Gabedamien

Hello,

I am fixing up my dad's 1984 Peugeot.

I'd like to take the rear brake off, mostly to clean it up but also to make sure it CAN come off (in case I ever upgrade the brakes). The front popped off easily, but the rear seems practically glued in place. I've gone so far as to take a hammer to the exposed brake bolt, to no avail.

It seems that it's become rusted into the frame, which is both surprising (because the front bolt had a lot of clearance, and it doesn't thread onto the frame but passes straight through) and concerning.





Does anyone have any tricks, tips, or advice for this situation? I could just leave it on there (assuming it can still be centered) and clean it in-situ, but I'd rather know that it's as it should be.

Thanks,
—G.

TiBikeGuy

since you already removed the nut holding the brakes, just use a small hammer to tap it out. Once it is out, sand off the corrosion on the stem of the bolt.

Gabedamien

I've used a BIG hammer... and as much force as I can manage without accidentally bashing the seat stays. Sadly it hasn't budged yet.

cny-bikeman

Most likely the bolt was badly stressed at some point and that caused a problem in the hole it's passing through. You are correct that it normally will slip right out. You should never hammer directly on a threaded end if you intend to use it again. A block of hardwood hard plastic or plastic-faced hammer should be used instead. Centering that caliper normally requires a specific tool (or a very small socket) but can't be done very well if that bolt does not rotate - you'd have to bend the springs, which is a pain.

If you really want it off, find something to place on the end of the bolt that will not damage it when struck but that will transmit force well and give it a really good whack. That is the only method I can think of that does not involve outright destroying the caliper.

coldwaves

Maybe you can put a few drop of chain lube or WD40 or whatever that penetrate easily to see if that helps loosen things up.

Andrew R Stewart 

It shouldn't be too hard to remove the brake per the above suggestions. But if the OP still can't remove it then work around it. Just remove the arms from the front side of the center bolt. Clean these up and lube before reassembling. A good adjustment to balance the arms' movement and not have any slop between them. Also once the arms and spring are off the center bolt the OP has a new capicity to try to remove it from the brake bridge. Andy.

Gabedamien

Thanks for everyone's suggestions. I used a block of wood as a buffer and did my best Thor impression and it finally started budging. A dozen slams later, it finally came off.

—G.

arangov3

personally whenever I get a bolt head snapped off and have the rest of the bolt exposed like that I use the same method used to up bolt a head stud.

as seen in the video i've linked


and if I still have trouble I bring out heat if it isn't in aluminum


other then that I'd cut and the tap a new hole normally never gets this far because I'll just scrap it since it will drive me mad lol