Agent2006
08-04-2021, 09:58 AM
Hello,
Was getting a squeak-squeak-squeak taking a low speed right turn, varied with speed. We all know what that is = bad front wheel bearing. On Marauders, it is part of the hub assembly. MAJOR pain to get that out, due to corrosion, the hub is steel, the steering knuckle, or anchor is aluminum. So, mega-corrosion. A hub puller failed to budge, 2 days of liquid wrench, MAPP torch, finally had to remove the knuckle and beat the hub out with a 2 lb maul. so, new hub goes in, reinstall everything and installed the two 18 mm head caliper mounting bracket bolts. used a small amount of never seize. Tightened them good and tight. plenty tight.
Car drove fine for 300 miles, then ---bolts must have loosened, because the top bolt actually fell out caliper swung down, hose got kinked then damaged, then NO brake fluid in the front.
The Mercury 2003 workshop manual , 206-03-8 step 5 states : "Remove the bolts and anchor plate. Discard the bolts".
WTH? the bolts are 14 mm diameter steel, coarse thread, not torque to yield....I reused them.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01E6IP5JW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05 _s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Well, here's why. THERE'S LOCKTITE RED on the new bolts, instead of telling you that you need to use loctite. Never used it before on caliper anchors, but....those were always steel bolts into steel brackets and steel knuckles.
EXPANSION RATES ARE GREATER FOR ALUMINUM THAN FOR STEEL, SO THE HOLE GETS WAY BIGGER WHEN HOT, and the bolts becomes loose. no matter how much you cranked down to tighten it. word to the wise...
Was getting a squeak-squeak-squeak taking a low speed right turn, varied with speed. We all know what that is = bad front wheel bearing. On Marauders, it is part of the hub assembly. MAJOR pain to get that out, due to corrosion, the hub is steel, the steering knuckle, or anchor is aluminum. So, mega-corrosion. A hub puller failed to budge, 2 days of liquid wrench, MAPP torch, finally had to remove the knuckle and beat the hub out with a 2 lb maul. so, new hub goes in, reinstall everything and installed the two 18 mm head caliper mounting bracket bolts. used a small amount of never seize. Tightened them good and tight. plenty tight.
Car drove fine for 300 miles, then ---bolts must have loosened, because the top bolt actually fell out caliper swung down, hose got kinked then damaged, then NO brake fluid in the front.
The Mercury 2003 workshop manual , 206-03-8 step 5 states : "Remove the bolts and anchor plate. Discard the bolts".
WTH? the bolts are 14 mm diameter steel, coarse thread, not torque to yield....I reused them.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01E6IP5JW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05 _s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Well, here's why. THERE'S LOCKTITE RED on the new bolts, instead of telling you that you need to use loctite. Never used it before on caliper anchors, but....those were always steel bolts into steel brackets and steel knuckles.
EXPANSION RATES ARE GREATER FOR ALUMINUM THAN FOR STEEL, SO THE HOLE GETS WAY BIGGER WHEN HOT, and the bolts becomes loose. no matter how much you cranked down to tighten it. word to the wise...