Front Calipers

[turbobum]

Has anyone who replaced their front pads replaced the two bolts that hold the caliper on?

Any problem of them coming loose, especially at the track

[pkcormier]

Are you asking if anyone has installed new bolts or if anyone has losened and retightened the stock bolts? I've removed the front calipers even more than the rears and as long as you tighten the stock bolts then you shouldn't have any problems. I just use hand tight torque. If you want a little extra security, use some locktite. And track my car.

[turbobum]

Apparently BMW (I haven't confirmed this yet) requires that the two bolts holding the front caliper have to be replaced after they've been removed. I've done plenty of brakes and haven't heard of this before.

I retightened the ones I took off the car and they seem to be holding just fine...after a day at the track.

Does anyone know the proper torque for these bolts?

[bluemoon]

^^^ +1 ^^^

[MadMan77]

They are called stretch bolts. Supposedly they cannot hold torque after being removed. I am not sure about the caliper bolts being those kind since I do not have access to the service manual.

VW did the same thing on certain components.

[scottn2retro]

So far, we have been taking them out and putting them back in at will (twice every race event). Maybe I should get a new set every year.

[turbobum]

Originally Posted by scottn2retro

So far, we have been taking them out and putting them back in at will (twice every race event). Maybe I should get a new set every year.

Do you use any specific torque spec?

I'd feel better if they were at least torqued to the proper setting...kinda want to make sure the brakes don't fail, especially after a 145 mph straight followed by a sharp left!

[scottn2retro]

Originally Posted by turbobum

Do you use any specific torque spec?

I'd feel better if they were at least torqued to the proper setting...kinda want to make sure the brakes don't fail, especially after a 145 mph straight followed by a sharp left!

Ralph tightens them really tight by hand (as tight as he can go by hand with a 1/2" drive socket wrench).

[Ruffan]

They aren't stretch bolts, but they do have some sort of lock-tite on them from the factory. When I was replacing my pads, I spoke with my service manager and the service tech who works on the Dinan cars at my dealership and neither had a specific torque spec. They told me that the standard they use for caliper bolts is "gooduntight". I've been to numerous track events and haven't had them come loose at all.

It took a TON of force to get them loose in the first place, and when I put them back in I leveraged a big 1/2 drive socket with half of my floor jack handle and made it TIGHT.