Putting front calipers back on - Loctite or NO?

N Camarolina · 09-25-2022, 08:30 PM

Hey guys. I need advice from those that track their 1LEs and ZL1s and do their own front rotor replacement:

I know the shop manual says to clean the front brake caliper/bolt threads and use red loctite 272. But the amount of torque I had to apply to break them loose (didn't want to use heat since the upper bolts are so close to the mag-ride sensor wires/connectors) made me worry about risk of shearing off the bolt heads should I reapply new loctite 272. I'm contemplating not reinstalling with loctite and seeing if they stay put with the torque + angle alone.

Has anyone who tracks their car reinstalled the calipers without the red-loctite and if so, did the bolts eventually come loose with track use?
Any point in using blue loctite (caliper temps on track will exceed the blue loctite temp rating?)?

5.M0NSTER · 09-25-2022, 08:50 PM

I would not risk it. Just a little red goes a long way.

sr71bb · 09-25-2022, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by N Camarolina

Hey guys. I need advice from those that track their 1LEs and ZL1s and do their own front rotor replacement:

I know the shop manual says to clean the front brake caliper/bolt threads and use red loctite 272. But the amount of torque I had to apply to break them loose (didn't want to use heat since the upper bolts are so close to the mag-ride sensor wires/connectors) made me worry about risk of shearing off the bolt heads should I reapply new loctite 272. I'm contemplating not reinstalling with loctite and seeing if they stay put with the torque + angle alone.

Has anyone who tracks their car reinstalled the calipers without the red-loctite and if so, did the bolts eventually come loose with track use?
Any point in using blue loctite (caliper temps on track will exceed the blue loctite temp rating?)?

I would and HAVE used the blue loctite. NEVER any issues with these bolts loossening up.

cdb95z28 · 09-26-2022, 05:47 AM

You won't sheer the bolt. Turn the steering wheel to gain better access to the bolts, get a long breaker bar and go to town. Don't use an impact gun, that is hard on bolts. Yep, the manual specs high temp high strength threadlocker. Permatex 27200 or Loctite 272.

And no heat is needed for the high temp stuff. I've never needed heat for the typical sized bolt on vehicles.

BanOne · 09-26-2022, 06:46 AM

I had the same question and chose to go with the blue loctite and the torque plus angle. Red loctite seemed to be massive overkill and it was very difficult to get them off the first time.

Vtor_ZL1 · 09-26-2022, 09:03 AM

Medium is fine for nothing else than to prevent steel bolt from reacting with aluminum caliper.

DaveC113 · 09-26-2022, 10:33 AM

I went with nothing and have been checking them. Not loosening at all after a couple track days and autox races, but next time I remove them I'll probably use blue.

MatthewAMEL · 09-26-2022, 11:40 AM

You want these if you are going to DIY your rotors...

https://screamingchicken.com/2016-22...caliper-bolts/

Alpha1BC · 09-26-2022, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MatthewAMEL

You want these if you are going to DIY your rotors...

https://screamingchicken.com/2016-22...caliper-bolts/

For what purpose?

As for OP's question, I'm also one to err on the side of caution. Maybe won't be an issue going without or using blue as others have posted, but I've been using the GM (ACDelco) red and haven't had an issue. Can get them off with an impact no problem.

carguy55 · 09-26-2022, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MatthewAMEL

You want these if you are going to DIY your rotors...
https://screamingchicken.com/2016-22...caliper-bolts/

Not needed. OEM can be reused, just clean and use blue. Torque to spec

MatthewAMEL · 09-26-2022, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carguy55

Not needed. OEM can be reused, just clean and use blue. Torque to spec

Can you do that once? Sure. Would I risk doing that multiple times with TTY hardware on something as important as brakes?

For those that like certainty, was just giving an option for hardware you can reuse with no concern.

cdrptrks · 09-27-2022, 12:51 AM

The shop manual tells you to reuse them with red thread locker. They are torque + angle which is different than TTY. The shop manual clearly says to discard and replace other TTY bolts.

I put a dab of red thread locker on a few threads rather than 2/3 of the bolt like the shop manual recommends if I remember correctly. I marked them after torquing and they haven't loosened yet after about 10 months and quite a few track days at different tracks.

cdb95z28 · 09-27-2022, 06:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdrptrks

The shop manual tells you to reuse them with red thread locker. They are torque + angle which is different than TTY. The shop manual clearly says to discard and replace other TTY bolts.

I put a dab of red thread locker on a few threads rather than 2/3 of the bolt like the shop manual recommends if I remember correctly. I marked them after torquing and they haven't loosened yet after about 10 months and quite a few track days at different tracks.

I do the same.

The caliper bolts are not TTY, they are torque to angle.

