Not a good day on the Gladiator today…

[Rockabillyroy]

That’s true. It could have been much worse. I could have ended up trying to hike fifteen miles out of the middle of a harsh desert to the nearest dwelling which is a ranch house right at the end of the trail. I guess I should count my blessings.

At any rate, I took it to the Big O Tire Store and they went over all the bolts tightening them down. Didn't necessarily tighten them to specs though as they don’t have a spec sheet. Just made sure everything was tight. They also did another alignment just to be on the safe side. It was just slightly off at the toe. It’s perfect now. They said I shouldn’t have any more problems.

The thing is, now I find myself distrustful of the truck. I’ve been a Toyota guy my whole life and never had that happen before. Friggin people are already starting to tease me about how I just got it and already it almost stranded me. They go on about how I was so proud of it but now I’m gonna learn about the whole “It’s a Jeep thing” And Just-Empty-Every-Pocket.

I hope it isn’t a sign of things to come.

grab a paint marker and go over your bolts. Makes it real quick and easy to do a visual inspection before and after you hit the trails to see if anything has loosened up.

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[Dryfly24]

Though ACE may not have the correct size for a jeep they DO SELL grade 8 hardware. No question about it.
My motorcycle has swingarm and shock bolts that are grade 8. I purchased them from ACE. They actually have bolts that will fit a brembo motorcycle caliper on a suzuki (should work on any bike using brembo monoblock motorcycle calipers.). I also purchased those at ACE.

through global homogenization, that same bolt and caliper are likely used on various vehicles. Probably could have got it from any dodge truck dealer too.

Yes, we have already established that Ace and several other places carry grade 8 bolts. Not sure why people are getting so wrapped up about this.

But the local dodge dealer didn’t have any either. At any rate, I now have a spare. And when I can find some I’ll pick up one or two more.

 

[Dryfly24]

grab a paint marker and go over your bolts. Makes it real quick and easy to do a visual inspection before and after you hit the trails to see if anything has loosened up.

Way ahead of you. Feeling a bit under the weather right now but that’s the plan for my next project.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Yes, weve already established that Ace and several other places carry grade 8 bolts. Not sure why people are getting so wrapped up about this.

But the local dodge dealer didn’t have any either. At any rate, I now have a spare. And when I can find some I’ll pick up one or two more.

As this was in all likelihood a metric bolt, and you would now know the correct size - maybe if you haven't, post that up so in case someone wants to put a spare in the console.....
Mxxxxx class 10.9 (even though everyone mentions grade 8, metric are hardened and marked with a class)
I might just check to see if I have that size in my assortment of bolts in my shop. I try to carry a little of everything.

 

[Dryfly24]

As this was in all likelihood a metric bolt, and you would now know the correct size - maybe if you haven't, post that up so in case someone wants to put a spare in the console.....
Mxxxxx class 10.9 (even though everyone mentions grade 8, metric are hardened and marked with a class)
I might just check to see if I have that size in my assortment of bolts in my shop. I try to carry a little of everything.

I would recommend everyone throw a couple spares in their truck. If you go back over this thread, you can see that I’m not the only one it’s happened to. Such a simple thing would really save save the day in the event of losing one. It’s also a super simple fix.

Another thing I would really keep in mind in the event that you did lose the lower one and had no spare, is to remove the top one and place it where the missing lower one is. At least that way you could travel forward and the caliper wouldn’t flip down, and smack into your wheel every time you hit the brakes. Just be mindful of it in the event that you have to back up.

Just going off memory, I’ll have to double check but it’s an M14 1.50 pitch fine thread. 23mm or 21mm head. Half inch diameter and 1 - 3/8” long?

JK uses the same bolt apparently.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I would recommend everyone throw a couple spares in their truck. If you go back over this thread, you can see that I’m not the only one it’s happened to. Such a simple thing would really save save the day in the event of losing one. It’s also a super simple fix.

Another thing I would really keep in mind in the event that you did lose the lower one and had no spare, is to remove the top one and place it where the missing lower one is. At least that way you could travel forward and the caliper wouldn’t flip down, and smack into your wheel every time you hit the brakes. Just be mindful of it in the event that you have to back up.

Just going off memory, I’ll have to double check but it’s an M14 1.50 pitch fine thread. 23mm head. Half inch diameter and 1 - 3/8” long.

JK uses the same bolt apparently.

