Stuck Brake Caliper-HELP!
 

I've got an 82 240D. I was changing my brake pads, and found leaking pistons on the left caliper. The new calipers came today (I decided to replace them rather than fool w/ rebuilding them), and I started to remove the old calipers.

That's where my problem is.

I can not for the life of me get the mounting bolts broken loose. I've managed to bend the shaft of my socket wrench w/ a cheater pipe :( but the bolts are still tight.

Any suggestions as to how to break these things loose?

I'll see if I can borrow a torque wrench from a friend, in hopes that I can get them loose...

Any help would be most appreciated!

Do not use a torque wrench to loosen. You will ruin it.

Try some PB Blast and an impact wrench. You can also tap the bolt pretty firmly with a 3-4 lb sledge, or use a manual impact wrench as well. Heat can also be a good thing, and long as you stay away from the rubber parts.

If you borrow a torque wrench from a friend and use it to remove those cap screws, you'll no longer have the friend anymore.:mad:

You need an 18" breaker bar and about 100 lb. of force to crack them loose. Try not to use an extension on the socket as there is a tendency for the socket to rotate off the fastener when a large torque is applied.

The job is much more likely to succeed if 1/2" tools are utilized.

Make friends with someone with an impact wrench. And with any luck, she will come over and help you.

this should work. be sure to keep the socket square on the bolt head and all the way on.

tom w

You can also try a 2-3lb hammer on the end of a box wrench. Slip the box on the bolt (19mm) and keep pressure against it to keep it from coming off then smack the wrench. Use some PB type stuff as mentioned.

Wow I'm amazed at how lucky I was when I did my calipers. I was able to get my caliper bolts off with my 3/8" socket wrench. Took a lot of muscle but it cracked open. Then to make it easier on myself I got a foot breaker bar and it was a piece of cake. And yes they did have that blue locktite on em...at first I thought a previous owner hadn't torqued them properly.

Hmm, I thought they were 17mm, anyway, pressure will make it very hard to remove, impact is the key! if you have the wrench solid on the bolt, 6point socket or box end wrench is best, a solid whack from a ball peen hammer should pop the bolts loose. PB blaster won't help much, maybe a little for the rust on the surface of the bolt head, but it's just the locktite holding it still, impact will fix it, unless a PO (dumb PO that is...) put RED or GREEN locktite on. then Heat is the only way to remove. the problem with that is the caliper is in the way of getting the heat where it needs to be... you have to heat the socket threads, not the bolt.
good luck, I hope it's not red...
John