Advice...

[SoTexBill]

Okay. Did something stupid. Watched Don from NorCals video on tire changes 10 times or more... Cued it up and went to start pulling my rear tire. Got all the way to... Remove the brake caliper... Boom! Stripped the hex head on the bottom...
Any advice? If I pull the axle and the stay bolt, will the caliper come free?
Thanks in advance...appreciate ANY advice...

[Mr Jensee]

Wow, it is pretty hard to strip a hex bolt. I think you will have to find a way to remove the bolt. Maybe spray it really good with liquid wrench and let it sit for 24 hrs and use a bolt extraction tool to remove the bolt. If that is ineffective get a small propane torch and heat up the area around the bolt and then try the extraction tool again.

[SoTexBill]

Thanks. Currently soaking in WD40... Used a long handled ratchet and felt it give. Was going to try removing the stay bolt and axle, rear tire should be free at that point and then work on the bolts.

[Draxxis]

When I changed my rear brake line and the pads, I had come darn close to stripping out the bolt head due to using the incorrect hex socket (just a hair too small). I ended up going online and getting new bolts to be safe and installed new ones using the correct hex socket.

Slowly I've been replacing every bolt and nut on my bike as I take things apart. With the bike being 30 years old, eventually bolts do seem to go bad (road grime, vibrations, etc.), hence why I've been doing it. Even if the bolts look good, I keep the old and put in new.

[SoTexBill]

Thanks for the info.

[Mr Jensee]

A while back Bill I had to change out my tire due to a flat. Couldn't get whatever they call the bolt on the right side on the swing arm off. I tried numerous ways to do it. I have a cheap air impact wrench that I applied to it without success. I sprayed it with Liquid Wrench, much better than WD40, still it wouldn't budge. Applied heat with a small propane torch, nothing moved. I ended up going to Harbor Freight. Got a higher torque impact wrench and that worked. Considering I am the only one to have torqued these bolts I have no idea how they got this tight. Anyway it ended up being an expensive tire change.
Michael

[SoTexBill]

I have, and used an impact on the last bolt. I cant post pics up here. But, abject failure is the best description I have. The head is history. Drilling, pain and suffering will be involved.

[doug of so fla]

Any fine thread or flange head, hardened bolt needs to be tightened "exactly to spec's" and no more! with a good torque wrench as many have found out.

Usually brake components are made this way for a reason, HEAT, & stress . Over tighten them and near destruction to get item apart. Chrome front brake caliper mounting bolts ( flange, hardened, fine thread) on XII, are another one, that with just a tweek over tight, will be a b^%^#@ to get out.

Posted just in case someone dunt know dis...

[Nails]

My takehome: Sounds like a good place for anti-seize.