What is the trick to easily remove the front calipers?
I Can't get the bottom bolt out unless I use an open end wrench with difficulty. Haynes manual is completely wrong.
What am I doing wrong?

 

There is very little room to work in there.

I use my thinnest combination box/open end wrench. Start with the box end, it gives a much better grip on the bolt head. Slip it between the head of the bolt and the steering linkage (thicker wrenches won't fit). Then securely wedge a large flat screw driver between the wrench and steering linkage. This will prevent the wrench from slipping off the bolt head when you put some torque on it.

You may be able to break the bolt loose by hand, but they're usually pretty tight, so I take a hammer and give the wrench handle a few taps (counterclockwise) to get it loose. Now, before you take the bolt out any farther, be sure to remove the box end and replace it with the open end. If you don't do this you will trap the box end on the bolt as it's backed off, then have to thread it back in and start over with the open end (seems like I forget this last step every time).

 

Thanks Ray.
That's pretty much what I did for my wheel bearings last summer & it was a huge pain. Was thinking there is no way I'm doing this right .
Changed my oil yesterday after a long winter & figured I'd throw new pads on it didn't really need.

 

I find an offset head wrench is the best way to get that lower caliper bracket bolt out. They come in handy for lots of other jobs too, well worth the investment.


Also, this is a tech question, moving to correct section.

 

Find a Cornwell Tools dealer. A Cornwell 14mm/15mm off set box end wrench fits perfectly. Spendy but it is money you spend once.

Once you get the rotor off take a grinder and remove some of the material on the flange around the bolt. It will make future work easier.

 

It is very simple. Loosen the 14mm strut to LCA bolt, remove the other 14, this will allow you to turn the entire strut out to gain accesz to the lowe caliper bracket bolt

 

Brilliant!

timely Thread - new pads going in this weekend...

Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska

 

Thanks gentlemen.