Caliper Bolts

[Alun]

I'll be fitting a new caliper and caliper bolts soon to my MK3, but how tight should I put them? I don't have a tourque wrench.

Also, would a bit of copper grease not go amis?

[onzarob]

Tightening bolts is a feel that you learn overtime, but tight with a ring spanner should be fine...don't go mad though and check them after a short while to be on the safe side. copper grease will not be a bad idea.

Rob

[Alun]

The bolts are 6mm allen key types. The bolts on now are buggered, one is rounded off and another did the same the other day when I tightened it up. When I put the new caliper on and the new bolts tomorrow, I don't want to damage them by doing the same and overtightening them. I want to leave them serviceable. In earlier years I always thought that bolts on major parts of cars had to be super tight, but I've since learnt that this isn't the case. The copper grease should make them easier to remove if needed further down the line?

[onzarob]

If they are rounding on tightening up then you are over doing it. are you using a ratchet? if so thats quite allot of force you can assert on the nut.. as soon as you feel its tight stop then no more that a 1/8 of a turn. the cooper slip will help when you need to remove. there not like head bolts, which are streach fit.

I had years of my dad telling/shouting at me not to go mad (he is a trained mechanic)

Rob

[Alun]

Fitted the new caliper and caliper bolts. A set of 4 brand new bolts, £1.69!! Bargain. Re-manufactured caliper however, £60. Anyway it's all sorted now, fitted the new caliper and bled the brakes in just over an hour and a half. Not bad I thought. Lightly lubed the bolt threads too, and the bleed nipple bolt,don't want that sheering off again in a hurry!

I was using a long allen key, no rachet.

All I need to do now is to adjust the headlight aim. Any ideas on how I can do that? Someone told me about waist height is good enough?

[onzarob]

Glad it all went well, with the headlight aim i would just pop into your local mot center sure they won't mind in adjusting the headlights. If your Mot centre isn't frendly use a wall, i would say waist high is a little high.

get another car and mark your points then go from there with the car at the same distance

Rob

[Alun]

Well I took it in for another MOT but at a different place. The original was t Volkswagen believe it or not, and I wasn't happy with them at all. So down to my local test centre I went, and a very helpful chap said he would adjust the headlight aim whilst it was having the test. At no extra charge either.

Oh and the best bit? It passed!!!!! I now have a brand new MOT valid until may 8th 2008!