94 civic EX, Alright well a few days ago I noticed that my front driver side brakes would make a grinding noise at certain times when braking. I went to inspect it and it looks like one of the bolts holding the caliper together was either snapped or came loose some how and now its not lined up and the brake pad is starting to come loose, I can actually wiggle it up and down.

The caliper is still there of coarse so id like to just buy a new bolt to put in rather than buy a new caliper. My question is what all do I need for this job? The bolt of coarse but is there anything else and is there a certain type of bolt I need? Will I need a C clamp? Thanks

 

Pic of snapped off bolt, or area since it sounds like you haven't removed anything. I am assuming that the bolt which goes into the knuckle snapped inside the caliper.

 

Talking about this sight unseen so not as easy.

When you do the job, when you take it apart by undoing all the other bolts and pulling the caliper off the rotor, then you can see if the snapped bolt has some of the post still sticking out. If so you are in luck and can just use vice grips to grap it and break it free.

If it's flush with the bolt hole, then you have issues and will need easy outs and pray they are strong enough to break the bolt free.

I just snapped an easy out trying to get a siezed liscense plate bolt out the back. Now I have to drill and tap the whole thing.

Good luck, should be pretty straight forward. I'd also think about replacing the same bolt(s) on the other side of the car. When I do one, I always do the other so it all matches. Don't want a 20 year old bolt on Driver while Passenger has a brand new bolt.

Cheers

 

If the caliper bolt is broken, you just need a caliper hardware kit. It's like $10. Comes with new pins and bolts. Or see if the bolt will come out via vice grips. Some of the bolt is most likely sticking out of the caliper. With the head gone, it should be easy to remove.

If the caliper BRACKET (17mm head) bolt is busted, you can remove the caliper bracket from the knuckle (just loosen the other bolt and wiggle out the bracket from the knuckle). Then either try to remove that broken bolt or go to a junkyard or auto parts store and get a new bracket.

 

Here is the picture. Looks like I just need a 13mm bolt. Sorry the picture is rotated for some reason and im not sure how to re rotate it.

 

It's a caliper bolt. If you can't get it out, buy a hardware kit. It comes with the pins that the bolt threads into. You can remove the pin from the old caliper by pulling it out. Then grease and install the new one. Don't rltear the rubber boot.

Or try to remove the old bolt via vice grips. Then just reinstall a new bolt. Make sure the pins aren't siezed.

 

I wouldn't recommend driving around like that.

 

I got the parts and fixed it. Was actually really simple, Just did everything I would do as if I where changing my brake pads.

I went ahead and put both new pins in as well at the bolts. Nothing was snapped so somehow the damn thing came loose.

Yea I didn't drive the car after I figured out what was wrong. I just used my E-brake to stop until I got the car home. Thanks for your help!

 

No problem. Glad you got it going