LogicWavelength

Like the title says, I was having my local shop put on my beautiful new Powerslot rotors and StopTech pads when they guy calls me to tell me that one of the two bolts that hold the right front caliper stripped out when trying to remove the caliper.

Is it possible to save somehow? I don't want to buy a new $500 caliper if this one can be saved...

ez12a

helicoil it and it should be ok.

it is something we've found with calipers installed from the factory. Mine were luckily OK on all 4 bolts.

LogicWavelength

So... Basically I need a caliper? I don't know what helicoil is... Is it some type of rerthreading? I don't like "should" when it comes to things like brakes.

ez12a

the shop should know what it is. Basically the hole is bored out and a helicoil is put in. the helicoil provides threads for the caliper.

Search more next time: https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-problems-fixes-114/brembo-stripped-caliper-thread-724300/

also these bolts experience a shearing force, not a twisting force. the bolt wont loosen over time.

in the thread linked there's a company that does remanufactured if you want to go that route. Alternatively, time-sert.

rhafikjaan

^ you just used "should" again.. how dare you lol.. Honestly If i were you I would just replace it. I wouldn't feel safe with a helicoil.

johnny3

The Heli-Coil threads are made of very good air craft quality steel, the threads in the caliper are only as good as the caliper casting, I'd go heli coil every time.
(old retired machinist, 40 yrs. experience.)

LogicWavelength

I got the new caliper installed. I have nothing but good to say about the XLR8/Acurazine brake package. Stops hard, responds well to modulation, initial bite is good if not better than before.

I have one problem... I don't have enough posts to sell my old caliper if someone wanted it!

Grizzly Type S

I did the same thing. Its because your mechanic used air tools on it and stripped it to all hell.


Just go to the hardware store, buy a larger diameter bolt and a tap that has a matching thread patter and re-drill the hole. It will save you $500.

Helicoil is garbage.

LogicWavelength

I already bought a new caliper and it's already on the car. Just gotta rack up some more posts so I can sell the old one here in the market.

Bearcat94

You should browse the Photo Gallery. Guys love comments on their photo threads ( :hint: :hint: :wink: ).

buff-azn-boy

That just happened to me last week. Got it helicoiled. It's good now

Project_CLean

iTrader: (2)

helicoil size used?
subaru threads call for 12x1.5
aren't ours 14x1.5?

gdong

My apologies for bumping an old thread.

Can someone please answer this question? I'm preparing to do my brake job and I want to have my basis covered as it seems like I'm going to need to have this done. Thanks.

Project_CLean

iTrader: (2)

M14x1.5x17.8

I bought my time serts from belmetric.com.

Get new bolts from the dealer! Good luck.

gdong

Thanks dude!

Forgot to ask about the insert length as well!

blkmz3

just measure the thickness of the caliper. I believe it's the standard 21mm for the helicoil springs. you need a special oversized tap to get the existing hole bigger to fit a helicoil or timesert. I ended up taking mine to machine shop and did all 4 holes for $100. Custom steel inserts made on a lathe. The kit itself costs around $60 but if you got the tools (drill press, necessary tap and tool) to do it then go ahead. You can salvage the bolts. It's the aluminum from the caliper that gets stripped not the steel bolt. Run a m14x1.5 die over the bolts and you will be good.

Dlbbeaplayer23

the helicoil works i also had this same problem with my brembo brakes and it was stripped. well worth it instead of buying new calipers....

3rdGenHybrid

Use Timeserts not helicoils. Helicoils aren't as strong. A Timesert is pretty much a sleeve that's screwed into a new set of threads that you create in the stripped hole and has a groove that allows the insert to "lock" into place. Good thing to have because its also the same thread pitch as your oil pan drain plug.

Project_CLean

iTrader: (2)

^ Def.

I felt more comfortable going with Time Serts on mine when they stripped. I also used some threadlocker on the new bolts.

gdong

Yes, definitely going with timeserts. The kit is about $140 shipped to canada, while I found a local shop who can do 4 holes for $80.

