Astra Brake Caliper Guide Bolt Removal

Can anyone help!
I'm trying to change the front brake pads on my sons 1995 Astra 1.4i LS
and have only got as far as trying to remove the caliper guide bolts on
the first wheel - they just won't move.
First I tried a simple 7mm Allen Key, then got a special brake key (7mm
Allen Key with handle) and finally a 7mm Hex socket bit, all to no
avail. I'm now afraid of damaging the bolts by applying too much force
and don't fancy using penetrating oil near the brakes.
Has anyone come across this problem before?
What is the solution?

Thanks

David

 

put the hex socket alone into the bolt & wack it with a hammer !
it's just rust & crap holding it

use the oil and tissue underneath it to stop run if that dont work.
if you are worried just clean the important bits with meths afterwards


mike

 

Dont make my mistake (spent 20 mins hitting allen key in wrong
direction !) Got it off in the end using a pipe extension on the key
and hitting again.
Col.

 

Thanks to you both for the advice - I've tried these but no movement
except for hex bit turning in bolt and rounding both bolt's female hex
- now I'm kn**kered!

Anyone tell me how to get them out now? - I realise I will have to
replace them with new bolts - trip to VX dlr Monday.

In the meantime, I've managed to replace the other wheel's pads with no
problems.

 

Try an impact driver with slightly over sized bit.

Mike

 

Do you need to take the calipers off to replace the pads??

 

Yes....according to "Mr Haynes" and I can't see any otherway of
removing the pads.

Anyhow, thanks to everyone for their suggestions - I've now managed to
remove the Caliper Guide Bolts and the thread in the Caliper bracket is
still in tact!

I ended up removing the caliper bracket to get the caliper off the car
so that I could attack the bolts with more venom - no joy with the
impact driver, hex too mangled by now. Then I drilled out the centre of
the bolts at the thread end and wacked them off with a hammer leaving
only the threaded ends in the bracket. Lots of careful filing and
manipulating later and the final bit of bolt metal was out of the
thread in the caliper bracket. Checked the replacement bolts (£11.45
+VAT each!!!!) and they screwed in smoothly. Just need to put back
together and replace the pads now. In the mean time I did the other
wheel's pads without any problems.

Thanks again everyone.

David.

 

Probably right then

It used to be that you could just hammer out the pad retaining pins,
remove the pads then replace but that was probably a long time ago.