Disc Brake Caliper Bolt (PartTerminologyID 1712): The Individual Fastener Version of the Bolt Kit
Written by Arthur Simitian | PartsAdvisory
The disc brake caliper bolt (PartTerminologyID 1712) is the individual bolt - sold singly or in pairs - that secures the caliper mounting bracket to the steering knuckle or axle flange. This is the same fastener covered in PartTerminologyID 1710 (Disc Brake Caliper Bolt Kit), but sold as an individual bolt rather than as a kit. The distinction exists in the catalog because some buyers need a single replacement bolt (one was damaged, stripped, or snapped during removal) while others need a complete set (PartTerminologyID 1710).
Everything documented in the PartTerminologyID 1710 post applies here: the bolt is a high-torque, high-grade structural fastener (typically M12 or M14, Grade 10.9 or 12.9, torqued to 75-130 ft-lbs) that bears the full braking load. It is not the slide pin bolt (smaller, lower torque, holds the caliper body to the bracket). The bracket bolt versus slide pin bolt confusion described in PartTerminologyID 1710 is equally prevalent here - arguably more so, because the buyer searching for "a caliper bolt" (singular) is more likely to be replacing a single damaged bolt and may be less familiar with which bolt type they need.
PIES/PCdb: PartTerminologyID 1712 - Disc Brake Caliper Bolt
PIES 8.0 / PCdb 2.0: No change
Why the Individual Bolt Exists Separately from the Kit
The individual bolt listing serves a specific aftermarket need: the buyer who has damaged only one bolt during service. The most common scenario is a bracket bolt that snapped during removal on a corroded vehicle. The remaining bolt on the same caliper is intact and reusable. The buyer needs one replacement bolt, not a full kit. Ordering a 2-bolt or 4-bolt kit when only one bolt is needed wastes money, and for a professional shop ordering in volume, the individual bolt allows precise inventory management.
However, the individual bolt listing creates a catalog challenge: the buyer must now determine not only which type of bolt they need (bracket versus slide pin) but also whether to order one bolt or two, and whether the individual bolt listing covers their application. Some catalog systems list the individual bolt under PartTerminologyID 1712 and the kit under PartTerminologyID 1710 as separate products for the same application. Others list only one or the other. This split can cause the buyer to find the kit but not the individual bolt (or vice versa), leading to an over-purchase or a failed search.
The Slide Pin Bolt Problem - Again
The bracket-versus-slide-pin confusion is actually more acute at the individual bolt level than at the kit level. Here is why:
When the buyer searches for "disc brake caliper bolt," many of the results they encounter online - in forums, YouTube videos, and retail listings - are referring to the slide pin bolt, because the slide pin bolt is the bolt that is removed every time the brake pads are changed. The bracket bolt is only removed when the entire bracket is being taken off the knuckle, which happens less frequently. So the buyer's mental model of "the caliper bolt" is often the slide pin bolt, while this PartTerminologyID refers to the bracket bolt.
A buyer who orders PartTerminologyID 1712 expecting a slide pin bolt and receives a bracket bolt that is twice the diameter will immediately return it. Conversely, a buyer who needs a bracket bolt but searches for "caliper bolt" and finds a slide pin bolt listing will order the wrong product.
The catalog solution is the same as PartTerminologyID 1710: the word "BRACKET" must appear in the title, and the bolt dimensions (thread size, length, head style, grade) must be listed so the buyer can physically verify the bolt before installation.
What Is Included
A single bolt, possibly with a washer if the application requires one between the bolt head and the bracket. Some individual bolt listings include a factory-applied threadlocker patch on the threads. The listing should specify:
Quantity: 1 bolt (confirm whether the listing is for 1 bolt or a pair)
Washer included (yes/no)
Threadlocker (factory patch applied or not)
Position: front or rear (bracket bolts may differ between front and rear calipers on the same vehicle)
Top Return Causes
1) Bracket bolt versus slide pin bolt confusion
Identical to PartTerminologyID 1710 and the most common return. The buyer needs a slide pin bolt and receives a bracket bolt, or vice versa.
Prevention: "Disc Brake Caliper BRACKET Bolt - Secures Mounting Bracket to Knuckle." Bolt dimensions (thread, length, grade) in the listing. "This is NOT the slide pin bolt that holds the caliper body to the bracket."
