Well I just got out of the garage and wresting around with my brakes on my 2004 XK8. As I put the car on stands so I could remove the wheels for refinishing and new PS2's I thought I would do the brakes. I got akebono pads and a nice set of Eurospare rotors for the front. Got the back pads on no problem. thanx to the help DIY resource here on the forum. But I can't get the front Caliper mount bolts to break free on the front so I can get my new Rotors on. I've only got to the passenger side and have left the front drivers side alone. I even broke a socket converter pin from my big wench to a smaller square. Someone tell me that this can be done tried the 2 by four trick mentioned on the DIY. My backs killing me I'm so compulsive I don't want to quit. but I have and here I am on the forum. thanks

 

Put some WD40 or penatrating oil and let it sit over night, that should loosen them up. Give your back a rest!

I ended up using a 24" 1/2 drive breaker bar to get them started. Mechanical advantage is your friend.

 

My XJ6 has a frozen bolt that I dosed for a week with no success, even with impact wrench. I will just be patient and keep trying every week or so.

 

Definitely use penetrating oil overnight. I had to slip a 3' pipe over an 18" breaker bar for leverage..

You may need to invest in a couple of professional top quality tools here, like a Snap-On or MACTools socket and converter....they will not break under the strain like the store-bought stuff. They can be purchased online.

 

I used a Craftman wrench and a 4 pound hammer to remove mine on both my '01 front ends. Took about 3 hrs to do both sides total.

 

Me too......homemade impact wrench. Leaned on wrench extension while hitting wrench head with 4lb hammer. Loosens up after a while. Also look into recent post about penetrating oils. Liquid wrench very good as is a mix of tranny fluid and acetone. Really like those akebono pads, have them on all my cars. No dust. Be sure to lubricate the guides with moly grease and use an anti-squeal compound on the surface that contacts the piston.





(Click for a larger image) Reduce that annoying brake squeal with Noise Free. Noise Free helps to dampen the vibrations that cause brake squeal.

 

Gt the passenger side done. Got a beaker bar and soaked them with CLP. Now getting those springs back on right.
Thanks for the help guys

 

50/50 mix of ATF & Acetone. Spay on and let set over night. They'll come loose.

 

Good goin'..................Let us know if you like akebono pads.

 

+1

how to make mechanical advantage a close pal ...

... lift car on hydraulic jack, arrange 24 inch breaker bar and socket on fastener at the correct angles with breaker bar end touching the ground ... release hydraulic jack slowly while staying out of the path of flying tools

 

Well got them done with the clips back on and painted black calipers. Thanks for the help the breaker bar and penetrating fluid did it. Now to change the oil, convert the top to manual latch with the parts from Dennis and get my wheels back from B auto where I took them to be redone and have my PS2's mounted and clean her up for a season of top down mostly fun. I love this board.

 

Yup same deal with my XKR. Sprayed with Aerocroil, hammered used breaker bar--No Luck. Then pulled out the 650 lb-ft impact driver, 15 seconds later the bolts were in my hand. Saw video's of techs using 4 ft long breaker bars trying to get the bolts out.

 

Well the jobs all done. Had er out and about no squeals and she stops as well as ever with the akebono's. So heres what I did. Removed wheels and had them refinished and replaced P zeros with PS2's. replaced brakes and the front rotors. Painted rotors and calipers. Changed oil. Now I'm
ready for summer after alignment which will happen thursday. Heres some pics!

 

Looks great! Another akebono convert too...well done.