Any ideas on what to do? I stripped the head of the lower caliper bolt. It's one of those 3/8" hex head bolts. Not enough sticking out for the vice grips to get it.

Grab it in the middle with vise grips.

Try A Torx Bit

Shawn. You should be able to compress the piston with a pry bar between the pad and the rotor. Then you should be able to slide the caliber in enough to grab the outside of the head.

Yeah, you should be able to stick a pry bar or screwdriver through the "window" in the caliper and pull. Make sure both caliper pins are in when you do this. That will compress the piston and when you push the caliper in, it will expose more of the pin.

Or, it might be time to fire up the welder and tack a bolt to the pin so you have something to put a wrench on.

Yeah that is definitely the ideal way to do it, welding a nut on the end and be done with it, if only I had a welder. I've been messing with it for two hours now, I think I'll just replace the left caliper and have a shop do with the right side. I just can't get it!

If you have a small cutoff wheel you may be able to cut a slot in the end and use a flat screw driver to get it out. I have some screw drivers that have a hex portion on the shaft so you can get a small wrench on them to give you the needed torque. I have used this method on many bolts with stripped heads. I'm not sure if there is enough room on the caliper bolts for the cutoff wheel but have a look.

Bob

I'd tack weld a nut to the end and use a real wrench.....

I managed to get it out, I grinded the end of it just enough to hammer a socket on it and out it came. Thanks for the tips I tried a good number of them.

I have a new problem though, in trying to remove the rubber hose, the metal line fitting broke off. I heard I can rent a flaring kit at Autozone, right? Just when I think I'm making progress!!

Make darn sure that you get a PRO- flair kit b/c a cheap one WON'T cut it!!

Been there, had to beg for a good one that I used standing in front of the Parts Guy that was good enough to let me use his!!

Do a search over on Team Camaro and even here in the archives b/c I posted ALL of this to help everybody out several years back!!

pdq67

Your better off running a new line from the junction to the brake hose and replace the entire line. Trying to flair a new end can be a real pain on the car itself.

Your better off running a new line from the junction to the brake hose and replace the entire line. Trying to flair a new end can be a real pain on the car itself.

I agree. Those lines are like $4-5 at any car parts store, and it's quicker, easier and better to replace it. Trying to re-flare an old, buggered up line on the car is a pita, and it might also be too deteriorated to put a good flare on (there is probably a reason why it broke in the first place). You have also broke a piece off it, and cutting it clean and flaring it will make it even shorter, so it might not even reach the bracket when all that is said and done. Don't waste your time, just replace it.

Yep, you got it, the line doesn't reach anyway. I'm just going to replace them both, both sides snapped off.