The way I handle seized brake caliper bolts changed after a job in Tucson

I used to just hit them with an impact and hope for the best, which snapped a bolt on a 2015 F-150 last year. Now I soak them in PB Blaster overnight and use a MAP gas torch for a full minute before even trying. Has anyone found a better method for those rusted-on bolts without damaging the bracket?

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3 Comments

susan7525mo ago

Yeah, soaking them is key. I read a forum post where a guy swore by a 50/50 mix of acetone and transmission fluid instead of PB Blaster, said it creeps into the threads way better. Heated it just like you do after that soak. I've been meaning to try that mix myself on the really bad ones. The torch is a must though, that heat breaks the rust bond.

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evan_carr5mo ago

So we're just making salad dressing for bolts now?

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davis.diana4mo ago

evan_carr might be onto something with the dressing joke, but honestly I think you're overdoing it with the overnight soak and full minute of MAP gas. Done plenty of brake jobs in rusty areas and that much heat can warp thin bracket ears if you're not careful. A quick 20 second hit with a propane torch and a squirt of Kroil works faster than soaking overnight most of the time. The secret is to heat the bolt head itself, not the surrounding aluminum or steel bracket, then hit it with the impact immediately while it's still hot. Snap a bolt maybe once every five years doing it that way. Not saying your way is wrong, just seems like overkill for a job that should take a few minutes.

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