Neighbour has one (don't ask!) and has been told by a local garage who are pretty straightforward bunch that "the threads on the N/S front caliper are not 100%". Suspect they are talking about the caliper carrier threads which presumably is the hub carrier as well. Can be replaced at c.£500 and the part needs to be sourced from Germany which sounds like an OE part.
Three questions:-
1) Does anyone know of an after-market parts supplier in the UK?
2) Any Specialists in the Thames Valley?
3) Any views on replacing current bolts with longer ones (maybe cap bolts and correct tensile of course) and locking with a nut on the other side of the carrier (space permitting)?
Just kicking ideas around at the mo.
Thanks in anticipation.
Cheers, Pewe

Thanks Jamster vv that was faster than a fast thing - the wonders of LCB!
Will give them a call tomorrow. P.

[Edited on 17/8/10 by pewe]

try these for parts i have used them a few times

www.mildenhallautocentre.ltd.uk

[Edited on 17/8/10 by JAMSTER]

Can't swear this is true of the Cherokee but I'd suspect the threads have been damaged by the bolt having a tread or two exposed beyond the end of the hole. This corrodes and then drags the threads as the bolt comes out.
Theres unlikely to be space for a nut on the back. I have seen thread repairs kits used but I'd be dubious of doing it myself given the critical nature of the component.

Any 4x4 breakers will have one, lot cheaper than new also would not repair something like that

AS madteg says. Most breakers have them. I was in our local one yesterday and theres 3 cherokees in there. Do find a part or 247 spares. Youl get one for hell of a lot less than 500 quid.

Or if you trust it. Drill it and helicoil or cut a bigger thread.

Also that link from jamster are good and they are based near an americanish air base and cherokees are/were common round that area and i believe they import stuff.

[Edited on 17/8/10 by Danozeman]

quote:

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Originally posted by JAMSTER
try these for parts i have used them a few times

www.mildenhallautocentre.ltd.uk

[Edited on 17/8/10 by JAMSTER]

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Thanks guys - bit reluctant to helicoil as safety critical and it sounds reasonable that it's the threads have stretched when they've taken the caliper off to replace pads and discs recently.
Will certainly tell him Tony from Bakers sent me - ta.
Cheers, Pewe

quote:

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Originally posted by JAMSTER
try these for parts i have used them a few times

www.mildenhallautocentre.ltd.uk

[Edited on 17/8/10 by JAMSTER]

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quote:

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Originally posted by pewe
Thanks guys - bit reluctant to helicoil as safety critical and it sounds reasonable that it's the threads have stretched when they've taken the caliper off to replace pads and discs recently.
Will certainly tell him Tony from Bakers sent me - ta.
Cheers, Pewe

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Parts for Cherokees are dirt cheap on this side of the pond.
My present one has 225,000 km, the prevoius one 350,000km no such brake problems.
Probably cheaper to replace the caliper, or a used upright from a breakers, those parts didn't change much over the years, also TJ or YJ wrangler parts are the same.

Helicoils are used in jet engine manufacturing to provide a hard wearing thread in light alloy castings. For bolts routinely removed during maintenance.

If the thread is properly done in the alloy then the repair helicoil is as strong as the original thread in the alloy.

The reason that the garage will not do it is because it is not a procedure "approved" by the manufacturer and therefore leaves them open to a dispute.

As an engineeringg solution helicoils a perfectly acceptable.

quote:

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stronger and more accurate threads

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Interesting comments on the Helicoils - never really thought about their strength v a normal tapping.
Been promising myself a Helicoil set for some time (crankcase bolts on the Laverda decidely iffy) so maybe she'll do it on a quid pro quo basis!

Thanks for the replies - you're all stars.
Cheers, Pewe