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Vent: Lost a brake caliper bolt on the highway in Phoenix last Tuesday

I was driving back from a job near Glendale when I heard a clunk. Pulled over and found the front passenger brake caliper hanging by one bolt. Turns out I forgot to torque the lower bolt after a pad swap the day before. Spent 45 minutes on the shoulder with a jack and a spare bolt I luckily had in my toolbox. Has anyone else had a bolt back out on them after brake work? What do you do to double check your own work?
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2 Comments
spencer199
Man, that's rough! I used to be one of those "feel it tight enough" guys for years. I thought torque wrenches were just for engine internals and stuff like that. But after a caliper bolt backed out on my own truck (scared the hell out of me on a mountain road), I totally changed my mind. Now I torque every single fastener on brakes and suspension, no exceptions. It takes an extra 5 minutes but it's worth it to not have that sinking feeling when something lets go. Those bolts see a lot of heat and vibration, so a click from the wrench gives me peace of mind every time.
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skylerg17
skylerg175d ago
Did you torque it to spec or just tighten it by feel?
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