Started to put everything back together today and was following the manual regarding torque specs on the caliper bolts. The book specifies 133 lbs/ft for the rears, and I assumed the specs were the same for the bolts on the Baer front calipers. Wrong, one snapped on me well before hitting 133 lbs/ft of torque. Luckily, very luckily for me, the snapped-off portion in the caliper bolt hole was easily removed with my fingers; no drilling required. Whew!!
So, the next stop is the Chevy parts counter for four more bolts for the rears, and it looks like a machine shop will probably be the best bet for the bolts on the fronts. The rears have a shoulder to them, that's why I am going to the dealer for those, but the bolts for the fronts have me exasperated.
Here's where I mentioned in another thread, where someone was complaining about Ecklers, that I might be voicing my displeasure with some respected Corvette names we all know.
I had the Baer "Track" system front brake upgrade performed by Dick Guldstrand's shop in Culver City, CA. I also had them order and install new slotted rotors on the rear, but in the stock size; I just wanted the front and rear appearances to match.
Today when I snapped that bolt, we started looking closely at it and discovered that it was modified, possibly cut with a hacksaw, to the desired length. The threads weren't even cleaned up after the cut had taken place! Not only that, but there were two from one bolt manufacturer on one side and two with no manufacturer's marking on the other. They both had a numeral
10.9 though, so evidently they were they same grade.
My problem is the fact that the instructions that accompanied the Baer system makes mention of using the
supplied bolts and red Loctite! What happened to the bolts in the kit? And why did Guldstrand use
inferior caliper attachment fasteners!!
I had heard stories in the past about shoddy work coming out of that shop but I have always chosen to ignore it; who really knows the circumstances in a story that gets handed down word-of-mouth. But now after this...
This is just my latest in a series of discoveries regarding services not being up to par when it comes to the money being spent. The combination sadness/anger you feel when the reputation you pay so dearly to have your car associated with lets you down is disheartening to say the least. Is there no one we can trust anymore? Are we really relegated to the old adage of "If you want something done right, do it yourself!" People just don't care anymore once they get the money in their hands. Adios sucka!
Oh, by the way, the bolts were available, and the earliest he said he could get them would be Tuesday. Geez! You can't even by a lug nut for that matter; they didn't have those for me either.
Damn, I just remembered that I forgot (remember to forget??) to take pictures of my header repair. The guy, Doug Holmberg, did a hell of a job! Not only that but it was done the same day and cost me less than half of what I was prepared to pay.
Now I just have to recoat it before we reinstall the engine.
I did get the lug nuts from an auto supply house, but I can't put the wheels back on until I get those caliper bolts. Maybe Harbor Chevrolet will have them tomorrow when I go to my monthly meeting. Gotta find 'em somewhere; I'd hate to waste Monday too on this same job!
_ken
Oh yeah, the rotors are mounted backwards here; I'm a moron too!
ad
come springtime you gotta post some pictures. 
