Any tips for undoing rear bleed nipples on calipers?

[Tom85]

Any tips for undoing rear bleed nipples on calipers which haven't been undone for probably years and missing their covers please? I've sprayed in Plus Gas but a bit paranoid of snapping...

Thanks!

[Piggy]

If they guna snap...they will.
Use a 6 sided socket, keep it square, be gentle

[Eeyore]

they will probably snap. :/ im just going to buy new callipers now because im fed up of them snapping and havent got the kit to drill them out.

[Poodle]

I'd recommend putting the socket on, smack it a couple of times with a small hammer then tap the back of your ratchet/t-bar lots as you undo it until it goes free.

[Tom85]

Thanks, I'll give it a go with the the socket and tapping it. Got them soaking in plus gas over night.

[Poodle]

More plusgas always helps lol. As Piggy has said, keeping the tool square is vital too, might find it easier/more controllable if you get an assistant to do the hammering bit.

[Paul_13]

8mm spanner over nipple and hit sharply with a hammer.

I've started doing this and it's worked wonders, got the tip off someone on 205 drivers. Sounds daft but it works

[zx_volcane]

wire brush to get any crap off

soak in pentrating oil

put an 8 sided socket over and tap the end of the socket or the end of the nipple a fair bit to help break and corrosion + puts a bit of heat into it

put a little bit of pressure clockwise on the ratchet - again just to help break any corrosion

Then go with trying to undoe it - tend to go similar as Paul with this. Little ratchet I'll hit end with my palm to undo rather than leaning on it with a breaker bar.


But yeah, they break!

[darrenjlobb]

Key is to hit the nipple first to break it free /shrink it up and release the tension on it somewhat.

Generally they will always come out if you hit them enough before part shearing them, once you have started to shear it, your done! But as said, sometimes they will, break off, no matter what you try.

[C2K]

Exactly as per last two.

Wire brush it to clean the shit away. Copious plus gas on the cleaned area (rather than just wetting muck). Repeat for as long as you can before attempting to undo (i. E. Days)

Hit the top of the nipples a few times with a decent hammer.

Use only a six sided socket and be steady.

Exactly as Darren says if you hit them with a hammer the success rate is much higher.

[RetroPug]

I've never snapped one. All of mine come off fine now that they've been released one, but for the first time on any car I've soaked it with penetrating oil not just overnight once, but multiple times over days and days.

[Xsikid]

Just take it to a garage to get them free?

[Paul_13]

Who will then snap it, take you pants down for you and bend you over

[Tom85]

Thanks for all the tips guys. Success. Went with hammering on a deep 1/4 socket and a fair bit of tapping. Then hit the ratchet with my palm to shock them free. All good! Did soak them in plus gas prior to this.

[Xsikid]

Who will then snap it,  take you pants down for you and bend you over

Lol yeah probably

[insomaniac45]

glad you got away with it bud

its far too common for bleed nipples to shear, i owuld have thought they would have solved this problem by now

[Jonny81191]

They have solved the problem.. Clean the threads and apply copper grease to them before doing them to the correct torque. The problem is that all too many people just wind them in dry and dirty, then do it up far too tight..

[Toms306]

Wait...there's a torque setting for them? The problem is rear nipples are too damn small, be better if they used same size front and rear but I guess theres a reason not to.

Also, not sure if it's a coincidence but everytime I've snapped one it's been on a cold day, so if possible do it warm would be my tip! And if you're a clumsy heavy handed oaf like myself best to let someone else do it.

[Poodle]

Pretty much anything you'll find on a car is more likely to snap in low temperatures, physics are(/is? not actually sure...) a bitch.