Brake related questions as I install wheel lights.

[Dmat]

This will probably be an ongoing thread so i'll likely keep posting as I go. I'm installing wheel ring lights which requires removing all the brake components without replacing them.

Question 1. On the front brakes, Just removing the 2 15mm hex bolts allowed me to remove the entire caliper assembly effortlessly. Is that that suppose to happen.

Question 2. Based on the above, Why do the slide pins need to removed? I'm guessing they holds the caliper pieces together as well as the inner brake pad in place as it didnt easily come out but I didnt try to remove it either.

Note. I didnt have hooks to put the calipers on but a normal sized paint can is the perfect height to support the caliper without putting stress on the brake hose. My truck was only raised enough off the ground to get the wheels off on jack stands.

as to the wheel lights. on the front wheels, the brake shroud isnt flat. Since its just a thin piece of metal. I tried removing it since its only 3 bolts and figuring out mounting holes that way but it didnt really work. I need to mount it from the backside due to how its made. I'll probably try to swap driver and passenger shroud around and see if its easier to figure out as the side I need to mount on will be facing me. I'll put them back after I template the drill holes.

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[Dmat]

A little update. tore everything apart and skipped to painting the calipers due to time constraints.

hoping I didnt get too much paint in the wrong places. It needs a good 24 hours to cure. The amount of rust on everything feels a tad crazy.

Was nice to see that each brake pad has an obvious to way to determine inner and outer.

one of the 13mm bolts on the rear end about put a stop to the whole project. It destroyed 2 13mm sockets and a 1/4" ratchet.

Question 3: whats the point of the silicon grease for the alignment pins? maybe there is enough residual grease inside that it doesnt matter much but they went back into the holes without issue.

ng due to time constraints.

 

[Dmat]

Almost finished today. 1 wheel left to put back together. Had to uninstall the wheel light from the brackets to reinstall the brakes.

Ended up having the to use the brake compression tool on the ebrake. Both turned clockwise to retract so it wasnt the worse. probably should take a picture of the tool for the thread. also tested the wheel lights to make sure nothing broke during installation.

one accident did happen. mis read the torque for the brake shield bolt as 80 lb/ft instead of lb/in. sheered one bolt. the shield is still in place with just 2 of the 3 bolts so ill revisit it later.

Another though. dont buy your silicon grease from advanced auto. The stuff was orange in color. I coated surfaces but once together, wiped off anything visible.

 

[Montana]

Bruh this truck is gonna end up on "Just rolled in".

There are threads with all this info, and service manuals too.

Before you destroy more tools, browse. Especially for torque specs.

And exactly what kind of paint is that?

 

[Dmat]

Bruh this truck is gonna end up on "Just rolled in".

One day lol.

 

[Dmat]

Bruh this truck is gonna end up on "Just rolled in".

There are threads with all this info, and service manuals too.

Before you destroy more tools, browse. Especially for torque specs.

And exactly what kind of paint is that?

I do have a service manual. While I can follow instructions, I like to also understand why it's being done that way.

I do have the torque specs, I just misread one as previously stated. The tools that broke were all old hand me downs I got over a decade ago. Probably all cheap metals.

As to the paint. It's a color matched kit from G2

 

[Montana]

I do have a service manual. While I can follow instructions, I like to also understand why it's being done that way.

I do have the torque specs, I just misread one as previously stated. The tools that broke were all old hand me downs I got over a decade ago. Probably all cheap metals.

As to the paint. It's a color matched kit from G2

I was worried seeing that can of vinyl (probably) paint and your breaking tools comment. Hit up Harbor Freight for the correct tools before you tackle them next time and good luck with your accessorizing

 

[Dmat]

I was worried seeing that can of vinyl (probably) paint and your breaking tools comment. Hit up Harbor Freight for the correct tools before you tackle them next time and good luck with your accessorizing

I didnt think to get any caliper hooks previously and honestly wasnt finding them in stock anywhere local. the paint can just ended up being tall enough to set the caliper on without stressing the brake hose.

The only tool I had to buy was a new jack. The trolly jack is good for 1 wheel at a time as the truck pivots the wheel slightly higher. when doing all 4. I had to put a paver under it to get it tall enough. Now I have a proper jack which I had planned to buy but hadnt got around to.

Everything is in and brakes are working without issue. Forgot to take picture of the front wheels but here are some progress pictures.

Still have some wiring to figure out. Everything is in the engine bay so its just making some extensions and hooking it all up. I'm not sure where I want to mount the controller for the lights as there isnt much room or places to mount stuff in the first place.

 

[Dmat]

Went and took some pictures

 

[CurtisB]

I hope the end result is worth the effort!

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