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Topic: Help! Caliper mounting issues on my Dakota

in Forum: General Non-Vette Discussion


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Help! Caliper mounting issues on my Dakota (1/6)
 8/14/12 2:04am
daveo76
Former Member

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Vancouver, WA - USA

Vette(s):
1976 Silver/Firethorn. L48, 4spd. Original 2 bolt, vortec heads, 9.4:1 CR, Speed Pro Cam: 224/224@0.050, 112 LSA, Eagle Steel Crank.


Joined: 8/25/2005
Posts: 857

Doing a front brake job (pads, rotors AND calipers since the boots around the pistons are shot) on my '02 4WD Dakota.  Ran into a problem with the lower mounting pin: the threads in the steering knuckle that it screws into are toast.  I did not use excessive force screwing it in, but it just kept turning.  I took advantage of a free brake inspection at Sears a few days ago (hence the brake job) and I'm worried they pivoted the caliper up to inspect and then cross threaded the pin putting it back.  Here's a pic of the lower bolt hole in the steering knuckle.  I'm thinking heli-coil, but I've never done one, don't have the special taps, and, worst of all, there's not much edge distance in this bolt hole.  If heli-coil doesn't work I'm guessing my only other option is to replace the steering knuckle?  YIKES!  Any thoughts?  Would love to hear them.   Thanks, Dave








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1976 Silver/Firethorn.  L48, 4spd.  Original 2 bolt, vortec heads, 9.4:1 CR, Speed Pro Cam: 224/224@0.050, 112 LSA, Eagle Steel Crank.
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Re: Help! Caliper mounting issues on my Dakota (2/6)
 8/14/12 7:33am
Adams' AppleLifetime Member
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Duncanville, TX - USA

Vette(s):
#1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas


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There are specific Heli-coils for that application. Yer right...ain't much meat there to start with. There are also some oversized, self-tapping bolts for caliper mounting. Might check with your local NAPA store first, and see what they have available.
Heil-coils normally come with the correct taps, installation tool, and instructions. If you can drill/tap a straight hole, it's not too complicated. Thumbs Up


btw....we see cars with the caliper bolts stripped out all the time these days. In a lot of cases, the bolt is gone completely. When the car is moving, and you hit the brakes, the caliper can swivel up and lock onto the wheel. Not a good thing. I wouldn't blame the guys that worked on it before, tho they may have overtightened it...it would eventually happen anyway. As you noted, there just ain't a lot of metal there to hold the threads...a by-product of weight reduction in all vehicles....


|UPDATED|8/14/2012 4:33:01 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|


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Re: Help! Caliper mounting issues on my Dakota (3/6)
 8/14/12 10:15am
daveo76
Former Member

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Vancouver, WA - USA

Vette(s):
1976 Silver/Firethorn. L48, 4spd. Original 2 bolt, vortec heads, 9.4:1 CR, Speed Pro Cam: 224/224@0.050, 112 LSA, Eagle Steel Crank.


Joined: 8/25/2005
Posts: 857

Thanks much, Joel.  Definitely going to look into the self-tapping bolt at my Napa store.  Glad to hear that this is a common occurrence, so there may be some options out there.  I won't try to go back on the guys at Sears.

Yer right about the weight reduction thing.  I think the brakes on this rig would be fine for a 2WD, V-6, single cap mid-size pickup, but mine is V-8, 4WD, crew cab, etc.  A heavy truck, weighs almost as much as a full size.  This will be its third set of rotors (with one turn job on each of the previous two sets) and it only has 76K on it.  Probably why that bolt is stripped out....




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1976 Silver/Firethorn.  L48, 4spd.  Original 2 bolt, vortec heads, 9.4:1 CR, Speed Pro Cam: 224/224@0.050, 112 LSA, Eagle Steel Crank.
Re: Help! Caliper mounting issues on my Dakota (4/6)
 8/14/12 5:04pm
Jaws79Lifetime Member
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Sykesville, MD - USA

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1979 Corvette Coupe Corvette Light Blue Midnight Blue interior Mirrored Glass T-tops


Joined: 4/27/2008
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Does yours still have the drum brakes in the rear? If so, check or replace the two rear wheel cylinders. My 96 ram 1500 kept eating front pads and rotors and never seemed to stop right. Someone told me that the Dodges from this period were prone to the rear cylinders  gumming  up and stop working so you would be stopping on the front brakes only! Replaced the wheel cylinders (and shoes). Put the Power Slot rotors and EBC brake pads (I believe they were the 5000 series) on the front. Got everything from Summit Racing. Now it stops great and the best part is no brake dust in the front! Good luck!
 
Barry
 
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|UPDATED|8/14/2012 2:04:24 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|


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Re: Help! Caliper mounting issues on my Dakota (5/6)
 8/14/12 7:27pm
yostusota
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York, PA - USA

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1969 daytona conv. all original 350 350 380 4 sp w/air..and hard top


Joined: 5/18/2010
Posts: 1518

Yup ...go for the bigger bolts...should work fine! Until the next time!

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Re: Help! Caliper mounting issues on my Dakota (6/6)
 8/15/12 2:09am
daveo76
Former Member

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Vancouver, WA - USA

Vette(s):
1976 Silver/Firethorn. L48, 4spd. Original 2 bolt, vortec heads, 9.4:1 CR, Speed Pro Cam: 224/224@0.050, 112 LSA, Eagle Steel Crank.


Joined: 8/25/2005
Posts: 857

You guys ROCK!  Napa had the oversize self-tapping bolt (looks like it had been on the shelf for quite a while) -- and it's on and works and everything is put back together and I have a hard pedal with great new brakes.  Thanks a bunch.  

Barry: I think you're right.  I've been told that before about Dakota drums from that era.  (didn't know it extended to the full size trucks, too).  Too bad I bought an '02 -- '03's had 4 wheel discs. I've adjusted them in the past, but have never replaced anything.  The Sears guys said the shoes were fine, but if they're not being applied much or at all I guess they wouldn't wear out too fast.    I think before the rain flies here I'll do new shoes and wheel cylinders in the back.  Never done drum brakes before but I guess me and Mr. Chilton will figure it out.  I went with all Napa stuff for the fronts.  Only one option for the calipers, but the rotors are their ultra premium line and the pads are a hybrid ceramic/semi-metallic (expensive).  They're supposed to be noise and dust free, but we'll see.  

Thanks again, guys!


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1976 Silver/Firethorn.  L48, 4spd.  Original 2 bolt, vortec heads, 9.4:1 CR, Speed Pro Cam: 224/224@0.050, 112 LSA, Eagle Steel Crank.
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