less than a year) and they look great. I couldn't be happier.
05-13-2009, 04:20 PM
#3
Hi TorchD!
First off let me mention that I grew up in Lombard and still have family there, so I felt I just had to help you out.
There is actually a really good write up over on install university. The specific thread can be found here
I hope that helps.
And BTW, painting calipers sucks. I highly recommend you get in contact with the Powder Pro. He's a board sponsor and is also located in the Chicago Area. He powder coated my calipers (after I painted them and all the paint chipped off in less than a year) and they look great. I couldn't be happier.
First off let me mention that I grew up in Lombard and still have family there, so I felt I just had to help you out.
There is actually a really good write up over on install university. The specific thread can be found here
I hope that helps.
And BTW, painting calipers sucks. I highly recommend you get in contact with the Powder Pro. He's a board sponsor and is also located in the Chicago Area. He powder coated my calipers (after I painted them and all the paint chipped off in less than a year) and they look great. I couldn't be happier.
Thanks for the write up, i will look at that for sure. And i have talked to Sean plenty of times. I jsut do not have the money for him
Thanks for all your help
-Jonas
05-13-2009, 04:35 PM
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Jonas,
Run over to Autozone and grab yourself a box of copper crush washers...run 1a 3/8 bolt through the washer & brake line end...cinch it down with a nut and you should be good to go. I'm personally not a big fan of "pinching" the line.
There are 4 bolts per caliper...you'll need a 16mm wrench to keep the nuts from spinning when you unbolt the calipers. I don't recall exact sizes for the caliper bolts, but I do know the fronts and rears are 2 different sizes.
Run over to Autozone and grab yourself a box of copper crush washers...run 1a 3/8 bolt through the washer & brake line end...cinch it down with a nut and you should be good to go. I'm personally not a big fan of "pinching" the line.
There are 4 bolts per caliper...you'll need a 16mm wrench to keep the nuts from spinning when you unbolt the calipers. I don't recall exact sizes for the caliper bolts, but I do know the fronts and rears are 2 different sizes.
05-13-2009, 04:42 PM
#5
Jonas,
Run over to Autozone and grab yourself a box of copper crush washers...run 1a 3/8 bolt through the washer & brake line end...cinch it down with a nut and you should be good to go. I'm personally not a big fan of "pinching" the line.
There are 4 bolts per caliper...you'll need a 16mm wrench to keep the nuts from spinning when you unbolt the calipers. I don't recall exact sizes for the caliper bolts, but I do know the fronts and rears are 2 different sizes.
Run over to Autozone and grab yourself a box of copper crush washers...run 1a 3/8 bolt through the washer & brake line end...cinch it down with a nut and you should be good to go. I'm personally not a big fan of "pinching" the line.
There are 4 bolts per caliper...you'll need a 16mm wrench to keep the nuts from spinning when you unbolt the calipers. I don't recall exact sizes for the caliper bolts, but I do know the fronts and rears are 2 different sizes.
Are the copper crush washers for when i put the brake line back onto the caliper? If so do i need 8 of them? Also what size or do i have to ask and they can look it up for me?
Where can i get the bolt from? I too am not big on crimping the line myself...
05-13-2009, 04:49 PM
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After you paint them, i would hit them with a couple coats of clear. I didnt think about doing that when i 1st did mine. Mine are looking crappy now, buts its been since about last december when i painted them. So not to bad, but the clear coat should help the paint last alot longer. My cars a dd so your's will last alot longer then mine have.
05-13-2009, 05:04 PM
#7
After you paint them, i would hit them with a couple coats of clear. I didnt think about doing that when i 1st did mine. Mine are looking crappy now, buts its been since about last december when i painted them. So not to bad, but the clear coat should help the paint last alot longer. My cars a dd so your's will last alot longer then mine have.
Right mine not being a DD, and i drive it 1500 miles a year better last a LONG time
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05-13-2009, 05:30 PM
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There will be 2 copper washers per caliper....sometimes they stick to the caliper side, sometimes to the line side. Those you can resuse without issue.
In the help section they sell a box of assorted copper washers....just put one on each side of the line you are capping, Just grab 4 3/8 bolts and nuts from ACE or Home Depot. Tighten them up until they crush up a little to seal the line.
