From: Stephen on
Hello,

I read and read the threads here about brake fluid changes to
familiarise myself and I read that corroded bleed nipples might shear
and unfortunately, the same thing has happened to me.

It's the one on the front so it's on the caliper of a disc, rather
than on a drum, not that I expect that makes any difference. It's a
Citroen C3 but I doubt that makes any difference either.

Not only has the top sheared off but it seems to have sheared below
the surface of the caliper, so I cannot grab the remnant with mole
grips or anything like that.

I would think it would have to be drilled out. I know there are
left-handed screw removers but when I have read about those on the
'net, reviews always seem to be uncomplimentary. I'm worried they may
do more harm than good.

Is there anything I can do, or is it best to take it to a garage now?
What would they do? Would they attempt to remove the broken part or
would they just fit a new caliper?

Am I able to drive to the garage or should I be towed? There is a
Gunson easy bleed on it pushing with 20psi and I would have thought
that if I had managed to turn the nipple, by now my drive would be
covered in fluid and the reservoir would be empty but nothing has
happened. I think I managed to turn the top of the nipple but not the
bottom! Does this mean that the remnant is still tight and the car is
safe to drive?

Thanks.
From: Mrcheerful on

"Stephen" <stephen(a)nowhere.com.invalid> wrote in message
news:l79346h23fpnvi4kb50de6bqa8uqd3akl1(a)4ax.com...
> Hello,
>
> I read and read the threads here about brake fluid changes to
> familiarise myself and I read that corroded bleed nipples might shear
> and unfortunately, the same thing has happened to me.
>
> It's the one on the front so it's on the caliper of a disc, rather
> than on a drum, not that I expect that makes any difference. It's a
> Citroen C3 but I doubt that makes any difference either.
>
> Not only has the top sheared off but it seems to have sheared below
> the surface of the caliper, so I cannot grab the remnant with mole
> grips or anything like that.
>
> I would think it would have to be drilled out. I know there are
> left-handed screw removers but when I have read about those on the
> 'net, reviews always seem to be uncomplimentary. I'm worried they may
> do more harm than good.
>
> Is there anything I can do, or is it best to take it to a garage now?
> What would they do? Would they attempt to remove the broken part or
> would they just fit a new caliper?
>
> Am I able to drive to the garage or should I be towed? There is a
> Gunson easy bleed on it pushing with 20psi and I would have thought
> that if I had managed to turn the nipple, by now my drive would be
> covered in fluid and the reservoir would be empty but nothing has
> happened. I think I managed to turn the top of the nipple but not the
> bottom! Does this mean that the remnant is still tight and the car is
> safe to drive?
>
> Thanks.
>

if it doesn't leak when you press the brake pedal (engine running) then it
is quite safe to drive.
very few garages have any engineering skills these days, almost every one
will just fit a new pair of calipers (which are very cheap in any case now)

removal of the broken bit would likely require removal and dismantling of
the caliper, careful drilling down the bore of the broken bit (without
breaking through) insertion of a grooved screw extractor (not a taper one)
heating of the area and hopefully it would undo. rebuild the caliper and
bob's etc. trouble is that the average place would have to charge more
labour than a new caliper.



From: Rob Graham on
On 17/07/2010 13:51, Stephen wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I read and read the threads here about brake fluid changes to
> familiarise myself and I read that corroded bleed nipples might shear
> and unfortunately, the same thing has happened to me.
>
> It's the one on the front so it's on the caliper of a disc, rather
> than on a drum, not that I expect that makes any difference. It's a
> Citroen C3 but I doubt that makes any difference either.
>
> Not only has the top sheared off but it seems to have sheared below
> the surface of the caliper, so I cannot grab the remnant with mole
> grips or anything like that.
>
> I would think it would have to be drilled out. I know there are
> left-handed screw removers but when I have read about those on the
> 'net, reviews always seem to be uncomplimentary. I'm worried they may
> do more harm than good.
>
> Is there anything I can do, or is it best to take it to a garage now?
> What would they do? Would they attempt to remove the broken part or
> would they just fit a new caliper?
>
> Am I able to drive to the garage or should I be towed? There is a
> Gunson easy bleed on it pushing with 20psi and I would have thought
> that if I had managed to turn the nipple, by now my drive would be
> covered in fluid and the reservoir would be empty but nothing has
> happened. I think I managed to turn the top of the nipple but not the
> bottom! Does this mean that the remnant is still tight and the car is
> safe to drive?
>
> Thanks.

I have sheared nipples on both front wheels and have had for some years.
If I need to bleed the brakes I just slacken the union of the flexipipe
into the back of the top wheel cylinder and get the air out that way.
Always works. (Drum brakes) I think whether it will work for you will
depend on how high up the union is into the caliper. Nothing lost
trying, though (just a bit of brake fluid).

But why are you doing this? If you are just trying to replace all the
fluid rather than trying to expel the air then I'm sure you'll be OK.

