Stiff nipples

[Guest]

Thought that would get your attention..

One of the bleed nipples on my 3.0 is rusted solid preventing fluid replacement. Any suggestions for freeing it or do I have to cut off and replace?

 

[John Sims]

I'd get some new nipples before you start - they are available from your OPC.

Try using a socket rather than a spanner, at least you are then working on all sides of the nut and can get more purchase than with a ring spanner. Obviously, once loosened you need to re pinch and swap to a spanner for bleeding.

A garage may be able to do it easily with a flame as they have nice small, hot, oxy set ups. I might try heating at home with a blow torch but you need to shield the rest of the calliper so you don't damage the seals. Brake fluid will burn if you get it hot enough. [&:]

 

[random hero]

I would take it to a garage to be done as this happened on my old 944 and when i put a socket on it snapped off in the caliper which i had to replace. Or you can always loosen the flex-pipe and bleed the system through it,does'nt always work though as air gets left in the caliper but if it hasnt been taken off you should get away with it.

 

[Big Les]

I had this problem on my S2 - but as I had to remove the calipers to deal with the dreaded plate lift I used heat to expand the nipple and then the ring spanner to remove it. Obviously replaced with new nipples.

 

[Fred Hindle]

If you can avoid (or protect) any rubber hoses etc then gentle use of heat (blow torch rather than oxy acetylene) should do the trick, works for me.
Cheers,

 

[sawood12]

Unfortunately bleed nipples from the OPC are £10 each! I need some because although the bleed nipples on my rear calipers appear to be blocked as when I bleed them the fluid oozes from the threads and not from the nipple itself. I reckon you can get them for a few pence or a quid or so each from any local car parts shop.

I'm not sure you want to apply too much torque to the nipple if it is siezed as you might strip the alloy thread in the caliper. Have you tried WD40?

 

[dlknight]

I managed to snap on of my nipples into two... No comments about nibbling your nipples !! [8D]

Got the stub out of the caliper using a pipe wrench... Can't remember how much the new nipples were but I only ordered one so must have been quite expensive as I usually order a few if the parts are cheap.

Cheers

Dave K.