Using anti-seize on caliper mounting bolts.

I use a torque wrench just to make sure everything is tight enough. I do know what you mean by the feel you get by hand, but when you do it for a living it is better to be safe than sorry. That is why they make torque wrenches.

 

If you need a torque wrench to make sure everything is tight enough then keep using one. Whatever works for you. I dont have a problem with fasteners coming loose. When it comes to brake caliper bolts as long as your not damaging to the fastener or threads from overtightening, and the bolts are not coming loose, tight is tight. No need to overthink it..

 

On my own stuff I don't need a torque wrench, but when there is liability, at work, I use one every time.

 

Liability is only an issue if your bolts back out. Mine don't. If I had waves of cars coming back with loose shit that would be different. I dont work at a big name dealer, I work at a relatively small indy shop. if I have a comeback, it ends up right back in front of me. Nobody else deals with it

 

Using one at work when you are working on a customers car is a must. You cannot guess on someone else's car. Unless you want problems. It is what I do. Doing it as a pro is full of liability and if you guess wrong it could cost someone their life.

 

How am I putting someone's life in danger if my bolts aren't getting loose while they're driving down the road? It's not guessing, reread post number 22

After you've been riding a bicycle for a while you get to the point where you don't need training wheels

 

I honestly torque now for the sound, I have so much floating in my head while doing mundane brake work that I need the click to remind me I checked them.

I'm the guy that re tightens every bolt if someone interrupts my pattern, I used to make fun of guys that torque every bolt but I changed over the years, possible concentration issues.

 

I did not comment on how you do a job, I just said that when I work on someone else's vehicle I use a torque wrench. It is very hard to hit a target torque by feel. I even torque lug nuts. Some people 5 years ago would say I was nuts. If you don't feel the need for a torque wrench more power to you.

 

Nothing wrong with that, if you got a system that works stick with it

 

When you're torquing a gasket that you need to be careful with, like a head gasket or intake manifold absolutely use the torque wrench. That is an example of "target" torque.

When you're doing a brake job all you need to do is hold the caliper to the knuckle, it's not like there is a special gasket in between there that you need to be careful with. Like I said, as long as you're not damaging the bolt, threads or components, tight is tight.

Don't get me wrong I own several torque wrenches and I use them all the time when the situation calls for it. It's not like I'm breaking bolts all the time LOL

 

Every bolt on a vehicle has a specific torque spec that it should be tightened to. I have been working on cars for 40 some odd years. Back in the day no one used a torque wrench except for head gaskets or intake gaskets. I work at a small garage and every car that comes back comes right back to me. Needless to say using a torque wrench ensures that most cars won't be coming back. My return rate is almost non existent. Like I said you can do what you want but I will take the time to look up the torque spec and use my torque wrench. I hope you have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. God Bless.

 

I feel better now that you've given me the permission to do what I want!

I never said you couldn't use the method that works best for you! You're the one that felt the need to explain to me what torque wrenches are for

No need to argue about who's the safest! Lots of techs on these forums. Merry Christmas..

 

I would never try to tell you how to fix a vehicle. Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. God Bless you and your family.

 

Nothing wrong with double checking your work.

 

My general torque spec is to tighten till it snaps, then back off half a turn.....

Have a Happy Holiday all!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Thanks for all the tips guys, I like hearing from some pros. I don’t wrench anymore, to old, work to much. I have a trusted mechanic, the guys great. The nice thing is he’s much younger than me, he’s going to be around awhile. Y’all have a Merry Christmas.

 

Agreed that anti-seize behaves differently. However, anything with lube qualities, including water (and spit) affects the clamping force. I think is it safest to go with the wet specs when putting anything with lube qualities on bolts/nuts. Somewhere I remember reading a breakdown of different lube qualities of different products.

 

What do you recommend using between the brake shoes and back plate for the rears?

 

It depends, if offroading and seeing water I use none, but for daily drivers I use just light dabs of anti sieze to help prevent noise. Only on the 6 backing plate points, anymore and I've found that it can bleed onto the drum.

The better adjusted the rear parking brake the less it moves and less it requires anti friction to stop noise.

 

Is that equivalent to using a humidifier and a dehumidifier at the same time? This is actually a serious question because some bolts come pre loaded with lock tight on them and I always say F it and load it up with antisieze.