Help Please: Caliper Bolt loose / damaged caliper base?

[retrospex]

Hey guys, not sure how to approach this, any help would be much appreciated. I have my Wildtrak in the shop right now getting perch collars installed. The shop messaged me the following:

Current modifications:
BFG KO2s 37"
Method 305: 17 x 8.5, 0 offset


The wheels and tires were installed two weeks ago. I picked up the vehicle less than two months ago, there are currently 745 miles on the vehicle. I am unsure how to proceed with this. I do have the bumper to bumper warranty. Thank you all for any input.

Edit: The driver front side is the area in question

(edit: removed duplicate image)

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[PWillette]

Certainly looks like a miss at the factory. Considering your mods I'm guessing your dealer is going to deny warranty but worth a shot. $170 fix isn't a bad hit, I'd probably just bite the bullet out of pocket.

 

[flip]

So who took the bolt out is the question. Option 1, the bolt was never installed correctly when it left the factory and the selling dealer didn't notice it. Option 2, wheel and tire installer took it out for whatever reason and didn't reinstall it correctly. Option 3, you did it and not fessing up (kidding).

Based on the amount of rust where the bolt shoulder should be, my guess would be option 1 or option 1.5 which the bolt was not completely backed out when the dealer did the PDI and did so over the course of you driving it.

Did they say if there was any factory loc-tite on the bolt? Either way, I'd have them throw a new bolt in the support and ask them to check torque on the others. Surprised the tire shop didn't see it when they did their thing.

 

[retrospex]

Certainly looks like a miss at the factory. Considering your mods I'm guessing your dealer is going to deny warranty but worth a shot. $170 fix isn't a bad hit, I'd probably just bite the bullet out of pocket.

I was considering this also, save myself from the down time.

*edit: I think $170 is just parts, I hope it's including everything.

 

[retrospex]

So who took the bolt out is the question. Option 1, the bolt was never installed correctly when it left the factory and the selling dealer didn't notice it. Option 2, wheel and tire installer took it out for whatever reason and didn't reinstall it correctly. Option 3, you did it and not fessing up (kidding).

Based on the amount of rust where the bolt shoulder should be, my guess would be option 1 or option 1.5 which the bolt was not completely backed out when the dealer did the PDI and did so over the course of you driving it.

Did they say if there was any factory loc-tite on the bolt? Either way, I'd have them throw a new bolt in the support and ask them to check torque on the others. Surprised the tire shop didn't see it when they did their thing.

Thank you very much for your input. The wheels and tires were installed at Discount Tire, and done right in front of me. They didn't touch any other bolts from what I saw unless something slipped my sight while I was staring at my new wheels.

I will ask the shop to throw a new bolt in there, hopefully it's something easily done. I will ask about the loc-tite. Do you think the "damaged caliper base" will allow a new bolt? Reaching out to them now.

 

[flip]

Thank you very much for your input. The wheels and tires were installed at Discount Tire, and done right in front of me. They didn't touch any other bolts from what I saw unless something slipped my sight while I was staring at my new wheels.

I will ask the shop to throw a new bolt in there, hopefully it's something easily done. I will ask about the loc-tite. Do you think the "damaged caliper base" will allow a new bolt? Reaching out to them now.

If a new bolt goes in and torques down, let 'er eat.

 

[Bikeric]

If I found something like that on my vehicle I would first try and torque the screws back down. Not my rig though.

 

[retrospex]

If a new bolt goes in and torques down, let 'er eat.

I received this in response:

"The problem is not the bolt, since when assembling the bolt they placed it on its side and inside the thread at the base of the caliper is damaged, that is why the screw does not fit anymore."

 

[retrospex]

If I found something like that on my vehicle I would first try and torque the screws back down. Not my rig though.

I hoped this would be possible, but from the last response it doesn't seem like it.

 

[flip]

I received this in response:

"The problem is not the bolt, since when assembling the bolt they placed it on its side and inside the thread at the base of the caliper is damaged, that is why the screw does not fit anymore."

What the hell does that even mean? If that's the case it was a factory defect and should be covered.

 

[Bikeric]

I hoped this would be possible, but from the last response it doesn't seem like it.

It sounds like your bolt threads might have been damaged, which is understandable.

 

[retrospex]

What the hell does that even mean? If that's the case it was a factory defect and should be covered.

Lol the guy responding is not fluent in English (this is common in Miami, I'm still getting used to it). I would hope this gets fixed under my warranty I paid for, just hope they don't give me any nonsense with my mods.

 

[flip]

The dealer doing the work, is it the same one you bought the bronco from?

 

[retrospex]

It sounds like your bolt threads might have been damaged, which is understandable.

Yeah he mentioned something about that, I just hope it's safe for me to drive for a few days until I get a service appointment. I do have a second vehicle I can use if it's bad bad.

 

[retrospex]

The dealer doing the work, is it the same one you bought the bronco from?

Unfortunately I am a good distance from that dealer, it would be a different one. I got it from Tampa, I'm currently in MIA.

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