Home page
SPONSOR AD SPONSOR AD

Topic: Sheared off front brake bleeder valve

in Forum: C3 Handling Components


Sheared off front brake bleeder valve

Posted: 5/5/11 10:08am Message 1 of 10
Profile Pic
Former Member
Send PM
Tucson, AZ - USA
Joined: 7/11/2010
Posts: 415
Vette(s): 1982 Black/Tan Leather Build Code C09E Bronze TTop CrossFire Fuel Injection L83 85 Fuel Pump Auto Axle 2.72 Firestone Firehawk Indy500
Hello all,

Angry I managed to shear off the nut part of the front right bleeder valve.  It is not leaking and I have taken the car out for a drive.  The brakes work fine. 

Any advice on removing the bad valve with an easy out?  I have to use the car tomorrow but, will be working on the problem on Saturday.  I've never removed a caliper before and will try to get the broken valve out while it is still on the car.

I have two replacement valves and will replace the front left first to make sure they are the right size.

I picked up a vacuum device that bleeds the brake line from the valve end.  It is a one person operation and worked very well on the other three brake lines.  I also picked up another contraption that hooks up to my compressor and drains the lines completely.  It states in the directions if you continue to add new brake fluid while removing the old you can replace all the fluid from the master.  I have not tried that yet. 

Thanks for the advice.

Keith




Nobody ever waves when I'm driving the Explorer.
K Woody
SPONSOR AD:: (Our Sponsors help support C3VR)

Sheared off front brake bleeder valve

Posted: 5/5/11 11:32am Message 2 of 10
Profile Pic
Lifetime MemberLifetime Member
Moderator
Send PM
Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20218
Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
Ruh Roh!!!
That's gonna be tricky...the bleeders aren't very long to begin with. You might try soaking it down with WD40/PB Blaster(or similar) for a while first. Then, take a small mallet(fancy name fer a hammer) and tap around on the casting around the bleeder, before trying to use an ease-out.
Spraying the WD40 down in the bleeder will get some of it around the threads, since the bleeder is hollow, and it has the hole on the side, close to the threads. I'd let that bugger soak for an hour or so, keeping it wet all the time. Ya never know...it might spin right out.
Pigs might also fly right outta my buttocks.....
It's definitely worth a shot, anyway.



Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    

My Link


(click for Texas-sized view!)
             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

Sheared off front brake bleeder valve

Posted: 5/5/11 12:58pm Message 3 of 10
Profile Pic
Former Member
Send PM
Tucson, AZ - USA
Joined: 7/11/2010
Posts: 415
Vette(s): 1982 Black/Tan Leather Build Code C09E Bronze TTop CrossFire Fuel Injection L83 85 Fuel Pump Auto Axle 2.72 Firestone Firehawk Indy500
Thanks Joel,

I used the PB Blaster on the other side (left front) and it almost turned out by hand.  I'll do that and see what happens.  The beauty of this vacuum bleeder is I only had to jack the body up a few inches so the bleeder valves could be reached from above the tire. I was not using a deep socket and just did not get it on the valve properly.  I'll let you know how it works out.  Thanks again.

I also like the Astro reference: "Ruh Roh!!!"  I often say that and nobody gets it.  His first owner named him: "Tralfaz"  "Rrruch!"

Keith





Nobody ever waves when I'm driving the Explorer.
K Woody

Sheared off front brake bleeder valve

Posted: 5/5/11 2:20pm Message 4 of 10
Profile Pic
Lifetime MemberLifetime Member
Moderator
Send PM
Burke, VT - USA
Joined: 1/23/2002
Posts: 7297
Vette(s):
SOLD - "The Toy" - '70 Convertible
SOLD - "The Beast" - '90 ZR-1 (#682)
SOLD - "Betty" - '28 Ford Model A Tudor
SOLD - "BLKBRRD" - '78 Pontiac Trans Am
"BLUBYU" - '04 Coupe
Check at any GM dealer for a can of Rust Penetrant and Inhibitor (Heat Valve Lubricant) - current part number 88862627.
 
Zen Master Ken (ksyter) told me about this stuff and it is hands down the best I've EVER used.  It might be a bit spendier that the others but it WORKS!
 
Another tip he gave me when trying to loosen a rusted threaded whatever - if it is stuck try tightening it to crack the rust lock, then try to back it off.  That has worked for me on more than one occasion.
 
