Can't get a 12mm bolt off a brake caliper?

rix195

I have a vauxhall corsa c reg 53 so i'm trying to change my worn out front brake pads. I have taken the left front tyre off. I have jacked the car up on a floor hydraulic jack. Now i'm using a 12mm socket with a ratchet to take off the two 12mm bolts so that I can get the caliper off and change the pads. I can't get the top one off or the bottom one off either. Are they seized? Both bolts have rust on them and I have used my strength and i'm sweating and i'm a man but still can't get them to turn. Am I turning in the right direction? As this is my first time changing brake pads. I am pushing down in the left side with a ratchet on the bolt. I have used wd40 but with no success. Any help?

only_mee

A breaker bar would be better anti clockiwse to undo

forgotmyname

Cheap crappy socket set? or your trying to undo the wrong bolts.

You are unbolting the caliper from the carrier? Not trying to unbolt the ones holding the caliper together?

Buy yourself a decent 1/2" socket set.

Pushing down on the left side? Depends which way your looking at it.

If your looking at the bolt then Lefty Loosey.. (loosens)

Righty Tighty (tightens)

If you looking at the back then it reverses.

flang

Clean rust off with a wire brush and soak in WD40 overnight or for a few hours.
Make sure you have the correct size socket and tap on with hammer. Undo bolt with breaker bar. (You will end up braking a ratchet).

boingsaidzebedee

Anyone recommended the mobile phone handy for when the car sways off the jack onto your legs ?
Make it secure with blocks and never trust a jack---just a suggestion.
For the work a good quality socket set and extension breaker bar.

gilbert_and_sullivan

For goodness sake, WD40 is not a penetrating oil it will not penetrate rust, you might as well spray Coca Cola on it, at least that will work given enough time.

Get some Plus Gas or other penetrating oil.

Then get a set of impact sockets for jobs like these, 6 sided sockets not 12 sided as found in most inferior quality sets, will grip the bolt or nut head properly.

only_mee

Don't these have the "spanner area" part way along the slider what the 12mm bolt is being undone from? If so put a spanner on that and move that clockwise whilst undoing the 12mm nut anti clocwise

Hintza

Try tightening it slightly to break the seal and/or hit the bolt a mighty crack with a hammer.

Metal pipe on bolt might help too, but the danger is if you use too much force you will just shear the bolt, that won't be a problem if their is nut on the other end (get a new nut and bolt), but could be a problem if there is not.

Stigy

Brake calliper bolts don't often rust in to that extent to be honest, they are just tighter due to the intervals they're removed at and the heat in that area. Some bolts such as torx heads (on Vauxhalls of old) sheer off as they're obviously still tight, yet the torx pattern isn't as solid if you like, as say a six sided bolt. As has been suggested, a longer bar or a larger ratchet usually do the trick.

Try short sharp hits on the ratchet to 'shock' the bolts in to loosening, or on a spanner, although be mindful that a 12-sided spanner could round the bolts off more easily than a six sided socket.

kevin0410

if the bolt head is on the back of the caliper (nearer the engine) and you're turning the wrench anti-clockwise as you look at it from outside the wheel arch as you suggest you are then you are tightening the bolt.

classic schoolboy error!

arcon5

Get some heat to it. A butane gas torch should break the seal. Just make sure you focus it in the right areas.