BRAKE CALIPER FRONT J6H.pdf

BRAKE SYSTEM FASTENER TORQUES.pdf

N Camarolina · 09-27-2022, 11:14 PM

Thanks everyone for your thoughts. I decided to go with the red 272, albeit sparingly given the warnings that a little goes a long way.

Just reinstalled the calipers. Torquing to 111 was no prob, but adding the extra angle was really difficult to generate enough torque given the awkward angle. I probably managed about 10 degrees.

09-25-2022, 08:30 PM	#1
N Camarolina Drives: 2021 2SS 1LE Join Date: Aug 2020 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 805	Putting front calipers back on - Loctite or NO? Hey guys. I need advice from those that track their 1LEs and ZL1s and do their own front rotor replacement: I know the shop manual says to clean the front brake caliper/bolt threads and use red loctite 272. But the amount of torque I had to apply to break them loose (didn't want to use heat since the upper bolts are so close to the mag-ride sensor wires/connectors) made me worry about risk of shearing off the bolt heads should I reapply new loctite 272. I'm contemplating not reinstalling with loctite and seeing if they stay put with the torque + angle alone. Has anyone who tracks their car reinstalled the calipers without the red-loctite and if so, did the bolts eventually come loose with track use? Any point in using blue loctite (caliper temps on track will exceed the blue loctite temp rating?)?

09-26-2022, 05:47 AM	#4
cdb95z28 Drives: 2022 1SS 1LE A10 BCD WCT+PDR Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Johnstown, PA Posts: 3,206	You won't sheer the bolt. Turn the steering wheel to gain better access to the bolts, get a long breaker bar and go to town. Don't use an impact gun, that is hard on bolts. Yep, the manual specs high temp high strength threadlocker. Permatex 27200 or Loctite 272. And no heat is needed for the high temp stuff. I've never needed heat for the typical sized bolt on vehicles. __________________ 2022 1SS 1LE A10 BCD WCT+PDR2014 1SS 1LE NPP RECARO SIM-SOLD1995 Z28 M6 GSC PGM-SOLD1975 NOVA COUPE 300HP 350 TH350 FLASH RED-SOLD

09-26-2022, 06:46 AM	#5
BanOne Drives: 1977 Pontiac Trans Am Join Date: Oct 2019 Location: Florida Posts: 210	Loctite I had the same question and chose to go with the blue loctite and the torque plus angle. Red loctite seemed to be massive overkill and it was very difficult to get them off the first time.

09-26-2022, 09:03 AM	#6
Vtor_ZL1 Who Needs to KNOW? Drives: 18 ZLE Join Date: May 2018 Location: Left Side of the Moon Posts: 1,771	Medium is fine for nothing else than to prevent steel bolt from reacting with aluminum caliper. __________________ ing for grip. Are you in the NY/NJ/PA/CT region? Join us for autox fun at MetLife Stadium. HUGE lots, tons of runs. http://www.motorsportsne.com/

09-26-2022, 10:33 AM	#7
DaveC113 Drives: 2018 Camaro 1SS 1LE Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: Front Range, CO Posts: 1,868	I went with nothing and have been checking them. Not loosening at all after a couple track days and autox races, but next time I remove them I'll probably use blue. __________________

09-25-2022, 08:50 PM	#2
5.M0NSTER Drives: 2018 Camaro 1SS 1LE Join Date: Jun 2021 Location: Michigan Posts: 434	I would not risk it. Just a little red goes a long way.

09-26-2022, 11:40 AM	#8
MatthewAMEL Drives: 2023 CT5 Blackwing Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Orlando Posts: 1,618	You want these if you are going to DIY your rotors... https://screamingchicken.com/2016-22...caliper-bolts/ __________________ 2017 HBM SS 1LE Sold 2023 Wave Metallic CT5-V Blackwing M6

09-27-2022, 12:51 AM	#12
cdrptrks Drives: 2017 Blue Camaro 1SS 1LE with PDR Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 962	The shop manual tells you to reuse them with red thread locker. They are torque + angle which is different than TTY. The shop manual clearly says to discard and replace other TTY bolts. I put a dab of red thread locker on a few threads rather than 2/3 of the bolt like the shop manual recommends if I remember correctly. I marked them after torquing and they haven't loosened yet after about 10 months and quite a few track days at different tracks.

09-27-2022, 11:14 PM	#14
N Camarolina Drives: 2021 2SS 1LE Join Date: Aug 2020 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 805	Thanks everyone for your thoughts. I decided to go with the red 272, albeit sparingly given the warnings that a little goes a long way. Just reinstalled the calipers. Torquing to 111 was no prob, but adding the extra angle was really difficult to generate enough torque given the awkward angle. I probably managed about 10 degrees.

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