Hey guys, I have a rounded off adjuster on one of my rear brake calipers on my miata, I was wondering if there was any local machine/fabrication shops who could give me a hand with removing it - the piece that rounded off costs about 6 bucks, and a new caliper costs around 100, so it’s obvious which route I would rather choose.
How is the hex adjuster removed? Obviously it doesn’t screw in or out because those are gear teeth on the end of it, not threads.
Did you strip it because you were using an SAE size wrench and it’s metric (or vise versa), or is it so stuck that even with the perfectly fitting wrench it stripped?
It is just slid in, and can slide out, as far as I’m aware. That was what was suggested to me on a miata website where I was getting advice for the problem - it was stripped by a previous owner, I would assume, I found out it was stripped when replacing the pads and rotors with redconquesttsi on friday.
“There’s nothing holding the adjuster in, it’s just a case of getting it out. Sometimes it’s easy (it often comes out when I remove the allen tool) but other times it’s a little more stubborn.”
If the hex head is already rounded I’d try to find a screw with some sharp threads (drywall screw or lag bolt comes to mind), cut the tip off so it’s square, and try to get it to catch enough on the hole that the hex wrench went into that you can yank it out.
Another option would be a drill bit. Pick a good sharp bit slightly larger than the hex hole, put it in a pair of vice grips and try hand turning it so it starts to get a good bite. Then give a good quick yank and hopefully the bite on the adjuster is enough that it pops out.
An easy out would be even better. I don’t normally suggest using them because once you break one of those harder than any known drill bit fuckers off in a hole you’re really screwed, but in this case you’re not really applying a twisting force, just enough to get it to bite the hex adjuster and then pull it out.
PS… all this is assuming the hex adjuster is recessed in where you can’t get a hold of it with vise grips or needle nose vise grips.
try soaking it in pb blaster? any kind of heat- propane/acetylene/etc? I wouldnt think it would be stuck in there too bad if it’s just supposed to pull right out…
Find yourself the torx that is slightly larger than the hex hole. Pound it in there with a hammer. Remove and profit. Had to do this on the valley cover bolts for the 30th. Very common practice as most hex bits suck ass. I recommend Snap-on hex bits, they tend to twist before stripping out a hole.