Hi All,

My i30 desperately needs a front brake job, and I'm attempting to do it myself. Problem is, the bolts that hold the sliding pins on the caliper (the first step of disassembly, hehe) are rusted and simply won't budge. I doubt they've been changed (pads or rotors in front) since the car was new, that's how rusted and busted these things are. The outside of the bolt head would just presume strip than turn. I've tried soaking it in PB blaster, tried Liquid Wrench... it simply won't budge.

Unless anyone has any bright ideas, I'm surely going to have to take it to a pro - question is, can the caliper be salvaged? I dont think they'll be able to get it off w/o torching it. Does anyone here have experience with remanufactured calipers from someplace like AutoZone or Advance Auto Parts?

Looking for suggestions... thanks!

 

Make sure you use 6 point sockets to prevent stripping bolt heads. If you can grab the caliper bolts with a 1/2 inch drive 6 point, providing you didn't strip them that badly, just give them a good hard tug. Either the bolt will break or it will come loose. If it breaks, you'll be able to get the caliper off, slide the pin out and get a new pin and bolt set.

If you still can't get them off, then take the torque member off by removing the 2 17mm bolts that hold it onto the knuckle. Make sure you use a good 1/2 inch drive 6 point socket with a big breaker bar, they are on really tight. That will allow you to remove the caliper and torque member as an assembly. Take it to a shop and have them remove your caliper and put new guide pins in it.

 

Thanks for the input - I do have and was using a 6 point socket, but it's not the best quality. I'll go grab a shiny new top quality socket and a breaker bar and give it a go. Thanks!

 

If all else fails go to a junk yard for the a new caliper. I think the remans at autozone are fine too.

 

Anyone have any tips for removing a sliding pin that is seized into the torque member?

 

torch it out. I had the same thing happen and I just went to a junk yard for a new one $30 bucks out the door. I picked up 2 so I could paint the TM as time permitted. Wanna buy the extra one? $35 shipped.

I am pretty sure I have the pins and boots too. If you want it I will double check to make sure.