Lucas Brake Caliper Bleed Nipple Information

[Banshee]

Guys

I've fitted some new brake pads last night on the truck. I had a real game with the pistons on the drivers side so I removed the caliper totally and used a spanner and a G clamp and they went back in a dream.

Refit everything and go to crack the bleed nipples and they have both rounded off, they feel like they are made from old bloody coke cans :doh

The commercial spares place near work has a box of assorted sizes etc, does anyone know 100% what size I need for 2004 Lucas calipers?

Going out at lunch at 1pm from work and could do with knowing by then :bow :bow :bow

Need the truck functional :doh

 

[Blocky10]

Sorry pal. I've no idea. Have you managed to remove them at all?
I used a nipple spanner and squeezed it with mole grips but if you've rounded them, you'll have to use mole grips and they'll still work until you source more.

 

[Banshee]

Sorry pal. I've no idea. Have you managed to remove them at all?
I used a nipple spanner and squeezed it with mole grips but if you've rounded them, you'll have to use mole grips and they'll still work until you source more.

I think I've found all the info I need bar 1 crucial piece :doh

They are M10 x 1mm Pitch, the length I can't be sure of, I've seen a few pictures online and it seems it's either a short stubby little thing or a larger one.

If he's got both I'll take 2 of each :thumb2

 

[Banshee]

I've deleted that last post to avoid confusion for anyone else finding this post needing the answer in future :thumb2

I can confirm that the bleed nipples you need for Lucas caliper are M10 x 1mm Pitch and 12mm in length, you can also get a 20mm one which will also work, the thread will just protrude further out.

I had to take both calipers off and clamp the heads in the vice and twisted the caliper, I reckon I was seconds away from snapping them off until I was spared and heard and felt the snap of the "weld" breaking :bow :bow

Only real difference is that the flats are 9mm on the old ones and the flats are 11mm on the new ones and they seem to be made from a far superior material

 

[terranosaurusdoug]

Ha, reminds me of your bike shock with the pattern from the vice :lol

 

[solarman216]

As I have said many times in the past, I have never bothered to even try the nipples as it is not necessary, with the caliper off the disk press the pedal a few times then push the pistons back in, all the air will be pumped back to the master cylinder, Rick

 

[Banshee]

As I have said many times in the past, I have never bothered to even try the nipples as it is not necessary, with the caliper off the disk press the pedal a few times then push the pistons back in, all the air will be pumped back to the master cylinder, Rick

I've tried that before Rick and it hasn't worked for me.

The bleed nipples were put there for that exact reason, Yeah I know I've had a nightmare here with mine but I've found some new ones and they've bled up a treat now.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

 

[Banshee]

Ha, reminds me of your bike shock with the pattern from the vice [emoji38]

Difference is, that nipple is destined for the bin, not to be refitted.

I walk past that shop every day and the looks I get as I walk past the big glass shop front is enough to kill me dead there and then.

I couldn't care less, my bikes looking sexy now with a nice repaired shock

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

 

[Fez_uk]

You can hammer slightly smaller imperial sockets on them if you are stuck next time, gets you out of a pinch

 

[Banshee]

You can hammer slightly smaller imperial sockets on them if you are stuck next time, gets you out of a pinch

I'll bare that in mind Fez, not too much aggravation to remove the two caliper bolts and the 12mm bolt for the hose :thumb2

 

[terranosaurusdoug]

I'll bare that in mind Fez, not too much aggravation to remove the two caliper bolts and the 12mm bolt for the hose :thumb2

I did the brakes on a citroen dispatch a few weeks back, I had to weld a piece of rod onto one of the caliper bolts. The heat and extra leverage JUST shifted it, unbelievable how tight it was but it came out without damaging any threads.

 

[macabethiel]

Removing Bleed Nipples

I can confirm that the bleed nipples you need for Lucas caliper are M10 x 1mm Pitch and 12mm in length, you can also get a 20mm one which will also work, the thread will just protrude further out.

I had to take both calipers off and clamp the heads in the vice and twisted the caliper, I reckon I was seconds away from snapping them off until I was spared and heard and felt the snap of the "weld" breaking :bow :bow

Just throw in my experience with brake caliper bleed nipples.

I am pretty sure I like many other owners tended to over tighten nipples because it's the brakes!
I would frequently have to replace a bleed nipple next time I came to use it a year or so later. You are right some seem to be made of better materials than others so don't round off as easily or seize up.
I now only just nip them up using a short ring spanner (2") holding it with my thumb and two adjacent fingers . Many manufacturers fit a rubber cover over the nipple to prevent the outlet blocking up. I just smear some copper ease over the nipple & thread and push on the cover. I like the long covers that fit over the whols nipple not the short stubby ones that just fit the very end part

Lastly if one seems to be seized I always give it a mild tap directly on the end to try and jar the rust that has formed on the outer parts of the thread.

You probably did all that anyway, like yourself I have usually managed to remove the nipple without the need for getting it drilled out etc. I too like to bleed my brakes via the nipple but accept it can be done by pushing back the calipers in many cases. I also find that after a couple of days most brake pedals seem to improve in terms or reduced travel.

I have also found that when I have had to apply the brakes in a bit of a panic it has often led to a really good brake pedal afterwards. I suspect that when the brake assist type systems trip in they compress any small air bubbles that are then drawn out on releasing the pedal. Just my theory that.

Likewise I can never understand why many brake systems on modern vehicles seem to have what appears to be a very spongy brake pedal that if held down hard whilst the engine is running seemingly allow the pedal to almost reach the floor. With the exception of fly by wire brakes this seems to be the case with most modern Mercedes Vehicles.