Rounded my bleeder screw, ack. What now?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 483
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From: Austin TX
Rounded my bleeder screw, ack. What now?
Hey all,
I went to bleed my brakes today and my right rear bleeder screw was a bit stuck. I used the box end 10mm and I had to put a little extra arm in to it. Sure enough, it rounded right off.
So what can I do to replace the thing?
I went to bleed my brakes today and my right rear bleeder screw was a bit stuck. I used the box end 10mm and I had to put a little extra arm in to it. Sure enough, it rounded right off.
So what can I do to replace the thing?
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2002
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From: Montoursville Pa
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
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From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
I JUST did brake jobs on 3 of my vehcials. They ALL has bleeded issues. I used a propane torch to heat up the CALIPER (the area around the bleeder) then douched it with PB Blaster. Then I reheated it and clinched on a pair of vise grips with curved jaws. It came loose without too much issue. Just heat it to about 200-250 deg. Thats all it takes.
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Former Vendor
Joined: Nov 2005
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From: Spring Texas
St. Jude Donor '08
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2006
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From: Austin TX
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 220
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From: Somers Point New Jersey
try a six point socket. may need to clean up the head a little bit but its hard to round a nut or bolt with a six point. If not, as said previously, soak overnight, then use heat and vice grips. Hope you got strong hands. You don't need a new caliper though unless you twist the bleeder in half. A six point or vice grips should be all you need. And get a new bleeder!
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Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2002
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From: Montoursville Pa
just make sure you use a 6point box wrench if you round it off with this it's done..........time for a new screw
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
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From: San Rafael CA
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2008
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From: Somers, CT and Clermont, FL
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Just drill out the center of the broken bleeder screw, and remove it with an easy out. Heating it first, like Bill Curlee suggested, will help the easy out break it loose.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,172
Likes: 104
From: Des Moines Iowa
try a six point socket. may need to clean up the head a little bit but its hard to round a nut or bolt with a six point. If not, as said previously, soak overnight, then use heat and vice grips. Hope you got strong hands. You don't need a new caliper though unless you twist the bleeder in half. A six point or vice grips should be all you need. And get a new bleeder!
You can buy a six corner box end wrench from Sears. I only use six corner on bleed screws............way to easy to round off the corners on those puppies. Also agree that PB Blaster is great, given a little time to work, on breaking loose, rusted bolts and screws.
Drifting
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,590
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From: Littleton Colorado
Almost any parts store will carry the speed bleeder screws, or a similar named screw. They have a check ball built in to make bleeding a one man job, you just crack them and then go and pump the brake pedal, they won't backflwo because of the ball valve.
Cost is about $20 for all 4.
Don't worry too much about heating them or torquing on them to get the old one off. They take a lot more heat and abuse than that on the track
If we have misunderstood, and you damaged the threads in the calipar, then I think the best thing would be new calipars. They are all the same, you can get non-z06 and just paint them.
Cost is about $20 for all 4.
Don't worry too much about heating them or torquing on them to get the old one off. They take a lot more heat and abuse than that on the track
If we have misunderstood, and you damaged the threads in the calipar, then I think the best thing would be new calipars. They are all the same, you can get non-z06 and just paint them.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Dyer, IN
So in other words.......do worry about it...
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 483
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From: Austin TX
Thanks. I bought a pair of speed bleeders for the back and gonna find a store with the fronts.
