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Stripped brake bleed screws

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Old Dec 13, 2008 | 10:56 PM
  #1  
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Stripped brake bleed screws

tried to unscrew the bleed screws, but they all slipped and now i can't get a grip on it. what can i do to remove these bleed screws...??
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Old Dec 13, 2008 | 11:01 PM
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damn...what were you using to try and remove them?

not sure what to tell you to use at this point.
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Old Dec 13, 2008 | 11:06 PM
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Can you jb weld something to them ?
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Old Dec 13, 2008 | 11:09 PM
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vice grip.
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Old Dec 13, 2008 | 11:10 PM
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i was using a wrench to begin with, and then i tried using a vise when it starting slipping...

should i still try to get a 5/16", 3/8" brake bleeder wrench to give it a shot?? or it's hopeless now...

not really feeling to get new calipers
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Old Dec 13, 2008 | 11:10 PM
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Agreed, Vice grip as hard as you can, It should easily remove them, Buy some new ones from advanced.
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Old Dec 13, 2008 | 11:22 PM
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thanks for all the replies, i'll give the vise another shot
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Old Dec 13, 2008 | 11:32 PM
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You're gonna need to pick up your skirt and actually tighten the wrench. Adjust the wrench so it's so tight you can't get it to latch then back it off a hair.
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Old Dec 14, 2008 | 12:03 AM
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Originally Posted by Turbo II Rotor
You're gonna need to pick up your skirt and actually tighten the wrench. Adjust the wrench so it's so tight you can't get it to latch then back it off a hair.
When I do this i keep my good skirts inside.

honestly you guys should tell him to coat that thing in PB blaster or he will snap it off. Coat is now and in 30min coat it again real heavy and let it sit overnight tomorrow coat it again tap it with a hammer and try to get it off.
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Old Dec 14, 2008 | 12:43 AM
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ouch take it to a shop
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Old Dec 14, 2008 | 12:58 AM
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worst comes to worst, get the next smallest size (7mm, i think) and force it on with a big hammer. problem solved.
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Old Dec 14, 2008 | 07:09 AM
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Originally Posted by cheesebox
Agreed, Vice grip as hard as you can, It should easily remove them, Buy some new ones from advanced.
x3, just hope that you dont snap the head off of it putting extreme force on them. they should not be super tight. has the car been in alot of salt areas? it may be rusting and swelling in the hole. Spray some PB blaster on it and let it sit for awhile then try the vice grips
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Old Dec 14, 2008 | 09:31 PM
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were u turning the wrench the right way? i cant see how u can strip it :-p sucks i know, especially when you need your car, for some reason no matter how big the project is nothing ever goes smooth
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Old Dec 15, 2008 | 12:02 AM
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Snap the head off a bleeder screw? Are you guys ****** superman? lol Ive had to two hand vice grips to get them to lock on a bleed before, then using EXCESSIVE force to finally get that **** to turn, but snapping the head, that is just extreme **** right their. New bleeder screws r cheap! ****!
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Old Dec 15, 2008 | 01:20 AM
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I have bent wrenches and ratchets (never a snap on or a matco) and broken bolt heads on numerous occasions.
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Old Dec 15, 2008 | 01:35 AM
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I've snapped the bleeder screw head plenty of times... I'm if worse comes to worse use some heat.
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Old Dec 15, 2008 | 06:01 PM
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From: Smiths Falls.(near Ottawa!.Mapquest IT!)
I've actually Snapped a Socket on a bleeder screw
Also Broke the damn bleeder off,when I used a wrench(just Cocked eyed and Bam..**** happened).So Ya,they are on Good.
I like use a Socket..if that strips,then Vicegrips..The best is Heat,as in Torch..heat works,but you have to bear in mind that the Brakes have rubber seals.
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Old Dec 15, 2008 | 06:30 PM
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yeah, I've snapped numerous bleeder screws. Spraying it with any penetrating oil isn't going to do ****. People always seem to think it does something. If the threads are so tight they won't come loose, there's not going to be any oil penetrating to anywhere useful. Take the flex hose off the caliper, and get some heat around the bleeder screw, smack the top of it a few times hard with a hammer, then get the vicegrips on it as tight as you can and crack her loose. Buy a new one and call it a day.

If that doesn't work, get it super hot again, and spray the bleeder screw in the middle with water or oil in a fine stream to try and cool it rapidly, sometimes helps shock it to free it up.
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Old Dec 15, 2008 | 07:44 PM
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I hope you guys do remember that the 4pots are made of aluminum so taking a torch to them is last resort. esp an oxy acetylene torch, if heat is neccesary take one of those shity propane torches that come in the blue bottle, I prefer the yellow on because it looks like it gets it just a bit hotter
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Old Dec 15, 2008 | 07:46 PM
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As long as you don't melt it, you're fine. Just don't melt it.
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Old Dec 15, 2008 | 07:48 PM
  #21  
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Originally Posted by Trots*88TII-AE*
yeah, I've snapped numerous bleeder screws. Spraying it with any penetrating oil isn't going to do ****. People always seem to think it does something. If the threads are so tight they won't come loose, there's not going to be any oil penetrating to anywhere useful. Take the flex hose off the caliper, and get some heat around the bleeder screw, smack the top of it a few times hard with a hammer, then get the vicegrips on it as tight as you can and crack her loose. Buy a new one and call it a day.

If that doesn't work, get it super hot again, and spray the bleeder screw in the middle with water or oil in a fine stream to try and cool it rapidly, sometimes helps shock it to free it up.
oh and believe me PB works

I do it like this.
Torch the bleeder (and only the bleeder) DOUSE it in PB let it chill for 15min and DOUSE it again and let it chill over night. In the morning hit it with some heat and a bit of PB tap it with a hammer with some force and hit it with vice grips.

Even if the screw is good REPLACE it! with one of those speed bleeders Oh and ladies be sure to give it a nice coating of no seize lube
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