locktite on caliper mounting bolts?
 

The Star Magazine (MB club mag May 2002 issue) recs using locktite blue on brake caliper mounting bolts but someone else told me not to. What do the experts think?

I have an 87 300E. Does it have fixed or floating calipers? If fixed then I apparently need I punch to remove the pins holding the brake pads. What size punch do I need?

Use the blue Locktite on the caliper bolts.
You can use a 20 penny nail to drive out those pins so whatever size punch matches that will be fine.

You do have floating calipers & on the front. Which makes swapping the pads a snap.

With the wheel off and the caliper exposed all you need is a 13mm & 15mm wrench to swap the pads. :D

Fronts are floating & rears are fixed.

MB recommends replacing every bolt that they ship with loctite. If you buy the dealer front brake pad kit they ship it with TWO new bolts (ONE per side) beacuse in the shop manual you only remove one, then slide the caliper up or down to pull and reinstall the pads. The emergency brake kit from the dealer includes 4 new bolts for the rear calipers. MB is serious about replacing those bolts!!

But I know a lot of people who rarely or never change them and don't have problems.

Brian

Never replaced my bolts, never used Loctite, never had problems.

Suffice to say, I haven't ever unbolted the fronts, but my on very first try at brakes I wound up unbolting the calipers. After realizing I didn't have to go through that much effort, I bolted them back on (sans Loctite).

That was over three years ago...calipers still holding...;)

G-benz,

Does the DIY section on brake pad replacement reflect what you wound up doing? I have my pads ready to go in and was pretty sure I wouldn't have to take off any bolts but I keep reading about bolt replacement. :confused:

Actually that is the "proper" (and easy) way to replace pads. I went at it blindly on my first try and ended up unbolting far more components than necessary to do the job. Got a manual later and discovered how easy the job really was :rolleyes:

Unbolting isn't necessary unless you are replacing discs too. Mine are due on the next pad change...

thanks for confirming that. i had a similar experience a few years back on a Passat where i went blindly taking the whole caliper off (90 ft-lb bolts) when there was a little allen head screw (15 ft-lb) that would have let me swing it out :rolleyes:

Need help, Where can I buy that Front Caliper brake bolt? Thanks

Your MB dealer probably has it. But as others have said it is safe to reuse the old one. I have done it as well and had no problem. Given the choice I would replace it but I would not be worried if I didn't.

If you can get them, it might be a good idea to have them on hand in case the old ones get rounded trying to take them out, or if you find the threads are too gunked up to re-use. But I reuse mine, just put a drop of locktite on it and it holds up fine.

I had a caliper bolt wiggle its way loose on a Ford Expedition.... fortunately it happened at a near stopped speed...

i got a new bolt at the dealer ...it had the loctite already imbedded in it..

use the loctite.

i made the mistake once

I worked as a tech in three different dealerships.

Two were mercedes and one chrysler.

In all three places, a technician could get fired if caught not apllying blue threadlock to caliper mounting bolts.

It's just preventative liability insurance in case someones brake bolts fall out while driving.

There is alot of stress on brake and suspension components and nobody wants bolts to walk out on them.

I also think think it develops a more competent technician that pays attention to safety and thorough workmanship.

We also would have to torque theese bolts to the proper specs.

A shop foreman could can you for not doing that as well.

Theese rules keep you, as a tech, on top of your game especially when working on someone elses vehicle.
Nobody can afford to lose a loved one due to an incompetent technician.

When I was younger and dumber and learning from my mistakes, I lost the lock washer for a brake bolt (not a MB) after I changed the front pads. I figured if I REALLY tightened it would hold. I realized I was wrong comming off a freeway ramp:eek:

Is it worth replacing the bolts? I ordered a set for my W126 a couple years back and am waiting for the next brake job to replace them. I used red Loctite, my god that stuff is strong. 1/2 drive, 3ft breaker bar I couldn't get them to budge. Next is heat and an impact gun.

I figured for a few bucks it couldn't hurt, they have a lot of time on them.