Stiff nipples!

[plums]

Bought some calipers to refurb for my C2 GT. Anyone have any tips for removing the bleed nipples which look quite corroded.

Current plan is 24 hour soak in Plus Gas then use a hex ring spanner. Someone has suggested pouring boiling water onto the body to try and expand it.

Thanks

[E-bmw]

Plus gas doesn't do much until the offending item is moving as it turns the rust particles into a similar consistency of a grinding paste and then it really helps.

Based on this the best track is to start it moving after a long soak then turn it in & out until it gets moving better.

Use the best spanner/socket you have, preferably a "full hex" socket rather than 12-point or ring spanner.

If it fails then there is pretty much only 1 way, drill & tap it out.

[steveo3002]

got anyone that can weld ? weld a nut over it and the heat should free it up , then fit new ones

[RCBRG]

try knocking the spanner with a hammer to shock it

[andym1603]

The way I have had a lot of success is after a good soaking clamp the nipple in a vice and slowly turn the caliper off it. The weight of the caliper seems to help. Never broken one yet. Works with wheel cylinders as well.

[plums]

Thanks for the suggestions all will report back!

[plums]

Good news, my nipples are out!

Started with the spanner after a soak in Plus Gas but nothing happened with moderate force so I gave it a few belts with a hammer before turning the nipple in the "tight" direction and it moved!

After a generous squirt of more Gas I worked it back and forth (great tip) and it eased out nicely.

Still reasonably new to spannering so it was a good confidence boost to deal with what seemed to be a very rusty fitting.

Thanks for all assistance!

[buzzer]

plums said:

Good news, my nipples are out!

Started with the spanner after a soak in Plus Gas but nothing happened with moderate force so I gave it a few belts with a hammer before turning the nipple in the "tight" direction and it moved!

After a generous squirt of more Gas I worked it back and forth (great tip) and it eased out nicely.

Still reasonably new to spannering so it was a good confidence boost to deal with what seemed to be a very rusty fitting.

Thanks for all assistance!

Great you got them out! I have come across this many times over the years, and tried all sorts. the advice given is good, but here is my process for getting them out...

wire brush them well first off to clean all the dirt from around the threads.

Use a 1mm drill in a pin vice to get the debris out of the hole and get right to the bottom.

apply Plus Gas around the thread and in the hole.

tap the top of the nipple quite hard and repeatedly with a small hammer.

apply more plus gas and leave as long as you can

use a hex rather than a 12 point spanner or socket

this seems to get most out, although steel nipples in alloy calipers always prove the most difficult. with these I sometimes warm them up with the blow torch.

[E-bmw]

plums said:

Good news, my nipples are out!

Started with the spanner after a soak in Plus Gas but nothing happened with moderate force so I gave it a few belts with a hammer before turning the nipple in the "tight" direction and it moved!

After a generous squirt of more Gas I worked it back and forth (great tip) and it eased out nicely.

Still reasonably new to spannering so it was a good confidence boost to deal with what seemed to be a very rusty fitting.

Thanks for all assistance!

Glad you got it sorted.