- what is the best way to get a bleeder valve off that is stripped? i have tried everything from channel locks to regular sockets to vice grips. the valve is almost completely round and i am having trouble getting it off. help!!!!!!!!!!!
2007-07-26 10:24:47 · 6 answers · asked by caveman2copper 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
it is on a wheel cylinder - (drum brakes)
2007-07-26 10:42:25 · update #1
Those can be a real bugger. Saturate it with penetrating oil, like PB Blaster and let it sit for several hours, then get on it with a good set of vise-grips. Is this on a wheel cylinder (drum brakes) or a caliper (disk brakes)?
2007-07-26 10:37:03 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
hey buddy,
the first thing I have to say is ooops......... ! Are you sure you are turning the right way.... its lefty loosey. Now that the obvious is said, dont listen to the heat idiot. there are many rubber components on and in calipers and that aint the way to go.
now back to reality.. the most often issue with those is that they get seized where the bleeder valve seats cause somebody didnt put the little cap back on the bleeder to keep water out if it. So make sure to fill the bleeder screw up with your penetrating oil and let it sit. A couple of light taps with a hammer may help. you may get stuck buying a pair of calipers. sometimes the bleeder will break before it comes out. there are tools for that but they require using an air hammer to case harden the bleeder screw and they wont work in the drive way. I could drill the screw out and repair the caliper if I was there but you would have to pay me. Simply stated pal just go invest in some loaded calipers. They come with the pads and all the doo dads you should replace at brake service time. a just bolt em up and you will have the best brake job you can do at home. dont scrimp buy the new rotors to go with them. make sure and cover the bleeder screw holes up when ur done so you dont have to do it again next time. Good Luck.
2007-07-26 10:50:05 · answer #2 · answered by tsh_66 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have got some loose using heat. Be very careful. Heating a caliper or brake cylinder causes the fluid to expand and it will blow a brake hose. So if you are going to try this, A. take the brake hose loose from the component. Heat up the area around the bleeder. clamp on to it with visegrips and try to work it back and forth. If it works bleeder screws are cheap. If not well, you have to either replace the component or continue with trying to drill it out. Select a bit slightly larger then the bleeder hole. Drill through it, Note when you pass throught the screw you should feel it, stop drilling as not to drill into the component. Then try an easy out or keep enlarging the hole until you get to the threads. Im not sure what your working on but its a lot easier sometimes to just replace the caliper or cylinder.
2007-07-26 10:40:23 · answer #3 · answered by King E 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A little penetrating oil and really tighten the vise grips just as tight as you can get them to lock. Then try to unscrew it. If this fails then use a torch to heat the fitting. Be careful though, as someone else mentioned remove the brake hose before you do this. good luck.
2007-07-26 10:45:29 · answer #4 · answered by Fordman 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's just as simple to go get a new wheel cylinder and install it, they are only about $10.
2007-07-26 12:19:16 · answer #5 · answered by mister ss 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get a file-file to side parallel till you get 2 ledgers and use channel locks
2007-07-26 11:18:48 · answer #6 · answered by tim b 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