Brake problem - Help - Pothole hit

anthonyyule · Post by **anthonyyule** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 6:07 pm

Hiya,

On the way home from work tonight i hit a pothole

Im living on a building site just now, and although I wasnt going fast, I was doing the full bifta of driving when i hit it: - turning, braking, slowing down, changing down, etc (and indicating!)

First impressions were - oh my god thats the tire gone, or the alloy cracked, or the suspension f*cked, but when i got out and had a look, everything seems fine

The steering "appears" fine, but Ill get it checked out at service in a few months time.

BUT - when i looked at the front right brake, I saw that there was a "small" amount of fluid around the nipple on the brake caliper. I suspect that the upward shock, coupled with the braking has forced the fluid out. I dried it up, took it for a spin to check all was well, gave it a big brakes on, and came back and checked, and the fluid was back. now Im talking tiny amounts - enough to be a bit greasy. But I dont want it to get worse.

Question is - any thoughts on how to cure? - could i just tighten the nipple some more (its pretty bloody tight at the moment), or should i leave it, or anything else? - im loathed to spend money outside of service, and my DIY skills are frankly rubbish. Anything other than looking, swearing, tightening or hitting are a no-no.

Rich H · Post by **Rich H** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 6:44 pm

Very odd. I don't know how that would dislodge a nipple (As it were) I would be inclined to slap the eazibleed on it and then back the nipple off a bit then retighten. 10 mins if you know what your doing, 30 mins if you don't. While you're there you may as well change the brake fluid too.

Very unlikely to have damaged a nipple given it's location though...

anthonyyule · Post by **anthonyyule** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 6:58 pm

Hiya,

Not sure if the nipple is damaged - yikes

,

Everything is present and correct, no obvious damage, just a bit of leakage around the base of the nipple - by the threads.......

Excusing my ignorance - as I know everyone will, what is an "easibleed" - my dad used to have something that looked like a drinks bottle, with a tube in it - would that be what Im after?

Could I damage the nipple by tightening it further? - or is that just not possible??

Thanks again,

T

Post by **Shug** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 7:09 pm

You can snap the nipple (oh, where am I going with this) if you really crank down on it, so don't go postal. Shouldn't be weeping from the base though - I'd await advice from Jedi....

Post by **Shug** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 7:15 pm

Oh, and the Easibleed is partially that bottle with the pipe, but it has a part that connects the master cylinder to a tyre to pressurise the circuit, letting you bleed with one person.

Lawrence · Post by **Lawrence** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 7:39 pm

Clean off the nipple with some brake clean and dry it off. Then ask someone to press the pedal as hard as possible while you recheck the nipple. Inspect all the others too.

Any sign of new fluid after the brake clean cleaning is cause for concern.

Brake fluid does not dry up without using brake clean.

Rich H · Post by **Rich H** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 10:18 pm

What the Jedi master said.

But I don't see how dropping into a hole can tweak your nipple.... (Fnarr fnarr!) More likely to have been weeping before and you never noticed....

Remember when dealing with nipples, use a good fitting ring spanner and be firm. They will undoubtedly be tight. It is a brass (I think. soft and sh*te metal anyway) nipple in an alloy caliper, the potential for carnage is there....

BiggestNizzy · Post by **BiggestNizzy** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 10:29 pm

Its brass or some copper alloy anyway helps make make it watertight as it deforms