That damn caliper mount bolt

For those that missed my recent experience with losing the caliper mount bolt at K2- here's the thread: http://www.myjeepforum.net/trails-tales-f6/i-got-the-most-damage-award-t3402.htm


Follow up... So when I bought that bolt, I only bought one. Yeah, I know I should've bought a spare, but I didn't (dumb).

So we went to visit Shannon's family in Arkansas- left last Friday, returned Tuesday. And on Monday I was towing a Wave Runner down to a boat launch, and discovered (when I hit the brakes) that I lost another one of those bolts It was the lower bolt this time though. So when I hit the brakes, the caliper flipped outwards and rubbed the rim, and ultimately wedged itself causing the tire to lock up. I went ahead and moved the upper bolt down to the lower bolt location to prevent that from happening again.

We were out in BFE- nearest dealership was hours away. And in all likelihood they wouldn't have had it in stock anyway. And even if they did have it, there was no way we could've made it to the dealership before closing time. The thought of driving over 500 miles home missing a caliper bolt was not a very appealing thought either. Thankfully, Shannon's brother knows a guy that owns a big rig repair shop. We drove over there in hopes that he might have an equivalent bolt. But no luck. So he got a bolt that was near the right size, put it into place, and welded it in. And then also welded the caliper in place.

So now that I'm back, I need to order another new bolt (yes, I'm going to buy 4 of those damn things this time!). And I'll need to have Geo cut off those welds with his plasma cutter. I also need to get a new wheel- when we got to that shop an pulled the wheel off, I decided the damage to the inside of the wheel probably made that wheel unsafe, so I put the spare on for the ride home. So now my spare is that damaged wheel.

sounds like a fun weekend





sux to hear man. gotta be an upgrade for all that chit

yeah but did you get to go to super lift? all seriousness though that sucks!!

Sorry to hear that happened ......again, but glad you made it home safe and sound just a little lighter in the wallet.
David

damn your catching hell with those caliper bolts! Have you tried locktight? There has got to be something that will hold it. I am having about the same trouble keeping my rear driver side wheel spacer tight. If it comes loose again I will put some green lock tight on it. if it comes loose with the green they are going in the trash!

Can we get to it with a grinder and a cut off wheel? If so I can have it ready on Sat.... get it knocked out then.

I can also arrange a plasma cutter..... possibly.

Mine have stayed on so far...put them on with Blue Lock-tight. BUT....I do need replacement dealer bolts - the ones I used were from an Orielly's or something...not stock bolts.

lovely stuff huh?!

Mr.RonGilbert wrote:

Can we get to it with a grinder and a cut off wheel? If so I can have it ready on Sat.... get it knocked out then.

I can also arrange a plasma cutter..... possibly.

Picking up the bolts this morning and heading out to Geo's. Can't get in that space with a cut off wheel, gonna have to be a plasma. And thankfully Geo has one. I'm just hoping that (a) the bolt that was welded in did not mess up the threads of the caliper, and (B) that all the heat from welder and plasma have not damaged/weakened the caliper mounts. But if so, I won't need to replace the entire caliper, just the "adapter" which is about $35.

Zack Massey wrote:

damn your catching hell with those caliper bolts! Have you tried locktight? There has got to be something that will hold it. I am having about the same trouble keeping my rear driver side wheel spacer tight. If it comes loose again I will put some green lock tight on it. if it comes loose with the green they are going in the trash!

After we got that one taken care of, I went back to Shannon's brother's house and pulled the rest of them out and added locktite to them all. All the others were still tight, not loose at all. But I wanted to hit them with loctite just to be safe.

Lost both bolts on the right rear caliper this afternoon..... flipped up, caught in the rim....fortunately i was going slow and pulled off just in time to keep from ripping it off completely...

Managed to scavenge two bolts from the bumper to hold it in place to make it to auto parts store....

future reference M12 1.50 is the size for the rear ones....

is this an issue with our tjs too?

Haha, no. No, it isn't. And not only because we have drums in the rear.

glad you made it home in one piece N2