what's the deal with the front brake line bracket bolt?

[rsfeller]

I did the front brakes tonight, very easy job.

the 10mm bolt that holds the brake hose bracket to the strut tower snapped rediculously easy on the left side and snapped on the install on the right with little to no torque. so those brackets are just floating. didn't hear any noises on the test driver when seating the new pads/rotors.

Anyone else have this same issue, concerns or fixes?

[ar38070]

I have had mine out at least a dozen times over the last 8 years without any problems. The torque spec is 17 ft/lbs which is not a whole lot. Replace them and move on.

[rsfeller]

I have had mine out at least a dozen times over the last 8 years without any problems. The torque spec is 17 ft/lbs which is not a whole lot. Replace them and move on.

Replace them!

The heads have snapped off removing and installing, one each. The that snapped while installing was long before it got to the end to even apply the torque wrench!

At that low of torque and quality of this bolt there was no ablity to even feel lack of turning before it snapped. If it would have felt stiff I would have soaked the head in oil before trying again.

[ar38070]

The only thing that I can think of is that you might have cross threaded the bolt. You can put them in by hand i.e. no wrench until the last turn to make sure that you have not cross threaded them. There is no way you could snap them off that way.

[rsfeller]

The only thing that I can think of is that you might have cross threaded the bolt. You can put them in by hand i.e. no wrench until the last turn to make sure that you have not cross threaded them. There is no way you could snap them off that way.

Really!

and the one I tried to get out that snapped at the first torque of the 10mm wrench?! Unless the PO cross threaded that one, you could be right.

Just becuase they are easy to get out of yours doesn't mean that something was squirelly with mine I'm sure. I'm just surprised they used such a low torque bolt such an area. Obviously road debris, salt and corrosion take their toll and need more torque for removal on bolts and fasteners.

[ar38070]

There could have been corrosion as you suggest or galling if they were removed in the past and were reinstalled without any anti-sieze. Or maybe they were reinstalled and over-torqued and were damaged.

[rsfeller]

There could have been corrosion as you suggest or galling if they were removed in the past and were reinstalled without any anti-sieze. Or maybe they were reinstalled and over-torqued and were damaged.

You bring up a good comment that I have a question on.

when is it best to use a anti-sieze compound? I've used it on brake parts in the past but little else. Is it safe for any two parts (bolt and thread)?

[ar38070]

As far as I know you can use anti-seize everywhere. :D I think it is advisable 1) where there are two different metals (steel screw, aluminum bracket, 2) where there is a lot of heat, 3) where there is water or other fluid and the potential for corrosion 4) where you want to be sure that the nut or bolt can be loosened in the future. Also I thinks it helps when you torque a bolt as it lubricates and results in a more consistent tightening.

I cannot think of anytime that using it would be bad. It is more a question of remembering to use it.

I just thought of a time when you would not use it. :D If you had a bolt or nut that you did not want to come loose i.e. you were using loctite to make sure it did not come loose or a nut with a nylon insert.

I hope that you were able to get the broken bits out and that you do not have a similar experience in the future.

[rsfeller]

As far as I know you can use anti-seize everywhere. :D I think it is advisable 1) where there are two different metals (steel screw, aluminum bracket, 2) where there is a lot of heat, 3) where there is water or other fluid and the potential for corrosion 4) where you want to be sure that the nut or bolt can be loosened in the future. Also I thinks it helps when you torque a bolt as it lubricates and results in a more consistent tightening.

I cannot think of anytime that using it would be bad. It is more a question of remembering to use it.

I just thought of a time when you would not use it. :D If you had a bolt or nut that you did not want to come loose i.e. you were using loctite to make sure it did not come loose or a nut with a nylon insert.

I hope that you were able to get the broken bits out and that you do not have a similar experience in the future.

The shafts are not coming out with out drilling them out, so for now the brackets will hang. I guess I don't see any problem and I don't here them rattle. I was just hoping for comment on having their brackets hanging for some time or any concerns. II will most likly wait till spring to drill out the broken parts as I have some strut work to do in the future.