Rob Graham
From: Duncan Wood on
On Sat, 17 Jul 2010 15:00:16 +0100, Mrcheerful <nbkm57(a)hotmail.co.uk>
wrote:

>
> "Stephen" <stephen(a)nowhere.com.invalid> wrote in message
> news:l79346h23fpnvi4kb50de6bqa8uqd3akl1(a)4ax.com...
>> Hello,
>>
>> I read and read the threads here about brake fluid changes to
>> familiarise myself and I read that corroded bleed nipples might shear
>> and unfortunately, the same thing has happened to me.
>>
>> It's the one on the front so it's on the caliper of a disc, rather
>> than on a drum, not that I expect that makes any difference. It's a
>> Citroen C3 but I doubt that makes any difference either.
>>
>> Not only has the top sheared off but it seems to have sheared below
>> the surface of the caliper, so I cannot grab the remnant with mole
>> grips or anything like that.
>>
>> I would think it would have to be drilled out. I know there are
>> left-handed screw removers but when I have read about those on the
>> 'net, reviews always seem to be uncomplimentary. I'm worried they may
>> do more harm than good.
>>
>> Is there anything I can do, or is it best to take it to a garage now?
>> What would they do? Would they attempt to remove the broken part or
>> would they just fit a new caliper?
>>
>> Am I able to drive to the garage or should I be towed? There is a
>> Gunson easy bleed on it pushing with 20psi and I would have thought
>> that if I had managed to turn the nipple, by now my drive would be
>> covered in fluid and the reservoir would be empty but nothing has
>> happened. I think I managed to turn the top of the nipple but not the
>> bottom! Does this mean that the remnant is still tight and the car is
>> safe to drive?
>>
>> Thanks.
>>
>
> if it doesn't leak when you press the brake pedal (engine running) then
> it
> is quite safe to drive.
> very few garages have any engineering skills these days, almost every one
> will just fit a new pair of calipers (which are very cheap in any case
> now)
>
> removal of the broken bit would likely require removal and dismantling of
> the caliper, careful drilling down the bore of the broken bit (without
> breaking through) insertion of a grooved screw extractor (not a taper
> one)
> heating of the area and hopefully it would undo. rebuild the caliper and
> bob's etc. trouble is that the average place would have to charge more
> labour than a new caliper.
>
>
>

I've always got them out with a cordless with a left hand bit or a steep
taper tapered extractor
(http://www.powertooldirect.co.uk/dormer_m100_no1_csscrew_extracto-p-75220.html)
From: Mrcheerful on

"Duncan Wood" <nntpnews(a)dmx512.co.uk> wrote in message
news:op.vfz0korxhaghkf(a)lucy.cable.virginmedia.net...
> On Sat, 17 Jul 2010 15:00:16 +0100, Mrcheerful <nbkm57(a)hotmail.co.uk>
> wrote:
>
>>
>> "Stephen" <stephen(a)nowhere.com.invalid> wrote in message
>> news:l79346h23fpnvi4kb50de6bqa8uqd3akl1(a)4ax.com...
>>> Hello,
>>>
>>> I read and read the threads here about brake fluid changes to
>>> familiarise myself and I read that corroded bleed nipples might shear
>>> and unfortunately, the same thing has happened to me.
>>>
>>> It's the one on the front so it's on the caliper of a disc, rather
>>> than on a drum, not that I expect that makes any difference. It's a
>>> Citroen C3 but I doubt that makes any difference either.
>>>
>>> Not only has the top sheared off but it seems to have sheared below
>>> the surface of the caliper, so I cannot grab the remnant with mole
>>> grips or anything like that.
>>>
>>> I would think it would have to be drilled out. I know there are
>>> left-handed screw removers but when I have read about those on the
>>> 'net, reviews always seem to be uncomplimentary. I'm worried they may
>>> do more harm than good.
>>>
>>> Is there anything I can do, or is it best to take it to a garage now?
>>> What would they do? Would they attempt to remove the broken part or
>>> would they just fit a new caliper?
>>>
>>> Am I able to drive to the garage or should I be towed? There is a
>>> Gunson easy bleed on it pushing with 20psi and I would have thought
>>> that if I had managed to turn the nipple, by now my drive would be
>>> covered in fluid and the reservoir would be empty but nothing has
>>> happened. I think I managed to turn the top of the nipple but not the
>>> bottom! Does this mean that the remnant is still tight and the car is
>>> safe to drive?
>>>
>>> Thanks.
>>>
>>
>> if it doesn't leak when you press the brake pedal (engine running) then
>> it
>> is quite safe to drive.
>> very few garages have any engineering skills these days, almost every one
>> will just fit a new pair of calipers (which are very cheap in any case
>> now)
>>
>> removal of the broken bit would likely require removal and dismantling of
>> the caliper, careful drilling down the bore of the broken bit (without
>> breaking through) insertion of a grooved screw extractor (not a taper
>> one)
>> heating of the area and hopefully it would undo. rebuild the caliper and
>> bob's etc. trouble is that the average place would have to charge more
>> labour than a new caliper.
>>
>>
>>
>
> I've always got them out with a cordless with a left hand bit or a steep
> taper tapered extractor
> (http://www.powertooldirect.co.uk/dormer_m100_no1_csscrew_extracto-p-75220.html)

I would not recommend it as a job for someone without skills in that
direction, just in case (and if the OP was skilled he probably would not be
asking here). Depending on the vehicle the nipple thread can vary from
about 6 mm to 10mm, French stuff is usually fairly small, making the job
harder.