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Stuck Torx Bolt On Rear Brakes!

W

Wease

New CEG'er
Joined
Sep 20, 2007
Messages
17
Location
Ohio
It's not so much stuck, as the torx socket I'm using might just suck. I got the one off and the pin and removed the calipers. But I need to change rotors and the other two torx bolts, I just can't seem to get enough leverage, or get the torx socket to stay in there long enough to get them loose. :nonono: Why the hell they used these things, I have no idea. You can't get enough grip to loosen them in this area!

Anyone have any ideas on how to get them out? I was thinking of jamming a good hex head socket in there and getting them out that way, then swapping those bolts out with a normal hex head bolt.

Can anyone give me any tips here? This is on a 1998 Contour SVT... :help:
 
I just did my reaer brakes over the weekend and was having similar trouble as you. So I got the Mapp gas out and torched those bolts pretty good. They came out pretty easy after that. Make sure your using a T50 torx bit. I used an an extension to give me a bit of clearance from the trailing arm. And I also placed a socket with an extension over the handle of my ratchet to give me a little leverage while turning. Don't strip those bolts. It looks like it would be hell if you strip them.
 
you are talking about the caliper bracket bolts right? I stripped mine out, ended up having to heat them up and use some vise grips to get the bolts out. They turned pretty easy with the vise grips, then I replaced them with hex head bolts so I dont have to worry about it again.
 
imnotacop420 said:
you are talking about the caliper bracket bolts right? I stripped mine out, ended up having to heat them up and use some vise grips to get the bolts out. They turned pretty easy with the vise grips, then I replaced them with hex head bolts so I dont have to worry about it again.
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Yes, the two caliper bracket bolts. I need to remove them so I can get my rotors off. Like I said, they won't budge and I can't get enough leverage with that stupid torx socket.
 
Wease said:
Thanks. I'm going to try all of this tonight plus replace them with those M10x1.5x25 bolts.

I live in Delaware.
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You may need to go to a specialty store to get the bolts, I doubt the local hardware store will have the right grade bolts. I did mine last year, I think I ordered the bolts from www.nutsandbolts.com.

I'd come help but you're 2+ hours away
 
imnotacop420 said:
so......how'd it go?
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Didn't get to it. Lots of bad weather last night (I didn't want to work in the shut, hot garage), plus my kids were crazy last night. Maybe tonight, but if not, this weekend for sure. I'll keep this updated. In the meantime, I've been soaking those bolts with PB Blaster... :)
 
Wease said:
Didn't get to it. Lots of bad weather last night (I didn't want to work in the shut, hot garage), plus my kids were crazy last night. Maybe tonight, but if not, this weekend for sure. I'll keep this updated. In the meantime, I've been soaking those bolts with PB Blaster... :)
Click to expand...

damn weather! We are supposed to get slammed this afternoon up here.
 
i used a big pair of vise grips and a BFH and they came off with out much trouble.
 
Well, got the bolts off, but on the second rotor replacement, I managed to strip the bolt / caliper bracket! This would be the one that comes off with the pin. So now I've got to get a new bracket. I found this one online at RockAuto: http://cardone.com/English/club/members/customer/ecat_brands/imageinfo.asp?PARTNUM=141060 I believe this is it. Advance just sells the bracket plus the caliper and I don't need the caliper. I've been working on cars for years and never stripped anything out. This sucks.
 
Update to my stripped bolt: I put the bracket in my vice and re-threaded the bolt. Not sure what I did, but this time it threaded fine. So I put the bracket back on the car and everything went back on without issue. I ended up using the PB Blaster, my propane torch, and vice grips to get the torx bolts off. Just could not get enough leverage to keep those sockets in there. I ended up replacing the bolts with the ones you guys suggested. The only other issues I had was getting that stupid pin back in with out bending it sideways.

I love my Fords, but torx bolts and pins make for a stupid design and huge pain when changing out brakes. Thanks to all who helped! :)
 
I ran into the same problem when I removed my calipers last year... I managed to get one bolt out of each anchor plate but stripped the other out :( PB Blaster, a mini sledge and a punch got the rounded out ones loose... mine were replaced as well with Grade 10.9 M10 bolts.

I too wonder why Ford decided to use the Torx head bolts in this application... hell the whole car is virtually full of those damn things :laugh:



Shannon
 
I had to use a jack to get one of mine off. I was able to get the lower bolt out of the rear caliper, but not the upper bolt, so I used a small jack to rotate the caliper up, and it loosened the top bolt enough for me to get it out. I had already tried a torch, PB Blaster, and was just tired of losing skin off my knuckles at that point.
 
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