Left Brake Caliber

[Red 97 Camry]

Hi Everyone,

I am trying to replace the left front brake caliber, I have noticed that the line that comes from the master cylinder and gets bolted to the caliber has a small knob (Toyota manual refers to it as a lock that should be be inserted to the whole on the caliber).

I am having a hard time getting this aligned, what ever I did to get this secured first like what the manual stated I am not able to, I can get the screw in without having the knob locks into the whole which means it will cause brake fluid leak. any ideas/tricks you guys have that can help me get over this hurdle will be most appreciated.
Thanks

[wtftoy]

You're talking about the brake hose that goes into the caliper? If you are, I had that problem before to where I would line it up perfectly but then it still leaked. Solved problem by buying another caliper.

If not...then NVM.

[Red 97 Camry]

This is the second caliber with the same issue.....I am not sure if I am doing it correctly or if the hose needs to be changed.

Do you normally try to attach the hose after you installed the caliber or before ?

[wtftoy]

Both way should work. If you insert it correctly, and bolt it up, it shouldn't leak at all BUT if it does, you should go return that caliper and buy another one.
BTW. Turn the steering wheel all the way to whichever side you're working on so you have more room to work.

[Stillrunning]

Originally Posted by Red 97 Camry

Do you normally try to attach the hose after you installed the caliber or before ?

No, because then you will twist the hose. Turn the hose end in while spinning the caliper until you get a fairly tight fit, bolt up the caliper and tighten the hose connection. Your problem might be you cross threaded the connection.

[Red 97 Camry]

I just had the caliber swaped for the 3rd time and now I am in the same sitution, for the life of me I can not get the screw to go in when eveything is lined up....for some odd reason it just does not want to catch the thread inside the caliber and the only way it will thread if the lock is not in place.....I am give up this eveing I will have a shot at it tomrrow morning.

I fear that I might need to replace the hose, but on the otherhand I do not see anything bent in the metal portion of it.

Of course it is leaking now like beofre because the knob on the hose is in not in the lock hole in the caliber.....if I can only get the screw to catch the thread inside the caliber when everything is lined up then it should not leak.

I will give it one more shot before I throw the towel on this project and suck it up and take it to a freaking mechanic.

[Kep]

Page BR-28 of the on-line manual says "
3. CONNECT FLEXIBLE HOSE
Install the flexible hose on the caliper with 2 new
gaskets.
Torque: 29 N–m (300 kgf–cm, 21 ft–lbf)
HINT: Install the flexible hose lock securely in the lock
hole in the caliper.

So there needs to be two gaskets and there is some sort of "lock hole" mechanism.

What about checking the other side to see how the tab that you're talking about is supposed to line up?

Kep

[Stillrunning]

Originally Posted by Red 97 Camry

....for some odd reason it just does not want to catch the thread inside the caliber ... I fear that I might need to replace the hose, but on the otherhand I do not see anything bent in the metal portion of it.

If you aren't the original owner maybe the last guy used a non-spec hose with the wrong thread. Round peg in square hole theory. I would buy a new hose and see if that works better.

[Red 97 Camry]

Thanks Everyone - I have the actual 1997 Service manuall at hand and yes the same details stated above are reflected as well.

Needless to say I ended up tapping the nob into the lock hole as it was bent for some reason ( 3 millimiter off), everything went well and very easy from there....no leaks so far and caliber is functioning properly.

Thanks once more to all who provided suggestions.