striped bolt for brake caliper.

[like2drive]

stripped bolt attaching brake caliper.

As I was torqueing the new brake caliper today to my recently rebuilt trailing Arm assembly...(.I believe its actually on a spacer on the strut support.)..either I cross=threaded one of the bolts, or it was already messed up. Question: do I use a Heli-coil , or thread and tap one size larger. The bolt is actually a 7/16-20 thread which is a fine thread. I m thinking due to the heat, It may be better to go to a 1/2 inch instead of the Heli coil. Appreciate response.
Incidentially, this whole project has been a mess like this!

 

[berky2500]

If it were me and because it is the caliper bolt, I would drill and tap to the next size. Helicoils are strong and have their place, but sometimes I feel better with the supporting bolt directly to the mounting material. Also, in a place where you might see corrosion, you may end up with the Helicoil attaching itself to the bolt and backing out the next time you pull the caliper. You may have a point also about the heat, dissimilar metals, different rates of expansion etc. My opinion.

Keep saying to yourself, it's an old car, but it's a vette and I'm making it better. Repeat if necessary.

I rebuilt the rear suspension on a 73 recently and it fought me the whole time, sometimes I wanted to beat the car with a hammer (anywhere near it's head but I could never locate it:Silly). But once I finished the job, the car drove noticeably better and I felt better. Good luck, take your time, walk away if you have to.

 

[3TT3V]

I agree w/ Berky in that next size would be better than a heli coil. In addition to the reasons given; my experience with heli-coils is that they do not hold the torque like original threads......and on something that important......