Caliper bolt sheared off....
Discussion
On Christmas eve, I was heading over to the in-laws when I heard a knocking sound on my right rear wheel as I braked.
At the same time, I felt the braking performance of my car had reduced quite a bit so I pulled over to check out the problem but as it was dark, I couldn't see anything. I drove on as I was almost there and avoided using my brake as much as possible, relying on the engine to slow me down.
The following I had a look in the daylight and to my horror, I saw this: (Photo is upside down)
The caliper had completely fallen off on one side and was scraping against the inside of my wheel! I called up my mechanic who came over and found the bolt holding it in place had sheared off!! He managed to get the remains of the old one out and replaced it with a new bolt and the brake appears to be safe again but it's made me very nervous.
It also got me wondering. How common is this? And just the day before I was driving at speed. I dread to think what could have happened.
At the same time, I felt the braking performance of my car had reduced quite a bit so I pulled over to check out the problem but as it was dark, I couldn't see anything. I drove on as I was almost there and avoided using my brake as much as possible, relying on the engine to slow me down.
The following I had a look in the daylight and to my horror, I saw this: (Photo is upside down)
The caliper had completely fallen off on one side and was scraping against the inside of my wheel! I called up my mechanic who came over and found the bolt holding it in place had sheared off!! He managed to get the remains of the old one out and replaced it with a new bolt and the brake appears to be safe again but it's made me very nervous.
It also got me wondering. How common is this? And just the day before I was driving at speed. I dread to think what could have happened.
996TT02 said:
Probably overtorqued the last time the pads needed replacing. If you don't feel safe, you should have all bolts replaced and torqued correctly.
Most new bolts for brake calipers come ready coated with a thread lock material - if re-using new thread lock should be applied as they can come looseAnd I agree - it's probably been weakened by overtightening
beanbag said:
B'stard Child said:
When was the last time work was carried out to the brakes?
About 10 months prior to the bolt failing. I would imagine it's material failure rather than a bad installation as it's taken so long to fail.If one has been overtightened then likely others were too - I'd replace them all (caliper fixing bolts) if I had an experience like that.
beanbag said:
It's a BMW E87 (1 series).
I've got the car booked in to have all the bolts checked. Still feel quite nervous driving it mind so I'm not pushing it at all until everything is sorted.
Just ask them to replace - they aren't very expensive and whilst they can be checked for stretch by the time you've removed one to check you might as well put a new one in and get that torqued up to the correct setting with thread lock as appropriateI've got the car booked in to have all the bolts checked. Still feel quite nervous driving it mind so I'm not pushing it at all until everything is sorted.
I remember an old Sunny I was once changing the pads on, the offside was no problem at all, went round to the n/side and put the slightest amount of pressure on the ratchet and sheared the bolt clean off. Proper PITA fixing that., I was only changing the pads because I got a new set cheap, the ones that were on probably had another 5k on them!
ikarl said:
I remember an old Sunny I was once changing the pads on, the offside was no problem at all, went round to the n/side and put the slightest amount of pressure on the ratchet and sheared the bolt clean off. Proper PITA fixing that., I was only changing the pads because I got a new set cheap, the ones that were on probably had another 5k on them!
Probably just as well, the pads may have lasted 5k but would the caliper bolts?I had a caliper slide pin on a Ford Focus round off the inside thread of the hub when removing for a brake pad change - a replacement hub assembly later the same thing happened! I'm guessing it was over-torqued during its life, as the spec was only 20-odd Nm I think. Low rather than f'ing tight!
ikarl said:
I remember an old Sunny I was once changing the pads on, the offside was no problem at all, went round to the n/side and put the slightest amount of pressure on the ratchet and sheared the bolt clean off. Proper PITA fixing that., I was only changing the pads because I got a new set cheap, the ones that were on probably had another 5k on them!
Had it recently on my bike too, I do most of the work myself so I hope it was down to one of the times they were bloody tight after getting done with an air gun on a tyre change.stop being nervous, these things happen, things brake on cars, very occasionally they'll have a major impact on where the car's heading, and very very occasionally that will result in something seriously bad happening.
you are many many times more likely to be involved in an accident because someone failed to look properly than any kind of mechanical fault, you can maybe half the chances by making sure it isn't you, but there isn't that much you can do about the other drivers
you are many many times more likely to be involved in an accident because someone failed to look properly than any kind of mechanical fault, you can maybe half the chances by making sure it isn't you, but there isn't that much you can do about the other drivers
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