I'm just going to pull the brembos off and see what happens. Worst case I'll timesert all 4 for $80.

The shop said they'd charge me double if they were to mount it on the mill and make "perfect" holes. I'm thinking mounted + hand drill is probably sufficient as long as progressively larger drill bits are used to drill the hole. Thoughts?

Project_CLean

iTrader: (2)

Good find.

ChrisJ

I am sorry for bumping an uber old thread but I need to know what size drill bit I need to use to drill the wholes out before using the helicoil.

I have been told 14.25 , 14.5 and 9/16

I am doing the helicoil in the shop so I want to make sure its right

Adobeman

Just a suggestion as I can't tell you exactly. My hunch is that the exact size drill would be something specified by the actual insert you are using and the material you are installing it in (aluminum in this case). So I'd check the insert manufacturers web site.

For example here's the TimeSert info for metric but not sure what inserts you have.
http://www.timesert.com/html/engineeringdataM.html

Rayjesq

Thanks. I've had 3 out of 4 work. Passenger side bottom. Took buddy and I 3 hrs of manual labor to get it off! Wow!!

So, helicoil? What's the timeserts? Can I do it or do I need a good shop?

ej1serge

helicoil isn't recommended where vibration or heat is involved, use a time-sert

ej1serge

but to answer your question, the helicoil taps say what size drill bit to use right on them just look on the side of the tap

coffeebowl

never understood why acura uses steel bolts that thread into an aluminum caliper.

ChrisJ

For anyone ever looking its a 9/16 bit

nfnsquared

Just curious, was an air wrench used to remove the bolts?

ChrisJ

Nope was removed by hand. This isn't the first time we have had this same issue with brembo calipers stripping honestly. We have had the same happen with GT500's, STI's and any other car with a steel bolt threaded into aluminum and then torqued down. Its sad that these brakes didn't come from the factory with inserts the way they should have. Harley Davidson learned long ago about not to thread aluminum but instead use inserts to save the customers from troubles.

nfnsquared

Did they strip on removal or install?

ChrisJ

Removal. The big issue is that the brakes cycle temperatures fluctuate so much that using 2 metals with completely different heat cycles is asking for trouble. So after fixing the threads I went ahead and tossed some anti-sieze to help in the future. I have always been really happy with hondas quality but they really let me down on this one but like I said its not just honda that does it.

blueracer17

I beg to differ: "Heli-Coil stainless steel inserts can be used in temperatures ranging from –320°F to +800°F."
This is quoted from http://www.noblefix.com/HeliCoil-Aerospace.html

Vibration isn't an issue either....

ChrisJ

helicoils are just fine honestly. We use them on planes that go much faster with much more force then our cars will ever do.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

the Malay aircraft must have not been tapped properly.

4drturbo

Old thread but I saw saw a post on social media about The caliper bolts stripping. My car does not have the original brakes on it. They were replaced by Acura from the previous owner about 6 or 7 years ago. I'm guessing with this post it would be ideal to let the car cool down and not do your brakes after driving the car or something due to the different temperatures in the metals with steel and aluminum. I have a power stop brake package for the fronts on the way in the mail I just would hate to do this job and run into this issue 💀

DMZ

When the bleeder valve freezes up and strips when trying getting it out of the caliper, you have to replace the whole caliper, that is, unless Helicoil has fixes for stripped bleeder valves. Rockauto has remanufactured black Brembo calipers (NUGEN) for the '04/5/6 M/T and '07/8 Type-S. for about $75 each, net. I have them and they seem pretty good. No issues.
.

4drturbo

Good to know that there are remanufactured calipers for our cars. To my knowledge you don't have to remove a bleeder screw to remove the caliper to do brake pads and rotors

BreezyTL

iTrader: (8)

They make a Time-sert kit to repair the 2 caliper bolt threads on Amazon. I have repaired multiple sets using them with no issues. Fairly easy to do!