Rear disc retaining bolts

dmblbit

dmblbit

Active Member
We are doing brakes. Have refurbished servo, front calipers, rear calipers, successfully replaced both front discs and the near-side rear one so getting near the end and feeling confident about the last one. Pride cometh before a fall. Two of the bolts came undone - they really didn't want to, but they did. On the last two the socket has slipped round on the heads of the bolts. There is a word to describe this situation but I will show restraint and not use it here. Given how tight these little blighters are in there I'm not sure what to try next - anyone got any bright ideas?
 
Make sure you are using a 6 point socket, preferably an impact one. If too much damage has been done you may find a metric one will hammer on. I usually use two 10" extensions which means I can get on the bolts straight on.
 
Many thanks - I'll give all that a try and let you know how I get on. Have found extendable breaker bar at bottom of tool box - hurrah. Now off to purchase six point impact socket plus 10" extension.
Steve
 
Even better than a six points is a Hex socket which has flat sides so even less chance of the corners being chewed, I went and bought one just for that very job, oh and a breaker bar to go with it
 
I got a set of impacts from the Ford show for £12! Top job and they have the points very slightly cut out so they only drive on the flats.
 
Not sure of the implications around the diff area, but a hammer operated impact driver can be great for freeing this sort of stuff off, especially coupled with the proper impact sockets...

040212830.jpg
 
I bought one of >these< a couple of years ago, together with an imperial set of impact sockets.

Horses for courses, as sometimes you need to feel what's happening, but for this job it's a breeze.

I doubt it would stand up to constant heavy-duty use for long, but for now-and-again it's brilliant for the price.
 
Or , a bit cheaper -http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/250979387920?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649
If you've got compressed air ,then the basic impact wrench should do
Plus the benefit of hexagonal impact sockets
 
Wow - that's a load of feedback - thanks everyone. Looks like I was pretty lucky to get the first six undone without incident.

Am feeling a bit stingy in light of all this kit on offer, as have bought a solitary 5/8" impact socket on ebay for £9.46 (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... OC:GB:3160) - waiting for it to be delivered. It looks the business, but will it work? Watch this space. Have also bought a three piece socket extension bar from local motor spares guy for just under £10, so will now be able to reach them without messing about inside the wheel arch. Am just hoping I haven't done too much damage to the bolts' heads. Will post a picture of the mess tomorrow. I am guessing I'll have to buy new bolts now anyway - better get that order placed too.

Steve
 
dmblbit said:
I am guessing I'll have to buy new bolts now anyway - better get that order placed too.

Steve
Click to expand...

They're a special bolt, so I doubt that any of the suppliers will have NOS or "new" remanufactured items, they'll just have good used I suspect. Which come to think of it, should that be the case, I have.
 
Also am now very very tempted by the impact wrenches. Will it be worth it? Are there many more nuts/bolts on the car that are done up as tight as this?
 
J R Wadhams are selling "Rear brake disc special bolt" for £4 a go. Must be new ones surely?

On a related note, my Haynes manual says (from memory) that early models are torqued to 60lbs/ft while later ones to 85lbs/ft but doesn't specify where the early/late cut-off is. My car is is 1972. Anyone know if I am early or late?
 
TBH I'd say you're better off spending your money on a comprehensive good quality tool kit before moving on to that kind of thing.
 
dmblbit said:
J R Wadhams are selling "Rear brake disc special bolt" for £4 a go. Must be new ones surely?
Click to expand...

I did have a quick look on his site but didn't see those, but to be sure they are new you'd have to ask him.

I'd say your car would be a late one, but although I'd recommend you torque them up, in all the thousands of them I removed and refitted I never did, and I never had one come loose let alone actually fall off.
 
harveyp6 said:
TBH I'd say you're better off spending your money on a comprehensive good quality tool kit before moving on to that kind of thing.
Click to expand...

Definitely agree that a foundation of good basic tools are the first thing to go for. Beyond that, I've found a powered impact driver a godsend in some situations. It's not there to replace good quality hand tools (and in some situations it's best left in the box) but it does give you another way of tackling things when you need it.

De Walt drivers, for instance, run out at around £300 - and are probably worth it if they're used regularly - but for very intermittent use who needs to spend that?

Similarly, I've got a Tipco 12-point socket set that I treasure, but I've also got a "value" set of impact sockets (that fit well) that I use when I need to use the Rolson:

http://www.toolbox.co.uk/sip-07512-...gleBase&utm_medium=GB&utm_campaign=GoogleBase
 
hi,
these are the best set of spanners and sockets i bought. they fit on the flat of the nut or bolt.
 

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dmblbit said:
I Am just hoping I haven't done too much damage to the bolts' heads.
Steve
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Hi, if there is some damage to the heads, when you get your impact socket try grinding
the front of the socket down to lose the lead to the hex. That way you use the socket on
the full depth of the head and lessen the risk of more damage.

Colin
 
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