05-13-2009, 05:45 PM
#9
Jonas,
There will be 2 copper washers per caliper....sometimes they stick to the caliper side, sometimes to the line side. Those you can resuse without issue.
In the help section they sell a box of assorted copper washers....just put one on each side of the line you are capping, Just grab 4 3/8 bolts and nuts from ACE or Home Depot. Tighten them up until they crush up a little to seal the line.
There will be 2 copper washers per caliper....sometimes they stick to the caliper side, sometimes to the line side. Those you can resuse without issue.
In the help section they sell a box of assorted copper washers....just put one on each side of the line you are capping, Just grab 4 3/8 bolts and nuts from ACE or Home Depot. Tighten them up until they crush up a little to seal the line.
05-13-2009, 09:08 PM
#11
Jonas,
There will be 2 copper washers per caliper....sometimes they stick to the caliper side, sometimes to the line side. Those you can resuse without issue.
In the help section they sell a box of assorted copper washers....just put one on each side of the line you are capping, Just grab 4 3/8 bolts and nuts from ACE or Home Depot. Tighten them up until they crush up a little to seal the line.
There will be 2 copper washers per caliper....sometimes they stick to the caliper side, sometimes to the line side. Those you can resuse without issue.
In the help section they sell a box of assorted copper washers....just put one on each side of the line you are capping, Just grab 4 3/8 bolts and nuts from ACE or Home Depot. Tighten them up until they crush up a little to seal the line.
Although, i have never seen a help section with a box at autozone
Do you by chance remember the size of the copper washer to make the seal?
05-13-2009, 09:16 PM
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Maybe it's the cheap guy in me, I always reuse them.....but you're right, for what they really cost, they should just be replaced. 
05-14-2009, 07:47 AM
#14
second are these the washers that go around the bolt that hold the brake line to the caliper?
05-14-2009, 01:01 PM
#16
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Advanced, Autozone and many other national chains have them (although the NAPA by me doesn't have the right size, weird). From the "Help" brand at autozone I use the two smallest diameter washers (4 small diameter washers in each box) and I put the thin one under the head of the bolt and the thick one between the caliper and the brake line.
05-14-2009, 03:50 PM
#17
how many copper crush washers are ther per caliper? Is total of 2? 1 washer on each side of the hole?
And SOB, i put a 3/8"x1" bolt thru square that goes onto the caliper. And it is leaking a little bit. So when my wife gets home i have to go back to my moms house and make it stop leaking. I think i forgot to put a washer on one of the sides.
Is it bad if the brake fluids leaks out?
But i got all calipers off and i am going to start to prep them and get them ready for paint
And SOB, i put a 3/8"x1" bolt thru square that goes onto the caliper. And it is leaking a little bit. So when my wife gets home i have to go back to my moms house and make it stop leaking. I think i forgot to put a washer on one of the sides.
Is it bad if the brake fluids leaks out?
But i got all calipers off and i am going to start to prep them and get them ready for paint
05-14-2009, 05:57 PM
#18
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Yes, it's bad. I dunno how bad it is, but don't let your brake fluid run out. You're going to have to bleed them anyway but if the fluid runs out, it's a pain in the *** to do.
05-14-2009, 09:19 PM
#19
i went back and got washers and put them under there. so no more dripping. And if it does drip it is sooooo little.
But i jsut got hand sanding EVERYTHING calipers and brackets... I washed them everyhting in simplegreen with water dried them sanded again and sprayed everyhting down with brake cleaner.
Now it is time for primer, then color. But man it got chilly out and i think i am going to have to take a lamp and put it outside with me b/c i can not see a damn thing
But i jsut got hand sanding EVERYTHING calipers and brackets... I washed them everyhting in simplegreen with water dried them sanded again and sprayed everyhting down with brake cleaner.
Now it is time for primer, then color. But man it got chilly out
and i think i am going to have to take a lamp and put it outside with me b/c i can not see a damn thing
05-15-2009, 02:05 PM
#20
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So you're going to put the decal under the clear? That what I did about two years ago and they still looks great. I just wash what I can of my calipers when I wash my wheels.
What color are you painting them?
What color are you painting them?