PDA

View Full Version : Bleeder broke-off in caliper. :(



registering
06-13-2004, 03:07 PM
Hi all,
While bleeding my brakes for the first time ever, I was on the LAST bleeder and it broke-off inside my caliper. :( Now what I don't get is I was hand tightening it, not even with a wrench, just my hand, and it broke right in half! Is this normal?? Now I'm paranoid to touch ANYTHING on my car!! I then bought a screw extractor kit to get it out, and the damn extractor bit broke off!!!!!! So now I can't even drill it out. :( So my caliper's at my mechanic having surgery done, and hopefully I don't need a new caliper. Suffice it to say I was extremely.....disappointed. How tight are these bleeders supposed to go? This wasn't even CLOSE to being flush with the caliper, so it was barely in. These are stock bleeders, although I just bought Speed Bleeders which should be in this week, and I'll replace them all since my car's up on jacks right now and useless any way.

I wd-40'd the bleeder before putting it back in. Is this enough? Is this broken bleeder a fluke?? Am I cursed?? I'm amazed a piece of metal like that would break in half just by hand tightening it. It didn't seem to be crossthreaded, and was giving no real resistance. :( Should I lube the bleeder with something else next time??

Thanks,
Scared-to-touch-Anything-Now

Maxx Mazda
06-14-2004, 12:15 AM
Sounds liek a fluke man... Don't be afraid to take your car apart!

registering
06-14-2004, 01:34 PM
Well, hopefully it's a fluke. My mechanic says because the drill bit broke-off inside the caliper while trying to remove the screw, I'm screwed. I went to Bennett's auto supply and they say they can't get me a new OR rebuilt caliper. So I'm off to Auto Discount Parts tonight, then -- shudder -- a brand new caliper from Mazda. :( I didn't know bleeding brakes would be so expensive. :)

registering
06-14-2004, 01:51 PM
$373 for a single new rear caliper. :( Anyone have a used one? :) I will never bleed my brakes again!!

uclap5
06-14-2004, 01:58 PM
http://car-part.com/

there are like 50 listings from $30-100 for calipers

registering
06-14-2004, 04:34 PM
Dooood you just saved me so much money!!!!! Thank you!!!

uclap5
06-14-2004, 04:38 PM
no prob :)