I rounded my brake bleeder,any tricks - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

blazer2007 · 05-13-2009, 10:02 AM

I rounded my brake bleeder on rear drum brake,anyone have any good tips or tricks,I don,t want to take brakes apart

**N2TRUX** · 05-13-2009, 10:06 AM

Were you using an open end wrench rather than a line wrench? Try the correct size line wrench if its not stripped to bad. If not, vise grips might work.

**old Rusty C10** · 05-13-2009, 11:28 AM

ive done this countless times myself and usually if its that tight the next problem is that the bleeder itself will snap off in the wheel cylinder.. ive successfully bled brakes by loosening the brake line and bleeding like youve do with the bleeder but its not the right way..
ive used a vise grip and it rarely works but sometimes it does... perhaps you should throw some pb blaster on it and let it sit a while

bigblock73 · 05-13-2009, 11:55 AM

Just buy new wheel cylinders and be done with it. Drum brakes are easy to work on.

If you didn't, ALWAYS use line wrences when working on brakes.

Speedracer77 · 05-13-2009, 01:50 PM

use a six point closed end wrench on the bleeder. 12 point will screw you most of the time. If it's too late, straight, not curved, jaw vice grips. perferably a pair with teeth that are still sharp. clamp them on as tight as possible. I have used big water pump plyers to clamp them on harder than I could with my bare hands. Crack them loose, not slow increasing force, but hard fast turn.

I personally do not use heat here. Brake fluid is flamable, and that can get exciting fast. Not in an "I won the lottery" way either, more of a "holy crap where is my fire extinguisher!" kind of way. IF YOU choose to use heat, (at your own risk of course) heat the cylinder around the bleeder, but after you already have the vice grips in place.

before doing any of this, keep in mind wheel cylinders are usually about $30 new, and come with a new bleeder. DO NOT try to remove the line with an open end wrench, a line wrench is made for this exact task. Straight jaw vice grip works for the line nut as well, but you can't clamp as tight, it will crush the line nut and possibly break it completely. Good luck!

mhicks · 05-13-2009, 03:12 PM

Water pump pliers, haven't heard that in a long time. Anybody know where that got that name? I do. Ha!

LONGHAIR · 05-13-2009, 07:01 PM

I am with the others on this, just replace the wheel cylinder. It will end-up taking less time to just "bite the bullet" in the first place.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mhicks

Water pump pliers, haven't heard that in a long time. Anybody know where that got that name? I do. Ha!

I know guys that don't even bother to use the "pliers" part of the word anymore, they just call them "water pumps".....

dammitmitchell · 05-13-2009, 08:57 PM

channel locks????
he he he

Speedracer77 · 05-13-2009, 09:09 PM

LMAO! You got me. They taught me channel locks in collage, but the "water pump pliers" comes from years of working with the old guys.

They often know the coolest stuff, don't cha know.

James McClure · 05-14-2009, 06:40 AM

I wouldn't heat the bleeder, the rubber cups won't take it. Spray it up good with PB or get some Heat riser lube from GM. Now take a punch and hold it dead striaght at the bleeder and give it a few good solid whacks then try to loosen it W\a 6 point wrench or socket. This hasen't failed me often unless the bleeder is real rusty, then just swap out the cylinders. Use anti-sieze on ALL your bleeders threads & always put the rubber covers back on to keep water\salt out. Jim

S10Fan · 05-14-2009, 08:50 AM

Just clamp off the line running to the wheel cylinder. Shoot, you have 4 of them, missing one isn't going to hurt anything. LOL

Just Kidding!

Replace the wheel cylinder and be done with it. Oh, and get a line wrench for the brake line.

Tony@AirRideTech · 05-14-2009, 09:04 AM

Vice grips and a MAP gas torch gets her everytime. On extremly stubborn ones, I will soak with PB, heat up... soak again.... heat again and crank the pliers

almost forgot, if you are heating the fitting connected to the rubber flex line, be sure to put on some safety googles and stay the hell away from the line. it WILL blow it off.

