Lower side Caliper bracket bolt problems.
#1
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Lower side Caliper bracket bolt problems.
I'm trying to the the caliper bracket off so I can get the disc plate out, and to do this I need to remove the lower bolt. My problem is the knuckle arm that connects to the tie rod is right in the way of the bold head. Anybody know the 'right' way to handle this?
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Easiest way to get the knuckle out of the way, is to remove the two 17mm bolts that hold the knuckle/arm assembly to the bottom of the strut housing. Look under the control arm, behind the brake rotor.
#3
I have removed that lower bolt for the plate without removing the 17mm's in an emergency roadside situation. It just took alot of patients and knuckle skin.
But the correct and easiest way is to remove the 17mm lower strut bolts like RW said.
But the correct and easiest way is to remove the 17mm lower strut bolts like RW said.
#4
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An offset head wrench will allow you to get that bolt out without disconnecting the strut from the knuckle... Honestly I find removing the strut from the knuckle more trouble than its worth, unless the car is totally free of rust they are usually in there pretty good...
Last edited by 82transam; 11-04-08 at 10:54 AM.
#5
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An offset head wrench will allow you to get that bolt out without disconnecting the strut from the knuckle... Honestly I find removing the strut from the knuckle more trouble than its worth, unless the car is totally free of rust they are usually in there pretty good...
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#8
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So that lower bolt will actually clear with removing the strut bolts? I always thought it was too long, so I'd remove the one strut bolt and loosen the other, so I could pivot the unit.
Related question: does removing the lower strut bolts from the knuckle significantly disturb the alignment? I always played it safe and got re-aligned after messing with it, but alignments are serious money these days.
Related question: does removing the lower strut bolts from the knuckle significantly disturb the alignment? I always played it safe and got re-aligned after messing with it, but alignments are serious money these days.
#13
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So that lower bolt will actually clear with removing the strut bolts? I always thought it was too long, so I'd remove the one strut bolt and loosen the other, so I could pivot the unit.
Related question: does removing the lower strut bolts from the knuckle significantly disturb the alignment? I always played it safe and got re-aligned after messing with it, but alignments are serious money these days.
Related question: does removing the lower strut bolts from the knuckle significantly disturb the alignment? I always played it safe and got re-aligned after messing with it, but alignments are serious money these days.
It's a tight fit for sure, but yes it will come out without moving the strut assembly around, I've done it plenty of times, it works.
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It will come out without removing the lower strut bolts, but it's a bitch to get to it.
As for Mazda designing it this way, well, it wasn't a problem at the assembly plant. The rotors and mounting brackets were installed on the strut housings, before the struts were mounted in the car.
As for Mazda designing it this way, well, it wasn't a problem at the assembly plant. The rotors and mounting brackets were installed on the strut housings, before the struts were mounted in the car.
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It's also still in the first gen years, on a car that's goal was to be less than ordinary. So I can see how the engineers would think 'it was a good idea at the time' not thinking about what a pain in the *** it might be for someone 23 years later.
#19
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That decreases the structural integrity, the lip is there for a reason. Although it may not have any actual effect, it still wouldn't leave me with good feeling.
#22
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My father in law and I made our own set of offset wrenches from a set we bought at a garage sale. It was a lot cheaper than buying them, especially since we've only used them to remove the hubs on the 7 and the alternator on a Morgan +4. It definitely made the job easier but It's totally doable without them
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