Hi guys,

Simple question (I hope!)

I need to replace my front brake pads but have run into a small snag - I can't get the caliper bolts out! According to the manual it's a simple job using an "Allen wrench" but of course it doesn't say WHAT SIZE or whether it's IMPERIAL or METRIC!!

Can anyone help me out here - my first guess was 9mm as 8mm is too small and 10mm too big, but a friend reminded me about Imperial measurements!

Thanks in advance

Chris St Clair
1988 Trans Am GTA
1988 Fiero Formula

 

its standard (or Imperial to you..lol)

its a regular GM bolt size.. most GM calipers have had this size since the 70s.. it is 3/8"

i highly recommend you buy a allen key socket instead of a allen key wrench... it makes it alot easier to break loose and spin off... the road grime tends to make you need to ratchet it out.

also, while its out, take out the little slider tube things that are in there, and wire brush those clean too.. its something alot of people skip, but it makes the car brake easier and feel better.

 

just to clarify, i mean a socket like this:

 

Dude ... you're a lifesaver!

I'll just have to figure out where to get Imperial from now - the UK is not over-endowed with decent auto supply shops! Our equivalent of Pep Boys or NAPA is called Hannants and sells 50/50 car stuff and bicycle parts!!!

Regards,

Chris St Clair

 

Halford's professional tool range is good stuff.

Also, machine mart is useful :
http://www.machinemart.co.uk/
Though most of their stuff is Clarke, which is not the best, but does the job.

Other good place for tools is RS :
http://www.rswww.com

Si.

 

Thanks iroc-si,

I use Halfords and Clarkes when needed as well as Frost. It just annoys me that you can guarantee that Halfords will never have what you need when you need it!

Mind you, they DID have a set of AF allen keys this morning )

Chris St Clair

 

Thanks for the question - it meant that I know something new too - 3/8 allen for the calipers (plenty of friction material left on my pads so not touched them yet).

Oh and by the way - WELCOME TO 3RDGEN.ORG, ukponchoman

Mark.

 

Thanks guys!

Put the new pads on yesterday - everything looked fine.

Got a mile down the road this morning and the NSF caliper locked on Got so hot that I couldn't even TOUCH the wheel. So now waiting for it to cool down so I can have a look and see what's going on.

I suspect an air lock somewhere but will have to check.

Anyone have this problem in the past ??

Chris St Clair