79blazer · 05-15-2009, 03:30 AM

+1 On the PB blaster. One of the few "magic fluids" that work.

The trick with drum brakes is to take both drums off and do one at a time... use the other one as a mirror image to see how it all goes back together.

"By the book" it should be noted that whatever you do to one side on the brakes, you should do to the other side.

**N2TRUX** · 05-15-2009, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony@AirRideTech

..... if you are heating the fitting connected to the rubber flex line, be sure to put on some safety googles and stay the hell away from the line. it WILL blow it off.

This sounds like a voice of experience speaking...

05-13-2009, 10:02 AM	#1
blazer2007 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: vernon b.c. Posts: 3,022	I rounded my brake bleeder,any tricks I rounded my brake bleeder on rear drum brake,anyone have any good tips or tricks,I don,t want to take brakes apart

05-13-2009, 10:06 AM	#2
N2TRUX Happy to be here Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Cypress, TX Posts: 39,021	Re: I rounded my brake bleeder,any tricks Were you using an open end wrench rather than a line wrench? Try the correct size line wrench if its not stripped to bad. If not, vise grips might work. __________________ Follow me on Facebook and Instagram @N2trux.com Articles- "Jake" the 84 to 74 crewcab "Elwood" the77_Remix 85 GMC Sierra "Scarlett" "Refining Sierra"

05-13-2009, 11:28 AM	#3
old Rusty C10 Robert Olson Transport Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: recent transplant to NC USA Posts: 20,310	Re: I rounded my brake bleeder,any tricks ive done this countless times myself and usually if its that tight the next problem is that the bleeder itself will snap off in the wheel cylinder.. ive successfully bled brakes by loosening the brake line and bleeding like youve do with the bleeder but its not the right way.. ive used a vise grip and it rarely works but sometimes it does... perhaps you should throw some pb blaster on it and let it sit a while __________________ Bob 1951 International running on a squarebody chassis "If a man's worth is judged by the people he associates himself with, then i am the richest man in the world knowing some of the fine people of this board" http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...t.php?f=25&a=9 (you can review the site rules here!) PM Me for your vehicle/parts hauling needs in the North East US or see my Facebook page Robert Olson Transport Live each day to the fullest.. you never know when fate is going to pull the rug out from under you... I hate cancer!! Last edited by old Rusty C10; 05-13-2009 at 11:30 AM.

05-13-2009, 11:55 AM	#4
bigblock73 yeller Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Twin Cities Posts: 13,824	Re: I rounded my brake bleeder,any tricks Just buy new wheel cylinders and be done with it. Drum brakes are easy to work on. If you didn't, ALWAYS use line wrences when working on brakes. __________________ Jeff 73-87.com 73-87.com Facebook page 73-87 cab corner 6x9 speaker brackets for sale 67-72 cab corner speaker brackets for sale 47-54 cab corner speaker brackets for sale

05-13-2009, 01:50 PM	#5
Speedracer77 Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Location: Kimberley B.C. Canada Posts: 19	Re: I rounded my brake bleeder,any tricks use a six point closed end wrench on the bleeder. 12 point will screw you most of the time. If it's too late, straight, not curved, jaw vice grips. perferably a pair with teeth that are still sharp. clamp them on as tight as possible. I have used big water pump plyers to clamp them on harder than I could with my bare hands. Crack them loose, not slow increasing force, but hard fast turn. I personally do not use heat here. Brake fluid is flamable, and that can get exciting fast. Not in an "I won the lottery" way either, more of a "holy crap where is my fire extinguisher!" kind of way. IF YOU choose to use heat, (at your own risk of course) heat the cylinder around the bleeder, but after you already have the vice grips in place. before doing any of this, keep in mind wheel cylinders are usually about $30 new, and come with a new bleeder. DO NOT try to remove the line with an open end wrench, a line wrench is made for this exact task. Straight jaw vice grip works for the line nut as well, but you can't clamp as tight, it will crush the line nut and possibly break it completely. Good luck!

