WTF...not again

Had similar issue before with rear brake piston. Then I just got ****ed of and took a grinder to them, and bought new metric bolts that fitted. So yo the problem.. 04 freelander face lift. Td4 2.0. Manual. Front brake calipers seem to be seasing. Front drivers gets very hot compared to passanger side after a long drive. No problem, done this before on numerous cars. But the bolt holding the carrier brackets/ sliders isn't 11mm. Wont fit, and 12 mm is clearly to big/loose...anyone know the answer.. don't fancy grinding them.. and is this a common issue with landrover freelander..??

Alex1000 said:

But the bolt holding the carrier brackets/ sliders isn't 11mm. Wont fit, and 12 mm is clearly to bog/loose...anyone know the answer.. don't fancy grinding them.. and is this a common issue with landrover freelander..?

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Presumably your talking about the 2 bolts that secure the caliper piston clam shell to the slides in the bracket?
They are actually 12mm spanner size, but as they rust you'll need to use a 6 point socket, not a 12 point as they will slip.

But the 12mm spanner is clearly to big. Very loose...11 just a bit on the small side.. I'll try a 12 mm socket tomorrow.. Maybe that will be a better fit..only 6 sided I have.

Alex1000 said:

But the 12mm spanner is clearly to big. Very loose...11 just a bit on the small side.. I'll try a 12 mm socket tomorrow.. Maybe that will be a better fit..only 6 sided I have.

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It's definitely supposed to be 12mm, I've done hundreds of vehicles with these calipers.

thanks, 12mm hex socket did the trick. Land rovers cleary rust in a special way. Got the slider bolts off. The 2 sliders are not just rusted. The Landrover pixies have been in with there mirco MIG welder. These have not moved in a long time, and have no intention of coming off. 4 Lb hammer persuasion, tried a spanner to spin them, small chissel and 4lb hammer.....not a mm of movement



And yes, I see the broken gator clip and grease everywhere. that's job 2, if I don't burn the damn thing first.

So plan was to go pick up a 2nd hand caliper, and use the nice new sliders I bought,


Sooooo shiney. And happy days?

Oh hell no. The 2 bolts, holding the calipers in place, are also in the landrover union, and if the sliders aren't moving, neither are they. So I start with a spanner. No movement, work up to a ratchet and hex socket, no movement (No upper body strength probably). Out come old faithful, never fails, breaker bar and socket. (dont fail me now), Upper bolt breaks ranks and capitulates, Its out. Lower one is a fully paid up union member and fecking rounds the heads. Now nothing will fit. But Grinder is calling...

Problem I have , and any tips appreciated, even if I grind the head of the lower bolt, the shaft of the bolt will still stop the caliper comming off. I will have to take the Brake Disks off as well. Any tips on doing this. Please consider the situation and environment. Back yard, jacked up and on axel stand, full range of tools (i think) but I dont want to have to grind and then drill the bolt out.....Grind of head, okay, lying under to drill out a bolt.....its my day off.....

Thanks in advance.

Alex1000 said:

thanks, 12mm hex socket did the trick. Land rovers cleary rust in a special way. Got the slider bolts off. The 2 sliders are not just rusted. The Landrover pixies have been in with there mirco MIG welder. These have not moved in a long time, and have no intention of coming off. 4 Lb hammer persuasion, tried a spanner to spin them, small chissel and 4lb hammer.....not a mm of movement

View attachment 288602

And yes, I see the broken gator clip and grease everywhere. that's job 2, if I don't burn the damn thing first.

So plan was to go pick up a 2nd hand caliper, and use the nice new sliders I bought,
View attachment 288603

Sooooo shiney. And happy days?

Oh hell no. The 2 bolts, holding the calipers in place, are also in the landrover union, and if the sliders aren't moving, neither are they. So I start with a spanner. No movement, work up to a ratchet and hex socket, no movement (No upper body strength probably). Out come old faithful, never fails, breaker bar and socket. (dont fail me now), Upper bolt breaks ranks and capitulates, Its out. Lower one is a fully paid up union member and fecking rounds the heads. Now nothing will fit. But Grinder is calling...

Problem I have , and any tips appreciated, even if I grind the head of the lower bolt, the shaft of the bolt will still stop the caliper comming off. I will have to take the Brake Disks off as well. Any tips on doing this. Please consider the situation and environment. Back yard, jacked up and on axel stand, full range of tools (i think) but I dont want to have to grind and then drill the bolt out.....Grind of head, okay, lying under to drill out a bolt.....its my day off.....

Thanks in advance.

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If you're talking about the caliper bracket to hub bolts, then no, grinding the head off won't help, but will actually make things worse.

As you have 1 bolt out, you have the opportunity to use the caliper bracket as a lever. You can get a pry bar or stout screwdriver under the bracket and lever against the rotor, tapping the bracket will also help break the bond. If you can get the bracket moving in relation to the hub, then you will be in a better situation to free off the stuck bolt. It might not work, but it just might.

These are good when the head has failed.

I have those, but a lot of work. Ground the head off, then took the 2 screws out of the brake disk (They seemed non union, came out no effort). With head of bolt ground off, eased the dust shield out of the way, and slipped disk and caliper of as one unit. took a bit of hammering and wiggling, but worked. Picked up a 2nd hand caliper at local breakers (they have a couple of Freelanders that I have been butchering for the last year). Slider working perfectly on that one. Removed them and cleaned out the slots. Surprising amount of tissue paper in them, stuck at the bottom. Is that a thing?

Greased up with silicon grease supplied with new sliders, and fitted new slider bolts, Rubber sleeves. All back together and ready for a test drive later.

I didnt fit the rubber sleeve that goes on the smaller slider. It seemed very tight fit in the caliper, even when greased. I know its to stop the caliper rattling when braking, but I will monitor that. Can fit it later if I need.


Also greased the CV joint and refitted the rubber gator (Only had a large Cable tie, but that should work.

Again, will monitor.

Alex1000 said:

I have those, but a lot of work.

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Just find the right size and wack on the rounded head and unscrew. Didn't seem a lot of work to me ! If they work that is !