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Geocritter's avatar
Geocritter
Explorer
Nov 05, 2013

Rust-frozen brake bleeder screws

Since I grew up in the rust-belt, I’ve had problems in the past with frozen brake bleeder screws, my MH (which used to live in New York) is no exception. The brakes currently work well and have nice thick pads, but since overall the MH is a monument to neglect, I’d like to replace all the flexible lines and replace the DOT 3 brake fluid with DOT 5.1 high temp brake fluid. In the past when I snapped a bleeder screw I’d bleed the brake cylinder by loosening the brake line at the wheel cylinder and bleed it there. Not the best method, but it normally worked reasonably well. So far I’ve been heating the area around the screw with a butane torch (but not very much for obvious reasons) and then I’ll squirt penetrating oil on it. Other than this preliminary skirmish, I haven’t seriously attacked the stuck bleeder screws yet. Does anyone, particularly you rust-belt denizens, know of any “tricks” to loosening rust frozen bleeder screws without breaking them?

Thanks in advance for any help and insight all y’all can give me.

Steve
  • Oxygen/Acetylene torch is the best way to go as you can quickly heat the bleeder and minimize heat to the surrounding areas and the collateral damage.
  • Have had luck soaking the valves with a product called PB Blaster. Heat the valve and cyl/ caliper around valve. Put an ice cube on valve to rapidly cool it, then cross your fingers. I would stick with the Dot 3 fluid. Do some research on it before you go with Dot 5. Best of luck.
  • I use Mapp gas, it is much hotter and works way better! Get it hot, 2-3 full minutes maybe a tad more and then turn with six point socket or wrench to tighten, YES, tighten first and then try to loosen, if it doesn't go then heat more and try to tighten it again. I hope this helps, Bill
  • I had to heat several of them with a torch on our MH. Didn't cool them quickly but it worked.
  • Heat up the bleader and then cool it off quickly, then hope your lucky. If it breaks use an easyout.