blunsford

Anyone got any great ideas on how to remove broken brake bleeders? The only idea I have is to use an easy-out.

Is this a lost cause or is there a better way?

Thanks in advance.

79VetteMike

I'd try the easy out.

Chuck Gongloff

Easy Outs aren't "easy", and they've NEVER taken anything "out" for me. :) I usually break them, then am faced with drilling out the case hardened steel.

You can heat the bleeder....try to wiggle it with vice grips, etc. You can try PB Blaster, etc. You can carefully try to drill it out, but if you "booger" the threads, or more importantly "booger" the seat, the caliper is trash. Chuck

blunsford

What's PB Blaster? The calipers are trash anyway if I don't get the bleeders out. Doesn't anyone make a decent bleeder screw that won't seize or break? These friggin calipers are only 4 years old.

GDaina

PB Blaster is penetrating oil, comes in a spray can. Works great, can get it at any automotive store.

Another method you might try...remove the caliper, hit the surrounding area with a torch to break the rust loose, doesn't have to be red hot. If you can get vice grips on it, then use the grips, if not, try the easy out but don't twist it to a point the easy out will break. You will know right away if the bleeder will budge or not. If the bleeder doesn't budge use more heat.

Paul Borowski

I've been lucky and have been able to take two broken bleeders out by drilling. Start out small and eventually to one size less than the hole counting the threads. It seems what happens, when you start drilling away material, the thin part of whats left seems to loose it's grip and starts "spinning" out with the drill. As Chuck said above, do this super carefully, don't booger the threads and you'll get it out, use patience and swear words-NO TOOL THROWING :lolg:

boredsoIstrokedit

All the suggestions are pretty much SOP. There is one more trick I have had to resort to before. Heat the bolt/surrounding area with a torch (not to red) and get a candle. Melt the wax on the hot metal around the thread area. As the metals cool it should suck in a little bit of the wax. The bolt should turn right out with a pliers or Vise Grips.

That being said, I broke 1 bleeder screw in all of my working on crap so far. I got a new caliper. twisted clean flush with the caliper. Once the EZ break well, broke, I threw the caliper away. Good luck, hope it works for you. Those FUD calipers were a little cheaper at the junkyard for me than vette will be for you, so you probably will try longer. :smash: :smash: :cheers:

LAvetteman

Not worth the drama of trying to salvage. I had a bleeder break then not long after that the caliper casting cracked. Turned them in at autozone for some fresh remanufactureds. :auto: