Infectious Off-Road.com

Hmm.... heard a clunk as I was driving down the road.... decided to lightly press the brakes and whoa.... NONE!

Luckily I was on a nice straight stretch of road with no cars around me so I could safely coast to a stop (note: e-brake seems worthless as a safety device at 60mph?). Pulled over.... looked it over... and called AAA for a tow home (note: coolest tow truck driver ever... he greated me with a handshake (like a buddy would) and then proceeded to talk Jeep with me (not a Jeep owner, but a car enthusiast). This guy was an immigrant from Mexico, been here seven years, and was more articulate and intelligent than 95% of people I come across... this is the kind of immigrant we need! Maybe we should have entrance prerequisites as they do in other countries?).

But.... I digress.

What kind of pain might I be looking at here?

[attachment=0]opps.jpg[/attachment]

I am in luck! Along without killing anyone, nor myself.... Randy has a donor caliper for me. I haven't yet got it apart, but it looks shot.... along with the backing plate, rotor, hoses, wheel sensor, and ??? (maybe a wheel?) Costly!! But Randy's hook up will go a long way in reducing that cost.

Seems, since I drove about 15+ miles before it happened, that I did have the bolts in (don't recall seeing them after working, nor can I find them in my shop), that I likely didn't torque the bolts down (not likely... I know I used the brad arm torque method). So.... torque that shit down.... this was probably what occurred here.

And yes.... if that is the reason, I am a dumb ass motherfucker (DAM)! I really wanted to be a Motherfucker Abendx (MA), as I am jealous of Motherfucker Dog (MD).

Who's good with brakes locally, that wouldn't mind me filling them with good beer and lunch, that could sit with me while I work and insure I do it all correctly? You don't have to do any work (unless I need an extra set of hands), I'll do it all while you supervise, as it's been a LONG time since I have played with brakes and I'll need some assurance. :beer:

I can do brakes but, what happened did the caliper just give out?? All Im seeing in the picture is fluid. I have never seen that happen.

[quote="chuckanut105"]what happened did the caliper just give out?? [/quote]

Torque.... Read above. (this is a guess)

And cool.... I'll let you know when I have the parts in hand.

Ok just seams weird

[quote="chuckanut105"]Ok just seams weird [/quote]

Agreed... but Randy and Brett both seemed to think it was possible. Randy was the one that keyed me into that being a possibility... after we figured I drove almost 20 miles before the issue came about, it was pretty clear that it was okay when I left and something occurred from there. It seems not right to me either, but nothing else makes any sense.

Randy was telling me something about this being a big problem with aircraft and why he double, triple checks his torques. In the air, doing what he does up there (competition acrobatics), every bit must be perfect or the failure will be fatal. He took me up in his plane once... it was bad ass!!! I am not sure *anything* I experienced in the military was as exciting. Pulling 6.5Gs is nuts!

Back on topic... I'll be seeing Randy tomorrow and will source the remainder of parts by early next week. When are you free?

This is actually really common with all vehicles if the caliper bolts are not torqued right. A kid I went to high school with sustained major injuries in a car accident because the students working on his Camaro in auto-shop did not torque the calipers properly. His parents sued for lots of money.

I see a regular Axle shaft with a U-joint on that wheel (not your RCV). That must mean that "someone" must have recently took those components off and put them back on.

I found loose calipers one time (after a local shop did some work), but they did chatter a little so that can be an indicator to stop and check things out. Other than the Banjo fitting for the brake line and the ABS screw, I tighten the bolts down hard with a torque wrench.

Remember that only one bolt has to back out for this to happen; a bolt backs out, you apply brakes, caliper spins, takes out other components/breaks line, causing other bolt to break. This would damage the rotor, backing plate, and wheel.

Also, over torquing can cause breakage too; weakening the bolt to where the stress of the brakes being applied while going fast could cause failure.

Glad you are still alive and the Jeep will be back in action soon. I destroyed a caliper on the Rubicon trail last year. The stealership charged me $65 for a new one (and I believe a new rotor costs about the same) so it shouldn't be that expensive.

well brad you know i love you but i did some math on the old calculator and looks like you can't be a smart ass or talk shit for 1 week and 3.7 days from the looks of this stupid mistake on your part. looks like someone has a case of the Mondays

I'm just glad my little umpa is ok

sent from HTC evo iPhone killer.

@ Brad Ill talk to Sara and figure it out.