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Bob Lincoln
Dodge Dakota
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6/11/2007
08:22:48
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 Subject: Allen size for caliper guide pins?
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Message:
Just went to do the front brakes on my truck for the first time since I've owned it, and found that the caliper guide pins have an Allen head, not a hex bolt. I tried a 6mm wrench, and it seems to fit the bottom pin, but is loose in the top. Since I was told that Midas did the only front brake job on this truck, and some of the lug nuts are not original, I'm worried that they screwed up something. Is it a 7mm Allen bit for these? Are top and bottom the same size?
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GB2000
GenIII
6/11/2007
14:49:44
| RE: Allen size for caliper guide pins?
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Message:
I thought Allen head and hex are the exact same thing?
I can't remember what size I used when I did my brakes recently...I'll try to check it out for ya when I go to work in a couple hours. Oh, after re-reading your post, it should be the same size for both top and bottom and it [obviously] should fit snugly in both.
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Shoe
GenIII
6/11/2007
17:59:13
| RE: Allen size for caliper guide pins?
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Message:
It is a 7mm Allen and I really cannot remember the Hex head. The bolt is actually a Hex head.
'97 RC V6, 5spd, soon to be V8, 5spd!
Maybe not a 5-speed, but an automatic will work.
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GB2000
GenIII
6/11/2007
21:27:33
| RE: Allen size for caliper guide pins?
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Message:
Can somebody explain the difference between Allen heads and hex heads for me?
One of my dad's sets says:
Allen Hex Wrenches
...so I was under the impression they were identical. Kinda like terms ratchet and socket wrench.
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Shoe
GenIII
6/11/2007
21:30:06
| RE: Allen size for caliper guide pins?
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Message:
Allen heads are 5-sided. Where as Hex heads are I think 8-sided. I know that they have more sides.
'97 RC V6, 5spd, soon to be V8, 5spd!
Maybe not a 5-speed, but an automatic will work.
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daddio
Dodge Dakota
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6/11/2007
21:37:54
| RE: Allen size for caliper guide pins?
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Hex Head, Hexagon= 6 sides. you know 6 point and 12 point sockets.
Allen, actually Socket Allen 5 sided
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GB2000
GenIII
6/11/2007
21:46:06
| RE: Allen size for caliper guide pins?
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ooooh, gotcha...thanks for clearing that up for me.
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N56629
Dodge Dakota
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6/11/2007
21:48:51
| RE: Allen size for caliper guide pins?
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Message:
They are both six sided. Allens are often refered to as socket head. In other words it takes a sixed allen wrench which fits "inside" of the bolt. A regular hex headed bolt takes a wrench or socket that fits on the "outside" of the bolt.
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daddio
Dodge Dakota
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6/11/2007
22:18:45
| RE: Allen size for caliper guide pins?
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thank you N56629. i stand corrected.
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GB2000
GenIII
6/12/2007
05:05:54
| RE: Allen size for caliper guide pins?
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OOOOOH...now I see...
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Dan M
Dodge Dakota
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6/12/2007
06:48:44
| RE: Allen size for caliper guide pins?
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Message:
When I did the front brakes on my old 95, They were torx, star, whatever they call those things these days. I picked up a socket set from harbor freight and worked like a charm.
I replaced the pins and the ones I got from advance were an allen head.
But yes, the top and bottom were differnet sizes.
- Dan M
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crow318
Dodge Dakota
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6/12/2007
08:22:08
| RE: Allen size for caliper guide pins?
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Message:
Looks like people cleared up the questions about the difference in types of fasteners, but it doesn't look like you got an answer for your other question.
The stock pin uses a 7 mm allen wrench, top and bottom. I replaced my calipers last weekend and for some reason the pins in one were 7 mm, and the pins in the other were 7/32. I was gonna go back to the parts store and try to get the same size, but I was lazy. So if someone replaced 1 pin, they could have a different size hex in them.
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Bob Lincoln
Dodge Dakota
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6/12/2007
08:43:39
| RE: Allen size for caliper guide pins?
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Message:
"They are both six sided. Allens are often refered to as socket head. In other words it takes a sixed allen wrench which fits "inside" of the bolt. A regular hex headed bolt takes a wrench or socket that fits on the "outside" of the bolt."
Exactly what I meant, thanks. All my cars have taken regular 6-pt sockets for the pins. This is the oddball.
Thanks, crow318. I'm going to buy a caliper kit and get new pins. Hope Midas didn't cross-thread them, which I've heard is common.
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N56629
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
6/12/2007
13:27:18
| RE: Allen size for caliper guide pins?
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Message:
I suppose it's possible that the threads were stripped and the bolt replaced. I've had caliper bolts in all three configuration. But not on the same vehicle. :-)
It's been a year since I've done mine and don't remember what they are. Sorry.
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crow318
Dodge Dakota
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6/13/2007
09:00:37
| RE: Allen size for caliper guide pins?
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Message:
On 2 of the 4 hole, the threades came out of the upright as I removed the pis. I had to use some helicoils. I would not be suprised if you will need to also. The material that the upright is made from is very soft, and there is not alot of thread.
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N56629
Dodge Dakota
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6/13/2007
10:09:16
| RE: Allen size for caliper guide pins?
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I always use something like Penetrant PB Blaster before even attempting to remove any bolts. Spray everything liberally the day before you plan on doing a job and even a second time if you think things are going to be difficult to remove. This will go a long way in preventing threads from being torn or stripped.
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Addertooth
Dodge Dakota
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2/24/2018
17:46:28
| RE: Allen size for caliper guide pins?
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Message:
PB blaster is amazing stuff; just understand that it may not be friendly to the rubber boot around the caliper piston. I just got done doing this job 15 minutes ago. It is definitely a 7mm allen/hex tool to unscrew the caliper guide pins. Be sure to have a flat plate and a C-Clamp handy to compress the caliper piston before you replace the pads.
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