Bleeder Screw
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 137
Likes: 1
From: Easley SC
Bleeder Screw
I have been trying to bleed the brakes on my 1991 Coupe for days. While breaking the screws open I stripped one of them to where I couldn't open it with a socket wrench. Next I used a vice grip but that worsened the problem. Now I am stuck with a super rounded out problem. Any other ideas on how to get that one screw out? If not I will either have to drill out the screw and re-thread it or buy a new caliper.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 6,291
Likes: 1,118
From: Vermilion OH
sears sells a nice set of craftsman "rounded bolt extractors". these slip onto the rounded stud, in your case, bleeder screw, and you tap them gently onto the stud (bleeder screw). you'll use a ratchet with a socket that fits over the extractor and as you loosen the bleeder, the extractor bites into the bleeder and will loosen it as if it were normal. be sure you use a little heat where the bleeder meets the caliper. this will expand the surrounding area and should release the oxidation enough to turn the bleeder out without breaking it. take care not to damage the caliper with the heat. i use map gas for that purpose and i've had excellent results. i can post a pic of the extractor set if need be.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 137
Likes: 1
From: Easley SC
Actually I had some great success yesterday. The screw was still stuck solid. I tried heating it, liquid wrench, WD-40, and banging it with a hammer. I considered your idea but I thought it would be better to just buy a new caliper. I went to O' Reilly and started to order one when they suggested PB Blaster, which they were having a sale on. So I bought it, sprayed it on multiple times, banged it with a hammer, and twisted it off with a pair of vice grips. I was very ecstatic.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 10,428
Likes: 9
From: Southside of Western Norte Americano State of Confusion, ColoFornia
St. Jude '13
Pb blaster!!! Miracle juice!!! there is another penetrant that is even more amazing, KROIL you will have to google it. it is used in the aircraft industry and other "professional" trades.. but it works slick and you can order it from them.
Ahhhh Snake oil.. but if it works, Snake oil is ok by me!
Ahhhh Snake oil.. but if it works, Snake oil is ok by me!
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 4,328
Likes: 15
From: Jacksonville FL
Glad you got it. I have had this problem before and after the hexs have rounded, well, I resort to my work tool box and use a pipe wrench. I have smaller ones that can be worked in tight places and in fact, I keep one in my auto tool box too. Usually an 8" is all you need for basic "auto repair" Get a good one tho, the cheap ones tend to slip. Pipe wrenches are he** on finish so dont use one if you dont want it all marred up. Its a last resort tool for me and when I know I will be replacing the wrenched part.
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Drifting
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,945
Likes: 41
From: Corinth TX
Had the exact same thing happen to mine. It looked as though the previous owner had did everything possible under the sun to bend them up. I wasn't as lucky as you though. I used the extractors on the bleeder screw part that was left and it broke off in it as well. Needless to say I ended up buying to new calipers. Figured they weren't that expensive and I could go ahead and paint them and put the Speedbleeders in while they were on the bench.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,700
Likes: 298
From: Ft. Lauderdale Fl
Actually I had some great success yesterday. The screw was still stuck solid. I tried heating it, liquid wrench, WD-40, and banging it with a hammer. I considered your idea but I thought it would be better to just buy a new caliper. I went to O' Reilly and started to order one when they suggested PB Blaster, which they were having a sale on. So I bought it, sprayed it on multiple times, banged it with a hammer, and twisted it off with a pair of vice grips. I was very ecstatic.
We prove daily that we can.....there are many good products in a can.
PB Blaster, SeaFoam, (for an emergency, "fix-a-flat"), water wetter, T/B cleaner, R134A and many more.
