Topic: Leaking Nipples....

[lordmoonpie]

So now I've got your attention....I've got the brakes on, installed and bled. I tightened the bleed nipples on the calipers with a BIG spanner as tight as I dared to and after a few days they are still seeping brake fluid! So, what do I do?!

Can I put something in the bleed hole to stop this like plumbers PTFE tape or do I just get a breaker bar to tighten then things and hope the bleed nipple doesn't sheer? What can I use to seal this that won't contaminate the brake fluid?!

[mystic_1]

The bleeder screws have a tapered end that mates with the seat in the bleeder port.  If it's leaking, there's a good possibility that either the end of the bleeder screw or the seat in the port is damaged.  Pull the bleeder screw out and take a look.

mystic_1

[Porscheguy912]

I would try new bleeder valves before you tighten these down even more and break them off in the caliper.

If the new valves don't help perhaps the valve seats in your calipers is gouged or screwed up.
But whatever you do, don't break those little buggers off in the the caliper!

If you do, you will become very friendly with the nefarious tool called the "easy out".
And its name is deceiving because there is nothing "easy" about them. Look up posts on here about them. I have needed them along with a torch, and oil and i ended up breaking the caliper trying to get the dang thing out.
And even if you do get the broken valve out, there is no saying that the seat wasn't  messed up before-hand; leaving all that work for naught!

In a nut shell, replace your bleeder valves, if that doesn't work look at the seats. Chances are they are at fault.

AW mystic! you beat me to it!

[cafe750]

Damn, what a let down... ...
As far as the actual problem at hand, I say what the others just said...

[jonbuoy]

PTFE doesn't mix well with hydraulic/brake fluid.

[lordmoonpie]

Thanks guys - I was worried about that. K0 calipers are not that common so I'm praying it's the bleed screw at fault....rats! 

Ah well just so you can see what a lovely setup it might be, here's a picture...

[333]

It almost looks like the bleeder isn't seating down enough.  Like it may be the wrong size.

[mystic_1]

May as well get yourself some Speedbleeders.  If they don't solve the problem, you can use them on the replacement caliper.

mystic_1

[moham]

bleedin' nipples...

[wrenchmuch]

If that is your setup in the pic is it possible that you didn't remove the cone seat that the steel oil pipe used to seal ? I seem to remember instructions that said to put a finishing nail through the cone from inside the caliper and then pull the cone out . That may be why the nipple seems to be stickin out so far.

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

Breast pads and Speed Bleeders.

[Hush]

Maternity bra?

[754]

KBC Tools sells c-sinks that are different angles.. I think it is 90 deg you need.. you can recut a dammaged seat by hand holding the c-sink in a drill chuck..

[jonbuoy]

Nice setup 

[lordmoonpie]

Yeah I did take out the cones for the original pipes which was a monster job as the calipers were in a poor state. Maybe I should try cutting back the seat a bit? Think I'll try the new bleed nipples first though as a cheaper option. They do seem to sit mighty high up in the thread but they are very very long bleed nipples - torpedos even! 

I have to take the lines off now anyway as I've just got a replacement for my leaky 3 way union half way down the line setup. Sometimes I wish these were nice modern AP calipers that bleed in 5 minutes flat, but hey, where's the fun in that 

I did try breast pads but they aren't hard wearing enough against the cast iron discs. They do help in the wet though....for a while