How to Remove the Banjo Bolt

Video Transcript

"In this clip, we're going to be talking about the proper service procedure to rebuild a front brake caliper. In this step, we're going to talk about the proper service procedure for removing our Banjo bolt from the back of our caliper. Now, a Banjo bolt is a hollow bolt and it is what the fluid runs through into your caliper. Through the hose, through the bolt into the caliper. Now, once we remove this bolt, some fluid is going to be dripping from the brake hose. You'll see some mechanics take and put what they call a line lock on here, or a pair vise grips. None of those methods are recommended and I wouldn't suggest either. What happens is if you clamp this down, it is possible to damage your hose internally. You're better off just letting the fluid drip into a drip pan and refilling your master cylinder. What I'm going to do is take my quarter inch ratchet and a nine-sixteenth socket, in this particular case. The size may vary from make to model. And pop right on the Banjo bolt, and break it loose. It's a typical "lefty loosey, righty tighty" bolt. Just like so. Slip my gloves off. This is the Banjo bolt here. As you can see, it goes through the fitting on the brake hose and into the caliper. And the fluid travels through the brake hose, down through inside this fitting. It fills the reservoir in the fitting and goes through an orifice in the bolt and then into the caliper. Slip my socket wrench on there and remove it. Some fluid leaking out is normal, not to worry. Go ahead and take the bolt and the sealing washer and put them back together. Set these aside in your magnetic tray for later re-installation. Take and wiggle our hydraulic hose off. You're also going to want to take and hang onto the brass ceiling washer and reinstall this as well. Right there. That is the proper service procedure for removing the Banjo bolt from the hydraulic hose on your brake caliper."