How do you remove the 2 long pins from the front brake calipers that hold in the front brake pads.

Hi, Can anyone suggest a way to remove the 2 long pins that hold the front brake pads in the calipers? They have been in the calipers for 6 years since my truck was new. They were so rusted I gave up and took my truck to a shop to have the front brakes done. I tried PB penetrating oil then a punch then tried twisting the pin with vise grips. Nothing would budge them. Do you have to break them then drill them out or is there a better way that I just do not know about.

Thanks for any feedback.

 

I would use a torch in conjunction with PB Blaster and a hammer to induce shock to the pins. If that didn't work, I would replace the ass'y. Did the shop get them out?

 

I have an appointment for this coming Tuesday. I told the tech. at the shop about this and all he said was that you have to ruin them to get them out but nothing specific other than that. I was actually thinking about just replacing the calipers as well but figured I could save money just replacing the pins. The pins are also available to purchase so there must be a way to remove them I guess.

Thanks.

 

It sounds like the current condition of calipers calls for maybe replacing them? I would..

 

Can you please take a picture of that mess ?

 

this^^^^^^

 

Unable to take a picture because I was so ticked off I just put it all back together.

 

I wouldn't give up brother, It could just be a matter of wire brushing the area around the pins and then spraying some lubricant on and letting it sit for a little bit.
Also, assuming you removed the paper clip type thingys ( i forget what there called ) those pins have a head on them so will only go in and out in one direction. Hope that helps.

 

Here you go, bro
https://youtu.be/PIXCTNW-KTc

Go to about 3 minutes in.
And yeah, sometimes you have to replace the pins. Just buy them yourself and bring them to the mechanic.

Are you bringing the pads and such, or is your mech supplying them?

 

I did pretty much what he did in the video. Mine were 5 years old. Came out in about a couple of minutes. I did rub them with fine emory cloth before re-installing. Do you have a pin punch?

 

Thanks Twinky! I am bringing the mechanic the pads and rotors also since I had already bought the parts. If I would have had more time to spend on working on my truck I would have tried longer on the pin removal. Thanks again for the video man!

 

I myself can NOT get this damn pin off. Anyone know of any tricks to get these pins out? I tried twisting it with vise grips and tried punching it out also but it wouldn't budge at all.

 

Torch. Can't seize if it's liquid.

 

I tried the torch. Not sure if it got hot enough but it will not budge. I also tried the air hammer and that thing didn’t do anything either.I just sprayed some PB Blaster. Gonna let it soak and try again tmrw. I’m down to 1/16 left on the pads so I hope it’ll hold for a few more days until I get this damn pin off.

 

You need a blunt nose punch the same diameter as the pin then use a BF hammer and drive them out. If it starts to mushroom, cut the pin flush and drive the out. Once they start to move, you win.

When you reinstalled the new pins coat them with a thin layer of silicone grease and service the pins yearly if your in the rust belt.

 

I believe the pins are a wear item and are suggested to replace when replacing brakes. Now if they come out ok, clean, lube and reinstall.

Best of luck, been in that predicament before and it sucks. Penetrating oil, careful heat application and maybe a BFG. No not the tire, the Big Fucking Hammer

 

Shouldn't that be BFH?

 

Correct sir, possibly a little deep in the whiskey, and football at the moment. I stand corrected.

 

Couldn't meme better myself

 

I drill them. Start off with a smaller bit and then go up to slightly larger than the pin.

 

Not sure I would go with a larger bit than the pin. Otherwise the new pins will be loose in the holes. Or maybe up north the rust will fill that space in, I’m not familiar with the Nordic ways.

 

The South Main Auto, he's a good tech. The way he is doing it is exactly the way I've done it. I've done hundreds of these pins during my career and I think I was only defeated once and we live in the rust belt. You shouldn't uses torches on a brake caliper. The four piston caliper is made in two pieces and you could possibly damage the seals and/or destroy the piston seals and end up with a leak. Drilling is not the best option because you could accidentally remove material from the caliper if your off a center. In a last effort you could try drilling a smaller hole down the pin to weaken it and try hamering it out.

 

Worked on my 08 a couple weeks ago. Pins didn't play nice. I ended up cutting what I could with the Dremel, then drilling the ends with a smaller bit until I could punch them out with a punch and hammer.

 

The sides of the pads rub against inside the caliper. The pins only purpose is to hold them from falling out. I wouldn't drill a 1/2" hole for a 1/4" pin but going 1/32" of an inch over isn't going to hurt. It allows for a nice coat of anti-seize to be placed on the pins. I suspect that in the south you don't have to worry as much about corrosion. Of course a lot of the rusty trucks from the north find their way down to used car dealers down there. Lately I've just been buying loaded calipers on-line. You have to deal with bleeding the system but you only have to get the two main bolts out. As long as you put anti-seize on the threads they come out pretty easy the next time around.

When you have a 2 post lift in your garage you have lots of friends.

 

Do you mean drill a small hole right under the pin to kind of make the pin hole a little bigger to slide the pin out?

 

No, cut the end of the pin flush, center punch and drill straight down the pin. It will help weaken the pin. This would be a very last resort before caliper replacement.

 

Here’s what I ended up doing. I cut off the head like you guys said and looked at it thinking… drill or whack it from here? Because it was on the outside with nothing but room to whack that pin with a punch and heavy hammer instead of drilling. I whacked it like no tomorrow and it came out! Thanks everyone for helping me out