brake caliper bleeder

Maintenance advice to keep your Spider in shape.
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geospider
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brake caliper bleeder

Postby geospider » Sat Aug 26, 2017 9:26 pm

Anyone ever not able to loosen the bleeder valve? soaked with baster. haven't tried heat
my wrench spun on the nut of the valve. Ideas?

has it been that long since it was blead by PO?
that's some old fluid. it should look worse.

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lglade
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Re: brake caliper bleeder

Postby lglade » Sat Aug 26, 2017 11:43 pm

You might try tapping on it a few times with a hammer to loosen corrosion between the threads. But if you've already rounded the nipple, then you likely only have one or two more tries before this job gets considerably more difficult.
Lloyd Glade- Mukilteo, WA
1984 Pininfarina Spider Azzurra
1962 Fiat 500D - wife's car
2015 Subaru Outback
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Frog2Spider
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Re: brake caliper bleeder

Postby Frog2Spider » Sun Aug 27, 2017 12:16 am

geospider wrote:Anyone ever not able to loosen the bleeder valve? soaked with baster. haven't tried heat
my wrench spun on the nut of the valve. Ideas?

has it been that long since it was blead by PO?
that's some old fluid. it should look worse.


If your box end wrench is the right size, and spun on the breeder nut, it's 'toast'. Use a good pair of vise gripes and replace the breeder valve.

Dave
Always looking for curves under blue skies!
Frog2Spider

'81 - 2000 Spider

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geospider
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Re: brake caliper bleeder

Postby geospider » Sun Aug 27, 2017 11:50 am

thanks
box end, i believe 8m, fits tight, but with a lot of force, spins. hit with pb blaster, will see how today goes.

I moved on to the hubs: new races and bearing; that at least went well.

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lglade
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Re: brake caliper bleeder

Postby lglade » Sun Aug 27, 2017 5:33 pm

Never use a 12-point box end wrench for a stuck bolt/nut; always use a 6-point to ensure greater contact surface area. Same goes for sockets. It's a simple thing, but can make the difference between success and failure.
Lloyd Glade- Mukilteo, WA
1984 Pininfarina Spider Azzurra
1962 Fiat 500D - wife's car
2015 Subaru Outback
2017 Ford Focus RS

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geospider
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Re: brake caliper bleeder

Postby geospider » Sun Aug 27, 2017 7:40 pm

yep know that one, probably from failed experience.
got one with socket, the other with Vice grips.
new ones coming and i can finish the calipers.

now just a worry about the steering box

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RRoller123
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Re: brake caliper bleeder

Postby RRoller123 » Mon Aug 28, 2017 5:22 am

lglade wrote:You might try tapping on it a few times with a hammer to loosen corrosion between the threads. But if you've already rounded the nipple, then you likely only have one or two more tries before this job gets considerably more difficult.


This works really well, it gets the penetrating oil to work its way down into the threads. A few light taps, a little more PB, more taps, it actually works!
'80 FI Spider 2000
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