2) Buyer needs a kit, orders a single bolt
The buyer needs to replace both bracket bolts on one caliper (or all four on an axle) but orders a single bolt. They discover they need more and must place a second order or find the kit listing.
Prevention: Cross-reference PartTerminologyID 1710 (Disc Brake Caliper Bolt Kit). "Need both bolts? See [Disc Brake Caliper Bolt Kit, part number] for a complete 2-bolt or 4-bolt set."
3) Wrong thread size, length, or grade
The bolt does not match the knuckle's threaded bore because the vehicle has a different knuckle option, a brake upgrade, or a production-date split that changed the bolt specification.
Prevention: Full bolt specifications: thread size and pitch, length under head, head size and style, grade. "Verify thread size and length match your application before installation."
4) Bolt snapped during installation - overtorqued into aluminum knuckle
The buyer installs the new bolt into an aluminum knuckle and over-torques it, stripping the threads or snapping the bolt. This is an installation error, not a product defect, but it generates returns.
Prevention: Torque specification in the listing or installation notes. "Torque to [specification] ft-lbs. Use a calibrated torque wrench. Aluminum knuckles are susceptible to thread stripping if over-torqued. If threads feel resistant before reaching torque specification, remove the bolt and chase the threads in the knuckle bore with the correct tap before reinstalling."
Catalog Checklist for Attributes
Core taxonomy: Bolt type: caliper bracket-to-knuckle mounting bolt (individual). NOT slide pin bolt. Position: front, rear. Quantity per listing: 1 or 2. Separate from Disc Brake Caliper Bolt Kit (PartTerminologyID 1710 - same bolt, kit quantity), caliper slide pin bolt, caliper body (PartTerminologyID 1704).
Fitment: Year, make, model, submodel, trim, engine. Brake package. Position (front/rear).
Specifications: Thread size and pitch. Bolt length (under head). Head size and style (hex, 12-point, flanged). Grade (8.8, 10.9, 12.9). Threadlocker (factory patch or none). Material and finish (alloy steel, zinc-plated, phosphate).
Included components: Bolt quantity. Washer (yes/no).
Installation notes: Torque specification. Threadlocker requirement. Thread chasing in knuckle bore if corroded. Do not substitute lower-grade bolts. Aluminum knuckle torque caution.
Images: Bolt showing thread, head style, any threadlocker patch. Dimensions annotated.
FAQ
What is the difference between PartTerminologyID 1710 and 1712?
PartTerminologyID 1710 is the Disc Brake Caliper Bolt Kit (a set of bolts, typically 2 or 4). PartTerminologyID 1712 is the Disc Brake Caliper Bolt (individual bolt, sold singly or in pairs). They are the same bolt - the difference is packaging quantity. Choose the individual bolt (1712) when replacing a single damaged bolt. Choose the kit (1710) when replacing all bracket bolts on one caliper or one axle.
Is this the bolt I remove to change brake pads?
Probably not. To change brake pads, you typically remove the slide pin bolts (smaller bolts that hold the caliper body to the bracket), swing the caliper up or off, and replace the pads. The bracket bolts (this product) hold the bracket to the knuckle and are only removed when the entire bracket needs to come off. If you are doing a standard pad change, you likely need a slide pin bolt, not this bracket bolt.
Can I replace just one bracket bolt?
Yes, if only one bolt is damaged and the other is in good condition (no corrosion, no thread damage, threadlocker still effective). However, if one bolt was corroded enough to snap or strip, the other bolt on the same caliper has been in the same environment and may be approaching the same condition. Replacing both is a low-cost precaution.
Final Take for Aftermarket Teams
Disc Brake Caliper Bolt (PartTerminologyID 1712) is the individual-bolt counterpart to the Disc Brake Caliper Bolt Kit (PartTerminologyID 1710). The return drivers are identical: bracket bolt versus slide pin bolt confusion, wrong dimensions, and quantity misunderstanding. The catalog solution is also identical: put "BRACKET" in the title, list the bolt specifications, and cross-reference the kit (1710) for buyers who need the complete set. The only unique consideration for the individual bolt listing is to answer the buyer's most likely question - "is this the bolt I remove to change my brake pads?" - and the answer for most buyers is no, because pad changes involve the slide pin bolts, not the bracket bolts.