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Front brake caliper removal - HELP
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- Lifer
- Posts: 3353
- Joined: Tue Sep 29, 2020 10:37 pm
- Location: North Hampshire
Front brake caliper removal - HELP
Any advice on how to remove the 16mm bolts at the back of the caliper holder? They are jammed solid on both my Coupe and son’s roadster and there’s not a lot of space to get leverage. Are they just torqued up really tight, or what? I’m reluctant to start squirting WD40 around in this area.
2003 Maldives Blue 3.0i auto
Previously: Maldives Blue 2.5i manual (its back!) and another, and a Monaco Blue 3.0Si coupe
Previously: Maldives Blue 2.5i manual (its back!) and another, and a Monaco Blue 3.0Si coupe
- dhobbs
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1621
- Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2012 5:33 pm
Front brake caliper removal - HELP
You're right there's not much space to work getting those out but it's doable. I sometimes use a rubber Mallet on the wrench to help.
Can you slip a tube/breaker bar over the wrench to increase the torque?
One thing I always do is check I'm turning the wrench the right way, as the bolts are facing the wrong way if that makes sense. Made that mistake a couple of times, nothing broken thankfully.
Can you slip a tube/breaker bar over the wrench to increase the torque?
One thing I always do is check I'm turning the wrench the right way, as the bolts are facing the wrong way if that makes sense. Made that mistake a couple of times, nothing broken thankfully.
3.0si roadster. Requisite stubby. Sound gen mod. LED numberplate lights. LED boot strip. Interior lights LED too. ZHP gearknob. Daily drive
Motor in boot. Bilstein B8 dampers. New radio, much better sounds
Motor in boot. Bilstein B8 dampers. New radio, much better sounds
- Rockhopper
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1111
- Joined: Fri Mar 06, 2020 7:05 pm
- Location: Mansfield
Front brake caliper removal - HELP
I gave up with mine before i did any damage. Even my impact gun wouldn't shift them and there was not enough room to get a decent breaker bar in there with the car on the ground. Up on a lift it'd be fairly easy so I gave it to my garage to sort out.
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- Lifer
- Posts: 3353
- Joined: Tue Sep 29, 2020 10:37 pm
- Location: North Hampshire
Front brake caliper removal - HELP
They’re normal threads presumably - righty tighty, lefty loosey?
2003 Maldives Blue 3.0i auto
Previously: Maldives Blue 2.5i manual (its back!) and another, and a Monaco Blue 3.0Si coupe
Previously: Maldives Blue 2.5i manual (its back!) and another, and a Monaco Blue 3.0Si coupe
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Onlinebigwinn
- Lifer
- Posts: 4614
- Joined: Wed Jul 08, 2020 7:13 pm
- Location: Lincoln UK
- Contact:
Front brake caliper removal - HELP
Yes normal-
Mine were same and needed a breaker bar to shift- which meant turning the steering to get better access
If the forum helped you, why not help the forum back. Thats the Z4 way!
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- dhobbs
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1621
- Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2012 5:33 pm
Front brake caliper removal - HELP
Yeah, normal bolts, just that you are looking at them from the opposite side. Maybe it's just me getting it wrong
3.0si roadster. Requisite stubby. Sound gen mod. LED numberplate lights. LED boot strip. Interior lights LED too. ZHP gearknob. Daily drive
Motor in boot. Bilstein B8 dampers. New radio, much better sounds
Motor in boot. Bilstein B8 dampers. New radio, much better sounds
- Ewazix
- Lifer
- Posts: 4721
- Joined: Sun May 02, 2010 5:30 pm
- Location: Somerset
Front brake caliper removal - HELP
Get some penetrating fluid in there and leave it overnight if necessary, it's counter intuitive but giving a sharp tap on the wrench both ways as if to tighten and loosen (without going bonkers) can break the rust, a long bar and a good quality wrench is a must to avoid rounding-off.
2003 2.5 SE, low miles, Sterling Grey, 108's & Eagles, no stubby here! Unmolested.
2018 Cooper S Countryman
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2018 Cooper S Countryman
Fiesta Ecoboost
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- Member
- Posts: 165
- Joined: Tue Jun 23, 2020 8:46 pm
- Location: Leicestershire
Front brake caliper removal - HELP
Similar problem with mine, soaked a couple of rags in penetrant and wrapped them round the bolts over night. You can actually turn the front wheels just enough to get a breaker bar in whilst its on jacks as well. The rears are obviously trickier as you can't do this, but they aren't torqued as high (at least mine weren't ) , I actually managed to get them off with a ring spanner and a fair bit of swearing
2006 Sapphire Black E86 3.0si | 108's, ZHP, Stubby, Eibach Springs
2007 Carbon Black E85 2.5i | 19" NAD alloys, Pilot Sport 4S, strut brace, Stubby, ZHP, Brembo 4 pots, Greenstuff pads, Alcantara retrim, roof motor in boot
2022 BMW G80 320D Touring
2007 Carbon Black E85 2.5i | 19" NAD alloys, Pilot Sport 4S, strut brace, Stubby, ZHP, Brembo 4 pots, Greenstuff pads, Alcantara retrim, roof motor in boot
2022 BMW G80 320D Touring
- Rockhopper
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1111
- Joined: Fri Mar 06, 2020 7:05 pm
- Location: Mansfield
Front brake caliper removal - HELP
They may well have threadlock on as well so a bit of gentle heat can help.
- 1536Z4
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1600
- Joined: Thu Nov 19, 2020 9:37 pm
- Location: North Shropshire
Front brake caliper removal - HELP
This is what I did and then used a rubber mallet as suggested by dhobbs . Impact wrench didn`t do anything .
Montego Blue E86 . MILV`s . Simpson Custom Manifold Race Exhaust . xHP transmission stage 3 . VT engine mounts . BC RA coilovers . H&R arbs . Adjustable rear camber arms . Ultra Racing front strut brace . Drexler LSD .
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- Lifer
- Posts: 3353
- Joined: Tue Sep 29, 2020 10:37 pm
- Location: North Hampshire
Front brake caliper removal - HELP
Thanks for your help and advice chaps. Tried full lock (don’t know why I didn’t think of that, i’ve always just jacked up the car with wheels straight ahead!). Full lock gives you access to enough range of movement with a breaker bar to unstick the bottom bolt. Can’t get at the top bolt though, because the brake hose is in the way. I’ll de-mount the calliper from the bracket tomorrow and should be able to get at it then.
2003 Maldives Blue 3.0i auto
Previously: Maldives Blue 2.5i manual (its back!) and another, and a Monaco Blue 3.0Si coupe
Previously: Maldives Blue 2.5i manual (its back!) and another, and a Monaco Blue 3.0Si coupe