I did a search for a repair/mantinace section and found none. Are the caliper retaining bolts a one time use being they are a torque to yield ?

 

Not sure if theyre one time use or not but I can tell you - ive reused them more than once on several different vehicles.
If youre changing the rotors - you will encounter RED LOC-TITE on the Caliper hanger bracket....youll need to heat the bolt to soften the loc-tite.

I would suggest reinstalling the hanger bracket bolts with Red Loc-tite (or replacing those bolts)....I have done rotors w/out re-applying the loc-tite w/out issue...but I also have seen the caliper hanger bolt back out when loc-tite was not applied.

 

I assume that you’re referring to the caliper bracket bolts. If they are TTY, this would be the first in this application that I’ve heard of. If you were asking about the caliper slider bolts, they are definitely not TTY.

 

i don't believe any part of the breaking system is a one time use bolt as a head bolt would be.

 

I have always reused caliper bolts and never had one break, even 30 years later on some vehicles.

 

not until my '20 Expedition have I ever encountered loc-tite (red no less) on caliper hanger brackets....
I actually have seen this now TWICE....and I've even seen them back out (when loc-tite was not applied).

 

I have seen that, but not needed heat to remove. I have also not seen them back out. I have seen hub bolts back out though when not using loc-tite to reuse the bolt.

 

Thanks for all of the reply’s. Myself being in the automotive repair industry since the late 60s I have never encountered this.

 

According to Alldata, the front and rear caliper bracket bolts are supposed to be discarded any time they are removed. The rear caliper bolts are also supposed to be discarded any time they are removed, but the front caliper bolts appear to be reusable.

Front caliper bolts - 27 lb.ft (36 Nm)
Front caliper bracket bolts - 184 lb.ft (250 Nm)
Rear caliper bolts - 24 lb.ft (32 Nm)
Rear caliper bracket bolts - M16 Bolt: 181 lb.ft (245 Nm), M18 Bolt: 258 lb.ft (350 Nm)

One time use hardware for suspension and braking components is very common on modern vehicles. That being said, a large portion of these bolts can be safely reused if they are cleaned, inspected, and have new thread-locker applied before installation when required.

 

Note that the red locking compound used as OE by Ford is NOT "Lock-Tite Red" and does NOT have the same characteristics.

You'll find that replacement OE bolts have the OE red locking compound pre-applied; you cannot do that with Lock-Tite brand, it must be applied 'fresh at time of bolt installation' lest it 'sets up' due to exposure to air and loses its effectiveness. Totally different chemistries and physical properties are involved.

Ther are a few, very few, Ford Service Procedures which specify the application of liquid locking compound.

Ditto in the genuine Ford / Motorcraft Service Procedures (which is Alldata's source).

The Ford Service Procedures consistently call for disposal (aka 'single use') of all fasteners using:

• factory-applied / pre-applied locking compound
• nylon-inserts for self-locking
• distorted threads for self-locking

And there are many of those used throughout our Gen 14 F150's

I'm just stating what's in the Ford Service Procedures FYI; none of this to argue against the use of liquid locking compounds in lieu of following the Ford Procedures - that's a matter of personal choice / judgment I'm not commenting on.