95-97 Ranger Caliper Bolt Problem...

[Tbars4]

...It finally happened to me...

...I have seen this reported several times with the second gen X's and the Mounties...I deal with a lot of the dirt race crowd and they don't like the 95-97 Ranger Caliper Bolt's because they are always coming loose...Today was my turn..

...After a couple Truckhaven runs, I did not inspect my front end after this last trip...Today I'm going down the freeway in south OC and I hear what sounds like a rock come loose from my BFG A/T's...While this is common, for some reason I thought to myself...:scratch:.."That sound was odd as it sounded like the rock came up toward the center of the truck"...

...Sure enough...I get off the freeway a few minutes later and the second stop I got a clunk, pull, and a surprise...I drove it to the next parking lot and found I had lost the top drivers side caliper bolt...When this happens, the bottom bolt wants to unscrew each time the caliper ratchets during braking...


...Anyhow, I am now shopping for new caliper bolts...Kragen says they stock them for $4.99 but they can't find their stock...

...Any one have this problem on any of your vehicles and what is the best fix? I have always been a fan of these brakes so I want to remedy this quickly...Thanks...

 

[DB_1]

...It finally happened to me...

...I have seen this reported several times with the second gen X's and the Mounties...I deal with a lot of the dirt race crowd and they don't like the 95-97 Ranger Caliper Bolt's because they are always coming loose...Today was my turn..

...After a couple Truckhaven runs, I did not inspect my front end after this last trip...Today I'm going down the freeway in south OC and I hear what sounds like a rock come loose from my BFG A/T's...While this is common, for some reason I thought to myself...:scratch:.."That sound was odd as it sounded like the rock came up toward the center of the truck"...

...Sure enough...I get off the freeway a few minutes later and the second stop I got a clunk, pull, and a surprise...I drove it to the next parking lot and found I had lost the top drivers side caliper bolt...When this happens, the bottom bolt wants to unscrew each time the caliper ratchets during braking...


...Anyhow, I am now shopping for new caliper bolts...Kragen says they stock them for $4.99 but they can't find their stock...

...Any one have this problem on any of your vehicles and what is the best fix? I have always been a fan of these brakes so I want to remedy this quickly...Thanks...

Hmm, never heard of this...mine seemed fine in the years leading up to my SAS. I would say just check/tighten them more often or maybe tack weld the bolts in place.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Did you check WWW.RockAuto.Com or WWW.DormanProducts.Com?

 

[Stic-o]

Locktite?

 

[rwenzing]

The large diameter caliper mounting bolts MUST be torqued to 73~97 lb-ft and they must be threadlocked. That torque spec is higher than I would guess by "feel" but it is absolutely necessary to prevent the bolts from backing out. Adding threadlocker will not make up for undertorqued caliper bolts.

 

[Tbars4]

...Thanks Gentlemen...

..I am going to write this off as an error on my part cause I know I had both sides off in the last 2 months and, I know I had red loktite...:scratch:...Now if I used it on both sides?..

...The drivers side will get the new bolts and Loktite and the pass side will get redone just to be safe...Again, Thanks...

 

[techieman33]

The bolts you need are part of the "HELP!" line, the part # is 13898 they come in pairs with red thread locker already on them. And technically they're supposed to be replaced every time the caliper bracket is removed.

 

[Tbars4]

...Thanks...I will check the help packs too..:biggthump

 

[Dannyboy]

drill a hole in each bolt and get yourself a safety wire tool (under 10 bucks at harbor freight)

When one bolt tries to loosen it will tighten the other one and neither will actually be able to loosen.

once you get good at it you can saftey wire up something in about 2 minutes.

 

[Tbars4]

The bolts you need are part of the "HELP!" line, the part # is 13898 they come in pairs with red thread locker already on them. And technically they're supposed to be replaced every time the caliper bracket is removed.

...Update:

I finally found the bolts after going to a dozen parts stores...The only ones I could find was one lonely Help pack (PN above)...Over the counter, all the parts stores showed some slide pin with a screw on the end...