For the second time in less than a week I've lost the lower bolt to the front passenger caliper bracket. The latest happening just after exiting the highway and the tire locked up with the caliper against the wheel. That leaves me a little bit unsettled since it could have happened at a much higher speed. I have a couple questions for any of you. Should I use Loctite on those bolts (if yes what strength)? Ford wants $35+ for a kit. I've checked with O'Reillys, Autozone, Napa, and Advanced Auto Parts and they don't sell those bolts and the guy at O'Reillys told me to go to the hardware store and buy a hardened bolt to replace the missing one with. That is what I did and that came out too. I am absolutely sure I got that one tight last Friday. Most people I've talked to haven't used Loctite but one has.

 

What did you torque the bolt down to when you put it in? This is the 18mm one, right? They get torqued to 136 lbs/ft. That's pretty tight and shouldn't have loosened up. Maybe it's time for a new torque wrench?

 

Yep. It's the big 18mm one. I wasn't able to use the torque wrench since I didn't have one handy and my Dad and I were doing it in a parking lot. Thanks for the info. Do you think I should get the bolts from Ford or would a hardened bolt from a hardware store be enough? Thanks again.

 

those should not have come lose. get some grade 8 bolts from the hardware store. loctite cant hurt either. torque them to spec and you should be good to go. recheck them in a few days judt to make sure. this is brakes so... no chances.

 

i had mine come out twice before, it always happened offroading from all the vibration for me. i have been using loctite (red kind) and it hasnt happened in two years

 

My Chilton says 148 ft. lb. for the 2004 front caliper bolts, almost the same as the 150 ft. lb. torque on the lug nuts.

 

Mine came out also, but it was because of the brake shop I used. I went to a local junk yard and found a bolt for mine. They didn't even charge for it.
Before one comes out, it should give you a warning in the form of rattling when hitting bumps in the road.
Mine did, but in my sometimes infinite stupidity I ignored it too long. Use the torque wrench, 140 lbs. is more than most people think.