Don't know if this issue has already been replied to and settled, but...

For floating, single-piston calipers in 86-up Vanagons:

The 8mm bolts holding the caliper to its carrier are in fact self-locking and
should NOT be re-used. They have a loctite-like substance on them, and in
addition, they are hardened and designed to be torqued to 26 ft/lbs. (New
caliper bolts come in the front brake hardware kit, and together with the rubber
bellows for the sliding pins, are the only "hardware" there is for the '86-up
floating caliper.)

For dual-piston Girling or ATE calipers in 80-85 Vanagons:

This is just a conventional two-piston caliper bolted directly to the steering
knuckle. The large bolts that hold the earlier caliper to the knuckle CAN be
reused, I believe, unless damaged from being overstressed. You should be able to
obtain and use another caliper bolt from the same application that is in good
condition. Torque is 200 ft/lbs.

I just did the front brake pads, rotors and wheel bearings on my '87 today.

Dan

Mark Ingalls wrote:

> Good find Todd. I'll have to check the Bentley. My 85 has different brakes
> than your 88 I think. I looked at the torque value for the bolts and I
> didn't see to replace them. But I'm going to look again later.
>
> Mark Ingalls