[LiamGT]

Bleed nipple is completely seized. I'm hearing lots of 'methods' (soaking WD40, gentle heat etc.) but I'm convinced that I'm going to shear it if I'm not careful. Any ideas?

When/if I do budge it, how easy is it to replace the nipple entirely, and does anyone have the part number?

Cheers!

 

[Joss]

You can replace the bleed nipple. Just replaced the ones on my GTA calipered JTD 156. Cost was £15 for a set which is 2 nipples per side on the brembo so I'd imagine the GT standard calipers will be a lot less.. Soak with wd40/plus gas and leave over night.

 

[gammakeith]

It may come out with lots of soaking and heat but once corroded in they can be hard to shift. They are also very hard to drill out if they do snap. The good news is that they snap off in the 'closed' position so it doesn't lose you your brakes while you decide what to do.

If it snaps you are best off with a good second hand caliper....

Keith

 

[Joss]

I may have a second hand set painted red with alfa logos on from when I converted to brembos

 

[Guest]

If in doubt... If you have access to a bench vice
Then the best and safest method is to remove the caliper body itself.

1. You have to disconnect the flexi brake hose to the caliper itself but since you are bleeding the system anyway, it's no great hardship.

2. Just remember to clamp the flexi hose to stop air getting all the way up to the ABS valve.

3. Once its unbolted and loose from the car give the bleed nipple a good squirt with "plusgas".
You don't need it to soak in for long... Even giving the end a gentle tap with a hammer can help free off a siezed thread, especially if you are changing the nipple anyway.

4. Now place the caliper bleed nipple in the vice jaws and tighten up as much as possible, even using a longer tube as leverage on the vice handle.

5. Get a good firm grip of the caliper body and twist the nipple out gently with firm but gentle pressure until it starts to release.

6. Switch to a spanner to take out the nipple once released to preserve the thread from damage

7. Replace the nipple with a new one but make sure that you give the "threads only" a light smear of copper grease making sure that you keep it away from the internal bleed hole.

8. Don't over tighten it and fit the caliper back on the car in reverse order.

9. Bleed the brakes as normal and double check for leaks around the brake hose and nipple, they don't need much to nip up

This also works on rounded off and chewed up bleed nipples too:thumbs:

 

[davealfa11]

3. tap with hammer or actually tighten to break seal of corrosion
if no hope and nipple does snap regardless of actions ,set of easy-outs

 

[LiamGT]

Thanks for all the help, guys.

Replacing the calipers is not an option really, as I am short on cash and I have a very long list of other jobs that need doing urgently ahead of MOT.

I am very reassured knowing that snapping the nipple won't cause the seal to fail -should give me a bit of confidence going forward to try and force it.

As a side note, a guy at work (ex-F1) advised strongly against using a blowtorch or similar to heat. His recommendation was that a much better method is using a soldering iron and some patience. Avoids any mishaps with hoses. Sounds worth a go to me, will report back if successful.