Hanging brake calipers ?

[David Paul]

I've used wire and bungee cords and just propped them up on the upper control arm but if I'm tearing down the whole spindle or trying to make room to work I stole a good idea from srmofo on here and use a large Vise grip welding panel clamp. I open it up, hook one end on the spring or hook it to the frame and hang the caliper from the other end. Quick and easy. I already had the clamps and I keep them handy.

Damn that is a great idea......

 

[logical]

I've been using the same few pieces of scrap romex (10-2 works best) electrical wire for years although I don't wrench for a living. It wipes off easy if you want to, it can be just bent into a hook, looped and twisted like a bread bag tie, or just folded and hooked on about anything. I have a few 2 foot and a few 4 foot lengths that are just stuffed in my drawer of other "brake job" only tools.

 

[SantaAna12]

I use heavy-duty reusable zip ties. They're some fancy $1/ea things from ULINE that are rated for like 250lb.

Link please.

 

[devoncoolman]

As a pro i use bungie cords most of the time. If im just replacing pads most of the time just flip the caliper up. Or hang the caliper from the spring. Rear calipers on trucks just lay on the leaf spring.

 

[AffableCurmudgeon]

I use wire clothes hangers.

 

[bcradio]

I tack weld it to the coil spring and grind it off when I'm done

 

[devoncoolman]

I tack weld it to the coil spring and grind it off when I'm done

Man why didn't i think of that! I use wire cloths hangers at times as well.

 

[bigbearcraig]

I use a piece of insulated #12 copper wire.

 

[Toulson]

Another vote for HD zip ties

 

[Cope]

I have a couple of pieces of 1/8" gas welding rod cut and bent to hold the caliper.

 

[sberry]

Welding rods.

 

[BirdMobile]

Zip ties. Mainly because you can "cinch" them tighter to adjust caliper position if needed.
I've used bungie cords before, I don't like them as much... but if I was doing this all the time I'd probably use them just for the speed of setup factor.

 

[spoon671]

I guess it all depends on the car. Personally I do have a bent up wire hanger in my toolbox that I reuse for multiple things. I dropped a washer last weekend in my engine bay somewhere and used the hanger to fish it out.

For my calipers, I'm able to flip them up and hang them on an upper control arm. Or flip them up onto the rotor or spindle.

 

[bwringer]

Big zip tie.

Everything else seems to find a way to work loose at a most inconvenient time.

 

[kerrynzl]

I tack weld it to the coil spring and grind it off when I'm done

I'll try that next instead of letting them hang off the brake hoses

 

[jimindm]

I bought these bench top benders at a swap meet several years ago. I have picked up a few campaign signs and rob the wire from them. I suppose any box store has a rod that you could use, but a sign rod works and are plentiful at certain times of the year.

There are several different dies that come with it. When you can bend your own, you will find all kinds of uses for it. Not just for jhanging calipers.

http://www.bacindustries.com/product2-bending-forming-tools-rod.php

 

[Askme42]

I just cut the hangers the wife's dry cleaning comes back on.

 

[Farmall450]

Zip ties here too.

 

[619DioFan]

I have a pair of short bungees that are dedicated for hanging calipers. have used pieces of coat hanger wire before but prefer the bungees.

 

[SKAutomotive]

I'm a pro, I use these:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/5-USA-Made-...609?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3394faf451

 

[theoldwizard1]

Bent coat hanger (although I like that big S hook !)

 

[monomach]

Link please.

Wouldn't know where to get one. I bought a handful out of a paper catalog about five years ago and have been using them ever since.

 

[DodgeMech]

flower pot holders from the dollar store, hardware store, etc...i have 3(lost one under one of the lifts) and they work damned good...even hold 1 ton front calipers w/o bending, and them fuckers are heavy

 

[SantaAna12]

Thanks Mono.

It catches my eye when reusable, robust, and affordable comes up in the same sentence when talking about tyraps.

 

[wild cowboy]

for all of the folks who said to just lay them on the rotor, knuckle, etc. - that works great until you accidentally knock the balanced caliper off its perch when something unexpected happens, and you just ruined a brake hose!

 

[Fireball027]

for all of the folks who said to just lay them on the rotor, knuckle, etc. - that works great until you accidentally knock the balanced caliper off its perch when something unexpected happens, and you just ruined a brake hose!

Ruined is a harsh word, we consider it upselling.


I mainly use shorter bungee cords, and I also have some 6" and 8" steel s hooks depending on the caliper.

 

[dnschmidt]

Heavy tie wrap. Zip them up and cut them down.

 

[jc5205]

I'm going to get some hooks,

 

[Shadowdog500]

for all of the folks who said to just lay them on the rotor, knuckle, etc. - that works great until you accidentally knock the balanced caliper off its perch when something unexpected happens, and you just ruined a brake hose!

You mean like this?

Start at 1:00.

Scotty uses invisible hooks just like his invisible jackstands!

Chris

 

[jc5205]

Lol.... The next episode
How to replace a brake line

 

[MagnumForce]

I let them hang with their full weight on the brake line... that's ok...right?

 

[Greyhorse]

I third or fourth the baling wire. Baling wire and duct tape are for holding things together; wd40, hammers, and torches are for getting things apart.

Of course I have a square baler that uses wire so I have a nearly unlimited supply of slightly used baling wire.

 

[rtole]

Cut up pieces of coat hanger in the tool box. I bend them as needed for the job.

This
I take a clothes hanger and twist it up.......then I cut them to size. I have 3 sizes right now that I have 2 of each. That has covered most vehicles for the last few years. Not pretty, but the hangers are the ones are uniform company give us. They are free and they work.

 

[rtole]

The twisting gives them more rigidity.

 

[Denwad]

I let them hang with their full weight on the brake line... that's ok...right?

i have seen a few techs do this when i worked as a parts guy at a dealership

 

[Mastermind]

I was using a lot of zip ties, then ran across a pile of exhaust hangers in the shop, they are about 1/4 inch diameter steel, already bent at one end, I viced and beat the other end into a hook as well. Not ever gonna bend, and will hold any caliper. I hang them on the lid of my cart and my coat hangs on them when they are not in use.

 

[Wrench 2201]

I used all sorts of things from wire, hangers, bungees,you name it. Then I made some s-hooks out of leftover brake lines from a line replacement job. Then have held up for years

 

[dwright406]

I'm a pro.
I reuse the wire that holds new struts in their compressed state. They are made out of good heavy wire and are hooked at the ends already.

 

[cajunfirehawk]

Bent coat hanger or since I own so many different sizes I just find the best size bungee cord

 

[Snap_cap]

Big S hook.