13 replies to this topic

[100kDrifter]

I Was Bleeding My Brakes Today And Managed To Snap One Of The Bleed Nipples On My 4 Pot Callipers.

So My Question Is What Is The Best Way To Fix This Without Replacing The Entire Calliper?

Thanks Thomas.

[t@z]

this happened on a mate of mine; minisport ones (common problem apparently). all we did was hammer a socket torques head into it and got it out. careful though you dont have cheap socket parts.

[Midas Mk1]

When I was last at Minisport I was told they snap by people overtightening them, nothing to do with the actual callipers.

[t@z]

When I was last at Minisport I was told they snap by people overtightening them, nothing to do with the actual callipers.

i know they arent harden'd or anything and i'm sure i've overtighten'd my cooper s calipers bleed nipples by accident but they havent snapped. Its a common fault and i think i remember them actually noticing it was a fault with the part and fixing it as it was happening to a lot of people.

[dow62]

Try a eazi out.

[dklawson]

Regardless of the reason for the failure, your immediate task is to fix the problem.

My first suggestion is what NOT to do. Do not try and use an easy-out as some will advise you. Easy-out's are hard and brittle. If the bleed nipple was stuck enough to shear off, it is most likely stuck enough that an easy-out will not work without breaking. Easy-outs are hard. When they break off in a part you have a serious problem to deal with.

My first suggestion is to call around and find where you can buy a set of "left-hand" drill bits. Use them with a reversible drill starting with small diameter bits and working up through progressively larger bits until the broken nipple comes out. The left-hand rotation will "grab" the nipple at some point and rotate it out of the tapped hole. This won't happen at first but as you move up to progressively larger bits you will eventually have removed enough stress on the nipple that it will come out. The caveats here are don't be tempted to drill too deep and don't forget to use cutting oil on the drill bits.

EDIT: I hadn't even finished typing before easy-outs were suggested!

Edited by dklawson, 24 July 2012 - 04:23 PM.

[100kDrifter]

Thanks for the suggestions. Much Appreciated

[dow62]

Sorry !

[JustSteve]

DK has answered it perfectly. No need for any other suggestions.

While I was 'between jobs' and bored at home, I bought several sets of calipers that had sheared off bleed nipples, which I repaired and sold on for a small profit. I had a few with broken easy-outs in them, and because they're hard you can't drill them!! (Had to chain-drill TINY holes around them)

Easyouts are great on something like a bolt, that's acting as a loose stud with no force on it, because the only force you're working against is the thread contact... BUT when the threads are tightened down like this, you have no chance whatsover.


Edit: DK's point about not drilling down too far.. This is VERY important or they'l never seal again. If you get get access to a pillar drill or milling machine with a 'stop' on it, that would be ideal

Edited by JustSteve, 24 July 2012 - 05:55 PM.

[tiger99]

Yes, Doug and Steve are correct, do not be tempted to use an easi-out. If it breaks, you may need to find someone who can do spark erosion to get the remains out, which will not be cheap, and then, because of the fluid used in the spark erosion process, mostly water, plus all the metal particles produced, you will need to strip, clean and rebuild the caliper.

If you want to follow Doug's suggestion, which is a good one, here is one possible source of left hand drill bits. (Google for more.)
http://www.google.co...ved=0CHoQ8wIwAg

[james.c94]

I've got an easy out stuck in my metro callipers, wish I'd of read this before trying to use one I'm going to try drilling tiny holes around it like Steve said

[dklawson]

As a footnote to my post above and my comment about not drilling "too deep", there is a more or less safe way to do this.

Make your initial drill hole only deep enough that the drill has to work hard to go deeper. Stop at that point and put a strip of tape around the drill bit just marking how far it went into the bleed nipple. Mark all the other drill bits to the same depth with tape. Drill only that deep and no deeper with each successive drill bit.

[kirk stansfield]

I had the same problem, but I found a Bleed Nipple replacement kit online, developed by a guy called fraser brown, you can see how it works on u tube, I bought it from Rapid Tools Direct what a great product.

[dklawson]

I have used a similar kit available in the U.S. They work quite well. The kits in the U.S. are sold as individual nipple/bushings that use regular pipe tap sizes so you don't have to invest in special drills or taps.