I made a power bleeder that works from the master cylinder pushing fluid through the system.  I spend more time getting the car up in the air and down again than it takes to bleed the entire system.  Check it out here.



Jim Olson 

"The Toys"...!!!  Save the Wave!

Where I've been in a Corvette...!!!

Sheared off front brake bleeder valve

Posted: 5/6/11 7:28am Message 5 of 10
Lifetime MemberLifetime Member
Moderator
Send PM
BINGHAMTON, NY - USA
Joined: 7/19/2003
Posts: 3808
Vette(s): ......
I broke off the bleeder screws when I first got my Vette,tried E-Z outs and broke them ,turned both calipers in as cores for rebuilt ones.makes sure you use anti sieze on them when you replace them,makes the next brake bleed much easier Thumbs Up


C3VR Lifetime Member #93

Sheared off front brake bleeder valve

Posted: 5/6/11 8:00am Message 6 of 10
Profile Pic
Former Member
Send PM
York, PA - USA
Joined: 5/18/2010
Posts: 1518
Vette(s): 1969 daytona conv. all original 350 350 380 4 sp w/air..and hard top
I am with Norsky on the GM goop..it does work..I think if your brakes work and you just want to bleed them use the brake line bolt..crack it loose for the hold down..it does take two people then..other then that I will wait for the pigs to fly out of Joels behind..or just replace them..also when you do go after bleeders on any car they only need a touch over hand tight..make sure you are using the correct socket size..some cars with replacement calipers have all different sizes on them..still waiting on the pigs..

Rich



My first parade at Carlisle 2010

Sheared off front brake bleeder valve

Posted: 5/6/11 10:02am Message 7 of 10
Profile Pic
Lifetime MemberLifetime Member
Moderator
Send PM
Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20218
Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas



Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    

My Link


(click for Texas-sized view!)
             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

Sheared off front brake bleeder valve

Posted: 5/6/11 1:46pm Message 8 of 10
Profile Pic
Lifetime MemberLifetime Member
Send PM
Sykesville, MD - USA
Joined: 4/27/2008
Posts: 4240
Vette(s): 1979 Corvette Coupe Corvette Light Blue Midnight Blue interior Mirrored Glass T-tops
Where do I get one of those?????? Seriously, I'd probably get new ones rather than go to all that work and maybe ruin them anyway. I don't see how you could drill them out on the car, anyway, no way to avoid getting mtal shavings in the system. Just my .02.
 
Barry
 
LOL



"Down on the Boardwalk...

(Click image to see a larger version}
 
Lifetime Member #181

Sheared off front brake bleeder valve

Posted: 5/7/11 5:15am Message 9 of 10
Profile Pic
Lifetime MemberLifetime Member
Send PM
HOWELL, NJ - USA
Joined: 5/18/2004
Posts: 6812
Vette(s): 1979, Targa Blue (72 Color), Pace Car rear spoiler, L88 hood, Dark blue factory interior, 525HP 406, HD 700R4, 370 gears,Steeroids, composite rear spring, TT IIs wrapped in T/A Radials.
[QUOTE=Adams' Apple]
Pigs might also fly right outta my buttocks.....
[/QUOTE]

How much PB Blaster does it take to make that happen Joel?? Rolling On The Floor Laughing



LukesVette Homepage
Veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom
101st Airborne(AirAssault!)
God Bless America

Support Our Troops


     

Sheared off front brake bleeder valve

Posted: 5/7/11 1:16pm Message 10 of 10
Profile Pic
Former Member
Send PM
Tucson, AZ - USA
Joined: 7/11/2010
Posts: 415
Vette(s): 1982 Black/Tan Leather Build Code C09E Bronze TTop CrossFire Fuel Injection L83 85 Fuel Pump Auto Axle 2.72 Firestone Firehawk Indy500
Thanks to all that were waiting for Pigs to fly.... 

I got off to a late start this am but got the PB Blaster on the valve working.  The car is up in the air and ready for tomorrow.  I just had to quit for the day when it hit 100* in the garage.  I guess I'm just a wimp that way.

I got the vacuum bleeder at Harbor Freight.  It really did work very well until I hit this snag.... I think it was $30 or so... has a meter and a hand pump. It is a one person system. The breaks are firm and it is not pulling to ether side.

 Next is to find the vacuum leak that is somewhere in the vacuum system....

Keith




Nobody ever waves when I'm driving the Explorer.
K Woody

in Forum: C3 Handling Components


SPONSOR AD: (Our Sponsors help support C3VR)