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front caliper bleed nipple sheared.
Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 8:59 am
Author: dave3d
yes, it really happened! Damn, but has anyone ever drilled one out and replaced? Cheers
Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 10:21 am
Author: Buckle
Don't panic yet! It can be done with a little patience. Just make sure you drill straight and true, which with a bleed nipple isn't too hard as it has a "pilot hole" through it already.
Just make sure you don't drill into the bleed nipples seat in the caliper body.
Good luck
Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 10:23 am
Author: dave3d
great! I'll have a San Miguel to steady them hands up...
Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 10:41 am
Author: Buckle
And make sure the drill bit used is smaller diameter than the bleed nipples thread!
Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 11:13 am
Author: Steve R
I wouldnt try, I would take it to an engineering firm that does spark erosion, does not cost much and it will not damage the caliper.
Problem with drilling it out is that normally when you drill a bolt you are trying to drill the meat of the bolt out letting you pick away at the threaded bit , difference with this is its also stuck where its bottomed out in the caliper and to drill that bit out will be very hard, not sure that made sense really but heh I know what I mean... I think

Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 12:43 pm
Author: Mark Stratton
Dave, I've stripped the thread on my ZX10 brake caliper bleed nipple after totally rebuilding it with new everything - god the air turned blue that day!
I got hold of a Heli coil set for a M7 x 1.0 thread, drilled, fitted and hey presto it worked. If you need a set there is a guy on E-Bay that will probably sell the size you want. I will try and find his e-mail and let you know. At least if you go wobbly with your drill you can just fit the insert.
Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 1:07 pm
Author: Vince@Z1b
As the blead nipples got a nice pilot hole through the middle, you can drill this out a lttle larger to take a stud extractor.
Be careful not to drill to deep and hit the caliper seating. Oh and don't break the stud extractor or you will need the spark errosion.
front caliper bleed nipple sheared.
Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 1:12 pm
Author: Mick Hayward
Hi Dave
You could use a small threasd extractor tap. We used to call them
easy-outs
In your case it would screw into the existing bleed hole anticlockwise, bite and then unscrews the remaining thread (no damage). Most engineering workshops will have then.
Regards
Mick
Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 1:42 pm
Author: Vince@Z1b
The pilot hole may be a little small, so I'd go for opening it out a mm or so.
With the pilot hole in the nipple your drill should follow the correct line ok, plus being steel it should not grab like alloy.
You can get the extractors as a pack normally for a few Euros at most tools shops.
I'd also run some boiling water over the calliper for a while to get some heat into it as a little expansion takes some of the pressure off.
Gently does its
Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 5:50 pm
Author: Rich
As you will be playing with your carbs for weeks get a tin that will take the calliper and soak the calliper in diesel for a week. The main problem with taking broken bleed nipples out is the stud extractor snapping as well.
Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 7:08 pm
Author: Pigford
I'd think x2 before using a small (very brittle) stud extractor
Drilling out is the way to go....... second to spark erosion
Slowly does it..... a bench drill is a must
Good luck

Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 7:35 pm
Author: Dodgy Z1B
If it all goes pear shaped you can try two things fit a banjo bolt with bleed nipple on the back and dont bother touching broken bleed nipple or if you do try and drill it out and it goes wrong fit one of these
http://www.zodiac.nl/en/catalog/bbook36/12.pdf

Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2009 8:39 am
Author: Ginger Bear
I have had very limited sucess with as piggy says, 'brittle' easy-out extractors. The seat is the part NOT to damage.
I strongly agree with some of the earlier comments, ie; Soak with deisel or some other (plus gas] penetrating fluid for a good long time, and get some heat into the caliper body.... GOOD LUCK

Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2009 9:52 am
Author: gbh
Rich wrote: main problem with taking broken bleed nipples out is the stud extractor snapping as well.
Been there, done that.
I can't be sure but I suspect people a few blocks away heard me say, "faaaaark".
Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2009 11:54 am
Author: Rich
and when you put a new one in put a bit of ptfe tape round it.