I can't get them out.

Luckily I have about 5 thousand miles left on my front pads. But I have tried everything and I can not remove the brembo pad pins. I've change brembos in the past so I know how the pins go in and out. But these are complete seized up.

Does anyone have any suggestions other than the usual of heating them up, spraying with blaster, using brute force.... Ive tried everything I can think of.

And if I do get them out, will the calipers still be ok to use with new pins or will the holes be destroyed?

Rich

2010 HHR SS 5 speed with Performance Package 98,000 miles

 

The guys on youtube use a drift/punch and a small hammer.

 

I had the same problem a few months ago.

The drift punch didn't work and just peened over the ends. It also started buckling the pin where it was exposed between the caliper sides.

I cut them just inside the caliper on both sides with a cutoff wheel. After that, the only parts left were the short pieces inside each side of the caliper. Now, using a drift punch, you are only driving out one stuck side instead of both at once. This worked well.

Steve

 

Also, to answer your second question, the calipers will be Ok as long as you don't hit the sides of the hole in the caliper with the drift punch.

The caliper is aluminum, so don't deform the hole or the hole bore.

If you mess up the caliper and need a new one, you will find out how much new Brembo calipers co$$t!

Steve

 

Did you do this with the caliper on the car or did you remove it to work with it on a workbench?

Also what is the recommendation for the new pins? Any special anti-seize?

 

I did it with the caliper on the car. I turned the wheel so the caliper was facing out for better access.

After cutting out the part of the pins between the caliper sides, I was able to pull out the old pads (and spring clip) for better access to what was left of the pins. I think I actually pushed one of the pins out from the inside because it was easier to move it in that direction.

I didn't put anti-seize on the new pins because I was afraid they might back out easier. There isn't anything holding the pins in place except for friction.

Steve

 

Thanks Steve for your step by step. I will give it a try and post if this works. I'm not in a rush because I have enough on the pads to get to next spring.
As for no anti-seize on the pins, what should we do to avoid this in the future other than just occasionally backing out the pins and resetting them every couple of months.

Rich

 

I would think a dab of brake grease would be better than anti seize.

 

actively (but not excessively) tap with a small hammer or large wrench on the guides and on the body of the caliper,
at the same time use brake fluid (or WD40 or whatever you usually use) to lubricate as the guys suggest.
From a knock, unscrewing is easier - I don’t know what’s the matter, but it’s easier. This is how we did it in gold mining, when you need to change the drill bit, but the pnevmohammers jammed. You hit it a couple of times with a sledgehammer, and the axlebox-nut unscrews without problems.