Question on re-using caliper mounting bolts.

[Ewheels]

The caliper bolts are not torque-to-yield bolts. They say "one time use" because of the loctite they come with. You can 100% reuse them.

If you remove your calipers often, do not reapply the loctite. The frequent removal and reinstall with loctite will gall the threads and could damage them. If you rarely remove your calipers, then continue to reapply loctite

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[shogun32]

If you remove your calipers often, do not reapply the loctite.

and if you want, use some Nord-Lock/Disk-Lock/Wheel-Lock washers instead.

 

[boB]

All decent bolts have rolled threads which are superior to cut threads. Because of this I would not use a die on any bolt that is holding together anything important.

 

[Veteran]

Personally I think it’s all about liability.
Any Large corporation has a warehouse full of lawyers covering their arses.

 

[Veteran]

Fwiw, I remove caliper bolts on my 1000cc race bike at each tire swop. Caliper must come off to remove rim.
Make that at least 15 removals at minimum in a season.
that excludes pads and maintenance like suspension etc.
make that another 6 times a year.
so round out 20 times a year, and I have been at it for a few years.
All on the same caliper bolts !
But to each his own…..

 

[shogun32]

Fwiw, I remove caliper bolts on my 1000cc race bike at each tire swop. ...
All on the same caliper bolts !

Yeah but the torque on those is just 35ft/lb and no threadlock.

 

[K4fxd]

In my 60 + years of traveling around the sun I have never changed a caliper bolt. I have never used a thread locker. I have never had one come loose.

I do properly torque them.

 

[Veteran]

Yeah but the torque on those is just 35ft/lb and no threadlock.

Sure, but they are a lot smaller and in Ratio it’s similar.

 

[pyrophilus]

GM was "helpful" enough to use torque-yield bolts on the Camaro calipers so they are a literal once and done. Ford was much smarter in this regard. Use a wire-wheel or a pick. Ideally you'd have tap and die set but it's not a biggie.

I'm not so sure I would do brakes/hub right before a long road trip though.

Not leaving right after, but I think I will be fine as I have done this before, just not on a mustang.

I usually do brakes and them drive bait, then next day double check everything.

Albeit it's been awhile since I've done hub bearings, last being on my '92 maxima back in '98.

 

[pyrophilus]

In my 60 + years of traveling around the sun I have never changed a caliper bolt. I have never used a thread locker. I have never had one come loose.

I do properly torque them.

Same here. I have been doing little things like brake pads, discs, and CV joints on my older cars, just not on mustangs.

 

[Brian@BMVK]

They can easily be reused and just torque them to spec. Rest easy.

 

[Jaymar]

I've never replaced a caliper bolt that I didn't have the decency to shear off first. I've also never used thread locker on one and I don't think I've even used a torque wrench on one yet I've managed to avoid flying off the highway in a flaming wreck so far.

 

[K4fxd]

I don't think I've even used a torque wrench on one yet

When I worked as a line mechanic I would run them tight with the air ratchet then give another 1/8th turn. On my race cars I used a torque wrench.

 

[shogun32]

When I worked as a line mechanic I would run them tight with the air ratchet then give another 1/8th turn. On my race cars I used a torque wrench.

so customer cars got the slap-dash tosser treatment but when it was your own life on the line you used the proper tool?

 

[bnightstar]

Replaced a lot of wheel hubs first time I hear about that I have to replace bolts on break callipers with it. Track my car no problems.

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