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YACT: When calipers go bad ...

S

SilverTorch

Golden Member
Comming back home from work last night, take a left turn and hear a grinding noise from the front left, then vibrations from the same place. I come to a complete stop and my left front wheel locks up.

Get towed, jack the car up and notice that the caliper is resting on the inside of the wheel.
Take the wheel off and find out that one of the two bolts holding the caliper (the top one) got loose. (
Also notice that the anchor snapped in two. 🙁

Just got off the phone with Baer the anchor is ~50 bucks, overnight shipping from Arizona is ~50.

--100 bucks 🙁
 
at least you can do it yourself and save some money. I had the calipers go on my last car and it was almost $650 in repairs.
 
Originally posted by: Quixfire
It is unusual for caliper bracket mounting bolts to come loose.

Who worked on your brakes last?
Click to expand...

Yea I know, its weird.
A friend of mine and my self worked on the brakes last (actually we put them on). Torqued everything to Baers spec.
 
Use blue loctite/threadlock next time. Maybe they [the caliper bracket mounting bolts] weren't torqued properly the first time around.
 
Originally posted by: SilverTorch
Originally posted by: mitaiwan82
this is an aftermarket system you have? what make/model car?
Click to expand...

Yea its an aftermarket system from Baer, on my '97 Pontiac GTP.
Click to expand...

I've heard it happening a few times on GTP's, but I had stock brakes on my 97 gtp. I attended a few GPGings in OPKS and saw 2 people at heartland park in topeka have brake calipers that came off the wheel area.

 
Originally posted by: TechnoKid
Use blue loctite/threadlock next time. Maybe they [the caliper bracket mounting bolts] weren't torqued properly the first time around.
Click to expand...

I will lock tight them this time around, not sure what happened b/c I did torque them down to 110 ft/lbs (per Baer)
 
Originally posted by: SilverTorch
Originally posted by: Quixfire
It is unusual for caliper bracket mounting bolts to come loose.

Who worked on your brakes last?
Click to expand...

Yea I know, its weird.
A friend of mine and my self worked on the brakes last (actually we put them on). Torqued everything to Baers spec.
Click to expand...
One thing I remember from my last GM sponsored brake class was the caliper mounting bolts requires loctite to keep them from vibrating loose. I use threadlocker red on all the mounting bolts I've reinstalled.
 
yikes! well this has certainly left an impression on me about baer. being a builder id have to say they just lost any support from my end after reading about your unfortunate incident. i wouldnt want a caliper breaking off while going into an apex at over 100mph!
 
Just wondering, but what material is the caliper mounting bracket made of? I know that the spindle is either aluminum or cast steel. Maybe heat expansion/contractions (from the bracket material) worked the bolt loose.
 
Originally posted by: Quixfire
Originally posted by: SilverTorch
Originally posted by: Quixfire
It is unusual for caliper bracket mounting bolts to come loose.

Who worked on your brakes last?
Click to expand...

Yea I know, its weird.
A friend of mine and my self worked on the brakes last (actually we put them on). Torqued everything to Baers spec.
Click to expand...
One thing I remember from my last GM sponsored brake class was the caliper mounting bolts requires loctite to keep them from vibrating loose. I use threadlocker red on all the mounting bolts I've reinstalled.
Click to expand...

Hmm, good to know.
thanks Quixfire
 
Originally posted by: TechnoKid
Just wondering, but what material is the caliper mounting bracket made of? I know that the spindle is either aluminum or cast steel. Maybe heat expansion/contractions (from the bracket material) worked the bolt loose.
Click to expand...

Don't quote me on this, but I think the brackets are aluminum. Not sure though.
 
Originally posted by: SilverTorch
Originally posted by: TechnoKid
Just wondering, but what material is the caliper mounting bracket made of? I know that the spindle is either aluminum or cast steel. Maybe heat expansion/contractions (from the bracket material) worked the bolt loose.
Click to expand...

Don't quote me on this, but I think the brackets are aluminum. Not sure though.
Click to expand...

I checked the webbie and it says 6061-T6 billet aluminum...i dunno if they can take the heat from brakes or not, but i would assume Baer would know what they are doing.
 
Originally posted by: TechnoKid
Originally posted by: SilverTorch
Originally posted by: TechnoKid
Just wondering, but what material is the caliper mounting bracket made of? I know that the spindle is either aluminum or cast steel. Maybe heat expansion/contractions (from the bracket material) worked the bolt loose.
Click to expand...

Don't quote me on this, but I think the brackets are aluminum. Not sure though.
Click to expand...

I checked the webbie and it says 6061-T6 billet aluminum...i dunno if they can take the heat from brakes or not, but i would assume Baer would know what they are doing.
Click to expand...
I believe 6061-T6 billet aluminum can take the heat because it used in cylinder heads.

 
Originally posted by: TechnoKid
Originally posted by: SilverTorch
Originally posted by: TechnoKid
Just wondering, but what material is the caliper mounting bracket made of? I know that the spindle is either aluminum or cast steel. Maybe heat expansion/contractions (from the bracket material) worked the bolt loose.
Click to expand...

Don't quote me on this, but I think the brackets are aluminum. Not sure though.
Click to expand...

I checked the webbie and it says 6061-T6 billet aluminum...i dunno if they can take the heat from brakes or not, but i would assume Baer would know what they are doing.
Click to expand...

Don't think that there is direct heat transfer from the rotors to the bracket, but I will take your and Quixfire's advice and locktight the damn things! 😛
 
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