Help with brake caliper nipple

[9XLT3Explorer]

Ok heres what happened.My good ol brother in law told me a number of times that 12 point sockets dont round off bolts or whatever.Well i told him that when i would go to loosen a tight bolt that it would jump and feel like it was rounding off.Well he said that is caused from the socket slipping from one ridge to the other in the socket.

I took his advice and said ok with it.Well i had some air in my brake lines and went to open the nipple on the caliper and the socket did the slipping thing and now the nipple is rounded completly.So my question here is what do i do to fix this and get the old one off and new one put in there?Thanks for any help here.

-Mike

 

[loco offroad]

get a pair of vise grips or buy a new caliper. they are only $13

 

[410Fortune]

VISE GRIPS, when used properly they can remove most rounded bolts.
You can buy a new bleeder at any auto parts store.

Worn/cheap sockets round bolts.

 

[9XLT3Explorer]

VISE GRIPS, when used properly they can remove most rounded bolts.
You can buy a new bleeder at any auto parts store.

Worn/cheap sockets round bolts.

Thanks for the replies.I think they are cheap sockets.One day ill get some decent ones.Again thanks for the help here.

 

[Glacier991]

Also look into 6 point sockets when you buy your new ones.

 

[9XLT3Explorer]

Also look into 6 point sockets when you buy your new ones.

Yea i got a set of those the other day.I tried to get it off i was under there doing shocks and the socket just went round and round on the nipple.Hopefully i can do the vice grips and get it off.Anyone know how much a new nipple would cost and where to get it?

Thanks again.

 

[410Fortune]

any GOOD auto parts store, about $1

 

[EMG7895]

Vice grips should work, if they are real rusted use some heat.

 

[9XLT3Explorer]

any GOOD auto parts store, about $1

Ok sounds good to me.Thanks again for the response.

 

[kwaf1]

caliper

If all you have to do is bleed the brakes have someone pump and open the brake line where it attaches to the caliper, works fine done it many times myself. Forget the nipple.

 

[9XLT3Explorer]

If all you have to do is bleed the brakes have someone pump and open the brake line where it attaches to the caliper, works fine done it many times myself. Forget the nipple.

Ok ill try that.Thanks for that insight.

 

[DeRocha]

I would not crack open the brake hose unless I really needed to . There is a crush washer between the hose mounting plate and the caliper used to make a perfect air tight seal. Removing the hose and reinstalling it will re-crush the washer which may not make a perfect seal and thus leak brake fluid. If your bleeding nipple is rounded off then just replace it... As the other have already stated it is very common for professional mechanics to use vice grips to remove bleeder valves. I have the pair below which is perfect for removing stuck anythiing.. It acts like a socket, but makes a perfect grip on the fasteners with lots of force.. You just slip a length of pipe over the tools handle and your fastener is off in know time... BTW spray some penetrating oil on the stuck bleeder before attempting to remove it. Also the bleeder is fairly strong and can take some abuse getting it out, so don't be worried you're going to snap it off...

 

[9XLT3Explorer]

I would not crack open the brake hose unless I really needed to . There is a crush washer between the hose mounting plate and the caliper used to make a perfect air tight seal. Removing the hose and reinstalling it will re-crush the washer which may not make a perfect seal and thus leak brake fluid. If your bleeding nipple is rounded off then just replace it... As the other have already stated it is very common for professional mechanics to use vice grips to remove bleeder valves. I have the pair below which is perfect for removing stuck anythiing.. It acts like a socket, but makes a perfect grip on the fasteners with lots of force.. You just slip a length of pipe over the tools handle and your fastener is off in know time... BTW spray some penetrating oil on the stuck bleeder before attempting to remove it. Also the bleeder is fairly strong and can take some abuse getting it out, so don't be worried you're going to snap it off...

Ok thanks for that heads up before i tried that.Can i get that tool at any parts place and for how much.Thanks again.

 

[DeRocha]

"Normal" vice grips will work fine since you don't plan on re-using the bleeder (use the long nose variety). The Locking Vice Grip was $13 @ Sears 5+ years ago (but you'd have to check around since it isn't an normally stocked item). A huge benefit of the pictured is that is doesn't mangle the fastener and allows it to be re-used.

 

[9XLT3Explorer]

"Normal" vice grips will work fine since you don't plan on re-using the bleeder (use the long nose variety). The Locking Vice Grip was $13 @ Sears 5+ years ago (but you'd have to check around since it isn't an normally stocked item). A huge benefit of the pictured is that is doesn't mangle the fastener and allows it to be re-used.

Ok thanks again for the help.Ill check around and see what i can come up with.