05-13-2009, 03:12 PM	#6
mhicks Registered User Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Weatherford,Tx Posts: 747	Re: I rounded my brake bleeder,any tricks Water pump pliers, haven't heard that in a long time. Anybody know where that got that name? I do. Ha!

05-13-2009, 08:57 PM	#8
dammitmitchell the pollock Join Date: May 2008 Location: abilene, texas Posts: 4,423	Re: I rounded my brake bleeder,any tricks channel locks???? he he he __________________ Jack of ALL trades, Master of none.. (but one... procrastination) Army vet 02-08 RIP El Jay! Miss you brother! http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=343538 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=386042

05-13-2009, 09:09 PM	#9
Speedracer77 Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Location: Kimberley B.C. Canada Posts: 19	Re: I rounded my brake bleeder,any tricks LMAO! You got me. They taught me channel locks in collage, but the "water pump pliers" comes from years of working with the old guys. They often know the coolest stuff, don't cha know.

05-14-2009, 06:40 AM	#10
James McClure One shot, one kill. Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Saratoga Springs NY Posts: 859	Re: I rounded my brake bleeder,any tricks I wouldn't heat the bleeder, the rubber cups won't take it. Spray it up good with PB or get some Heat riser lube from GM. Now take a punch and hold it dead striaght at the bleeder and give it a few good solid whacks then try to loosen it W\a 6 point wrench or socket. This hasen't failed me often unless the bleeder is real rusty, then just swap out the cylinders. Use anti-sieze on ALL your bleeders threads & always put the rubber covers back on to keep water\salt out. Jim __________________ 1984 K20 350M engine with 465,000 miles. Well, it's finally done!! Almost 2 years of work, but it was really worth the effort. Little stuff left to do is mount winch, wet sand & buff out and build belly pan\running boards. Body work takes lots and LOTS of beer!!!! God, Guts and Guns made America and God, Guts and Guns will preserve it! The worst thing you could do is get into my sights, but that don't matter, you'll never know it, cause you'll never hear the shotJim or Paladin whichever you choose.

05-14-2009, 08:50 AM	#11
S10Fan Old Heap Driver Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Newport News, Va Posts: 2,642	Re: I rounded my brake bleeder,any tricks Just clamp off the line running to the wheel cylinder. Shoot, you have 4 of them, missing one isn't going to hurt anything. LOL Just Kidding! Replace the wheel cylinder and be done with it. Oh, and get a line wrench for the brake line. __________________ _____________________________ Bryan '99 Silverado 1500, 4.3, 5-speed, reg cab, short bed '50 Chevy 2DR Hard Top, 350/350, M2 Front End, 3:08 gear, cruiser. '40 F**d Sedan, all Chevy power, Heidt's front end, TCI rear, nice driver.

05-14-2009, 09:04 AM	#12
Tony@AirRideTech Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Huntingburg IN Posts: 620	Re: I rounded my brake bleeder,any tricks Vice grips and a MAP gas torch gets her everytime. On extremly stubborn ones, I will soak with PB, heat up... soak again.... heat again and crank the pliers almost forgot, if you are heating the fitting connected to the rubber flex line, be sure to put on some safety googles and stay the hell away from the line. it WILL blow it off. Last edited by Tony@AirRideTech; 05-14-2009 at 09:08 AM. Reason: just cause.......

05-15-2009, 03:30 AM	#13
79blazer Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Mesa, Arizona Posts: 136	Re: I rounded my brake bleeder,any tricks +1 On the PB blaster. One of the few "magic fluids" that work. The trick with drum brakes is to take both drums off and do one at a time... use the other one as a mirror image to see how it all goes back together. "By the book" it should be noted that whatever you do to one side on the brakes, you should do to the other side. __________________ 79 Blazer Cheyenne, 2wd 305 3.42 stock 85 Caprice, TBI converted, new 350 crate motor, Monte Carlo SS Wheels, Bilstein shocks,



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