Caliper bracket mounting bolts
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 4,094
Likes: 1,629
Let me put it this way, a common 1/4-20 bolt, 1" long, can be bought for a dime because they make MILLIONS at a time. A 6" long 1/2-13 bolt, fully threaded, is $5-7/bolt because they don't make nearly as many of them - there's just not as much use for a bolt that size, even though it's a common style.
A 16x1.5 metric bolt, 54mm long, with a special shoulder (diameter and length both held to probably less than 1mm) to locate a bracket, and a special flange to spread out the load and not destroy said bracket when torqued, is unique to just a couple applications. The fact that it's only $8 almost feels like a good price.
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 19,760
Likes: 1,079
From: St Louis
A 16x1.5 metric bolt, 54mm long, with a special shoulder (diameter and length both held to probably less than 1mm) to locate a bracket, and a special flange to spread out the load and not destroy said bracket when torqued, is unique to just a couple applications. The fact that it's only $8 almost feels like a good price.
Buy a bolt made for the purpose at hand for anything except a very temporary emergency repair.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 326
Likes: 6
So let me get this strait.
You want to "cheap out" on a bolt that holds the braking system together on your truck?
Have you ever had one of the bolts come out and see what happens?
I have. I got lucky in that it was the lower bolt and not the top bolt. I didn't find it until I went to back up and the caliper dug into the rim and stopped the truck. Imagine if it would have been the top bolt and I hit the brakes going 60 MPH? I'd probably been thrown thru the windshield as the tire locked up and went skidding off the road somewhere. And yes, I found the issue after traveling some back roads at 60 + MPH. pulled into a truck stop to eat and couldn't back up.
The bolts also have a special locking compound on them. Both the OEM and the aftermarket ones I got from o'rilley auto.
You want to "cheap out" on a bolt that holds the braking system together on your truck?
Have you ever had one of the bolts come out and see what happens?
I have. I got lucky in that it was the lower bolt and not the top bolt. I didn't find it until I went to back up and the caliper dug into the rim and stopped the truck. Imagine if it would have been the top bolt and I hit the brakes going 60 MPH? I'd probably been thrown thru the windshield as the tire locked up and went skidding off the road somewhere. And yes, I found the issue after traveling some back roads at 60 + MPH. pulled into a truck stop to eat and couldn't back up.
The bolts also have a special locking compound on them. Both the OEM and the aftermarket ones I got from o'rilley auto.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 4,094
Likes: 1,629
Good point, I did leave out those points as well.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
jejenkins417
Excursion - King of SUVs
8
May 12, 2022 08:21 PM
Wyokaboy
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
3
Dec 15, 2007 10:59 PM
Alan'sExpy
1997 - 2006 Expedition & Navigator
7
Jul 29, 2007 09:21 AM
