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Spoon Twin Block Helicoil Separation

Posted: Sat Jun 13, 2020 9:26 pm
by Little_Nolan
I was working on a brake rotor swap today and I had to take off my Spoon twin blocks for the first time since I got my R. When I picked up '97 #00305 it had the twin blocks already mounted and I drive it less than 1k per year so this is the first time I needed to remove the caliper for any reason.

When unbolting the caliper from the hub - one of the bolts came out with what looked like some sort of insert half wound around it. I assumed it was stripped and that it was the aluminum from the caliper. It was steel... Research has shown that this is actually a helicoil insert that Spoon puts into the twin and monoblocks and that is why you are supposed to use the supplied spoon bolt and not a Honda bolt. Mine were held on with a Honda bolt and no washer. Does anyone know what the differences in bolts are between the spoon and OEM? Also, so should I re-helicoil these calipers and not get new ones - should I use a washer?

Here is a thread from HT addressing exactly what happened to me.

https://honda-tech.com/forums/acura-int ... st52198158

Re: Spoon Twin Block Helicoil Separation

Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2020 10:35 am
by Dave7CDMTYPER
FWIW, spoon sells twin block hardware kits, if you are looking for those parts. :thumbup:

Re: Spoon Twin Block Helicoil Separation

Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2020 9:25 pm
by Little_Nolan
Dave7CDMTYPER wrote: Sun Jun 14, 2020 10:35 am FWIW, spoon sells twin block hardware kits, if you are looking for those parts. :thumbup:
Ones with the mounting bolts? I saw they have them with the top pad retainers and rollers, but not the mounting bolts. That would be awesome if they have hardware kits with those pieces... going to check now! Thanks

Re: Spoon Twin Block Helicoil Separation

Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2020 11:18 pm
by Dave7CDMTYPER
Little_Nolan wrote: Sun Jun 14, 2020 9:25 pm
Dave7CDMTYPER wrote: Sun Jun 14, 2020 10:35 am FWIW, spoon sells twin block hardware kits, if you are looking for those parts. :thumbup:
Ones with the mounting bolts? I saw they have them with the top pad retainers and rollers, but not the mounting bolts. That would be awesome if they have hardware kits with those pieces... going to check now! Thanks
See here: https://www.rhdjapan.com/spoon-sports-t ... 2-ek9.html

FYI I think Coolhandluke knows an ITRCA sponsor that sells the kit too. It has 4 bolts and washers. These connect the caliper to itself right? Maybe not the mounting bolts you're looking for.

Re: Spoon Twin Block Helicoil Separation

Posted: Mon Jun 15, 2020 8:37 am
by Gotin
Dave7CDMTYPER wrote: Sun Jun 14, 2020 11:18 pm
Little_Nolan wrote: Sun Jun 14, 2020 9:25 pm
Dave7CDMTYPER wrote: Sun Jun 14, 2020 10:35 am FWIW, spoon sells twin block hardware kits, if you are looking for those parts. :thumbup:
Ones with the mounting bolts? I saw they have them with the top pad retainers and rollers, but not the mounting bolts. That would be awesome if they have hardware kits with those pieces... going to check now! Thanks
See here: https://www.rhdjapan.com/spoon-sports-t ... 2-ek9.html

FYI I think Coolhandluke knows an ITRCA sponsor that sells the kit too. It has 4 bolts and washers. These connect the caliper to itself right? Maybe not the mounting bolts you're looking for.
VPR Motorsports has some listed on their site but not the one shown above.

Re: Spoon Twin Block Helicoil Separation

Posted: Mon Jun 15, 2020 9:46 am
by navin
Nate -- if the helicoil is pulling out and you can find a competent machine shop around you, get the timeserted instead. One of the guys that races H2 had to do that for his set before selling them.

Re: Spoon Twin Block Helicoil Separation

Posted: Mon Jun 15, 2020 9:55 am
by aw614
I was wondering about that helicoil separating when I installed my spoon calipers...

Re: Spoon Twin Block Helicoil Separation

Posted: Mon Jun 15, 2020 10:57 am
by Little_Nolan
Dave7CDMTYPER wrote: Sun Jun 14, 2020 11:18 pm
Little_Nolan wrote: Sun Jun 14, 2020 9:25 pm
Dave7CDMTYPER wrote: Sun Jun 14, 2020 10:35 am FWIW, spoon sells twin block hardware kits, if you are looking for those parts. :thumbup:
Ones with the mounting bolts? I saw they have them with the top pad retainers and rollers, but not the mounting bolts. That would be awesome if they have hardware kits with those pieces... going to check now! Thanks
See here: https://www.rhdjapan.com/spoon-sports-t ... 2-ek9.html

FYI I think Coolhandluke knows an ITRCA sponsor that sells the kit too. It has 4 bolts and washers. These connect the caliper to itself right? Maybe not the mounting bolts you're looking for.

Those are exactly the bolts/washers I am talking about! If I can not find a source stateside or ITRCA sponser than I will get them from RHDJAPAN.
navin wrote: Mon Jun 15, 2020 9:46 am Nate -- if the helicoil is pulling out and you can find a competent machine shop around you, get the timeserted instead. One of the guys that races H2 had to do that for his set before selling them.
Navin, I don't know if you are still in NOVA - but I relocated to Arlington, close to East Falls Church and 7 Corners. I am not familiar with any shops up here. Any recommendations?

Re: Spoon Twin Block Helicoil Separation

Posted: Mon Jun 15, 2020 1:29 pm
by navin
Hey man -- yeah we are super close by. Hit me up sometime if you still have my # or I can PM it to you.

The shop that did our buddies is called "Tyson Automotive Machine" out in Sterling. I've heard a few stories about them not taking in any non engine work as of late, but still worth a call at least.

There's the NAPA in Fairfax (close to Merrifield) -- there is a machine shop in the downstairs portion. They did some work for me recently and I was happy with it.

Re: Spoon Twin Block Helicoil Separation

Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2020 10:09 am
by Little_Nolan
navin wrote: Mon Jun 15, 2020 1:29 pm Hey man -- yeah we are super close by. Hit me up sometime if you still have my # or I can PM it to you.

The shop that did our buddies is called "Tyson Automotive Machine" out in Sterling. I've heard a few stories about them not taking in any non engine work as of late, but still worth a call at least.

There's the NAPA in Fairfax (close to Merrifield) -- there is a machine shop in the downstairs portion. They did some work for me recently and I was happy with it.
Thanks for the tip on machine shops! I think I still have your # so long as it has not changed. I will shoot you a text.


I purchased the time-serts (amazon) and the hardware kit from RHDJapan.

Took measurements of the calipers and the correct depth of time-sert is 15mm, the caliper mounting bracket is exactly 15mm. The correct bolt size is 12x1.25 and the correct time-sert kit is # 1212.