For the on-lookers ->

M14 is 14 mm diameter.
1.5 is 1.5 mm between the peak of one thread to the peak of the next - the thread pitch.
SAE is measured in threads per inch, metric is peak to peak or valley to valley in mm.

Sounds like it's 35mm long so it would be M14 1.5 x 35mm

 

[suzuguy69]

Broke or lost a caliper bolt in the middle of nowhere desert while off-roading. I had to limp it all the way home. Luckily I was over the bad part of the trail and the remainder was just flat sand leading directly to the highway where I hardly had to use the brakes till I was basically right in front of the house.

I’ve been all over town in my daughter’s car looking for the bolt so I could put it in and get the truck to the dealership in the morning to have it checked out, but no one has it. Nearest place that has one is El Paso. Good news is that they can have one for me tomorrow by eight.

What do you guys think? If there’s anything more serious done would it be covered under warranty or no?
Gouged up the inside of my rim pretty good but I’m not concerned with that.

I have found those at Fastenal for my YJ and JK in the past. Now you just gave me a complex though so my anal dumbass is about to go crazy underneath the JT with a new paint stick marking all my bolts

 

[Nolan]

Looking for an online source since I live at the intersection of No and Where. Would someone take a peek to verify that this is the right bolt?

https://www.boltdepot.com/Product-Details.aspx?product=15261

 

[Dryfly24]

Looking for an online source since I live at the intersection of No and Where. Would someone take a peek to verify that this is the right bolt?

https://www.boltdepot.com/Product-Details.aspx?product=15261

That doesn’t look right. Just order it from Napa, Oreilly, or Auto Zone. Edited to add that I was told it’s the same bolt the JK uses so they can look it up that way if they can’t find it under the JT but now I’m not so sure.

https://www.autozone.com/brakes-and...FQ2K1t4zL7a8T7ExvxxoCKP8QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[Dryfly24]

Just found this one. It says it fits JL and JT. Which makes even more sense to me actually.

It’s really frustrating because they don’t list dimensions. The only place that gave me anything with dimensions on it was a guy at Oreilly Auto Parts. He printed it out for me. I don’t know what I did with it, that’s why I’m going on memory but if I find it I’ll post it.


https://www.quadratec.com/p/mopar/front-caliper-knuckle-bolt-jeep-jl-jt-06104258AA

 

[Nolan]

Just found this one. It says it fits JL and JT. Which makes even more sense to me actually.

It’s really frustrating because they don’t list dimensions. The only place that gave me anything with dimensions on it was a guy at Oreilly Auto Parts. He printed it out for me. I don’t know what I did with it, that’s why I’m going on memory but if I find it I’ll post it.


https://www.quadratec.com/p/mopar/front-caliper-knuckle-bolt-jeep-jl-jt-06104258AA

Thanks!

Ordered 2 to stick in the SHTF bag.

$20 of insurance to avoid a really long walk!

 

[Dryfly24]

Found it:

Thanks!

Ordered 2 to stick in the SHTF bag.

$20 of insurance to avoid a really long walk!

A little while ago I found a thread where a guy used a piece of whittled down wood to just get himself out of some rough stuff and back to civilization. I’ll admit the thought crossed my mind too but there wasn’t any wood available Where I was at.

 

[Dryfly24]

For the on-lookers ->

M14 is 14 mm diameter.
1.5 is 1.5 mm between the peak of one thread to the peak of the next - the thread pitch.
SAE is measured in threads per inch, metric is peak to peak or valley to valley in mm.

Sounds like it's 35mm long so it would be M14 1.5 x 35mm

Couldn’t find the print out so I went direct:

 

[RobbertCole]

Just a bolt - kidding, right?
- it had better be at least a class 10.9 (grade 8 SAE equal)
You don't go to the Ace hardware store or Menards and buy a bolt that fits on brake calipers.
Anyone putting "just a bolt" in my suspension, steering or brake calipers will be fired.
Even my old cars have grade 8 bolts in the calipers and caliper brackets.

I can go to Ace hardware and get grade 8 bolts in any size I want.

Sometimes I'm absolutely miffed at the forum users here compared to users on other car forums I've been on.

Not a dig at OP, but its literally just a bolt. Go get the correct size hardware (at the HARDWARE store) and replace it, brakes arent some new complex engineering marvel. It obviously shouldnt happen but its not that big of a deal either. That bolt size is INCREDIBLY common.

 

[redrider]

Some bolts are only partly threaded, Would that affect the application? Discuss.

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