Brake Bleeder Valves.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
Brake Bleeder Valves.
Ok so i replaced my mastercylinder and i went to bleed my brake lines and my bleeder valves won't budge. I've only tried the four rear ones and none of them will move at all. I even tried caking them in WD40. How do i fix this? how do i get them out without stripping them?
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,927
Likes: 740
From: Youngstown Ohio
Ouch!......Try PB Blaster, it's much more effective than WD40, and use a quality box end wrench to avoid stripping them. Sometimes you must allow them to soak a couple days with penetrating oil....use patience not to strip them out (I've sprayed up to 3 days before loosening some...)
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 5,943
Likes: 3
From: Wildwood IL
Originally Posted by C3 Stroker
use a quality box end wrench to avoid stripping them
Yep....six point box wrench ONLY!!! If you still strip it, it's time for channel locks, vice grips, and replacing the bleeders once you get em out. Eddie
Race Director
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 10,643
Likes: 8
From: Foxfield CO 1970 Convertible
Originally Posted by Edzred72
Yep....six point box wrench ONLY!!! If you still strip it, it's time for channel locks, vice grips, and replacing the bleeders once you get em out. Eddie
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,727
Likes: 39
From: Fremont CA
I agree that PB Blaster is one of the best lubes to try (buy it at Wal MArt.) You can try heating the bleeder screws with a butane micro troch from Radio shack or a Mapp Gas plumbing torch (be careful not to burn the brake piston seals with a big torch.) Heat the screws and bravley spray PB Blast on while hot, it may flashback so, be careful about using it. The heat and the lube should be enough to shock the different metals and to break any corrosion bonds unless they are a total writeoff (I am sure glad I live in California when I read posts like this.) Good luck!
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
stripping them is not the issue.....its snapping them in half ....also buy antisieze for when you put them back in... good luck this rarely has a happy ending .....heat usually works and if melting wax on it actually works also, just watch for it flaming on you
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,482
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
I use a 5/16 quarter-inch drive deep six point socket and my 3/8" drive ratchet on the stubborn ones... and I go very slowly. I use a 5/16" flare wrench on bleeders which are more cooperative.
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