Brake bleeder nipple wrench size??

[Garbon]

Hi

I have been doing some maintenance on my cars lately and I want to bleed the brakes

I cannot work out what size wrench to use on the brake bleed nipple it seems to be between wrench sizes - any ideas?

I can use an adjustable wrench but it is a bit tight and awkward using this method. Where can you buy replacement brake nipples incase I break one off in the process they seem pretty tight

Thanks

[WhO]

Never use a shifter on those, there's a reason shifters are nicknamed nut ****ers!

Same goes with the open end of a spanner, dont use it!

Best way i find is to crack it with either the ring end of a good quality spanner or a good quality socket. Then put the ring end of the spanner over the nipple followed by the hose you are using to bleed the caliper. Finishing up is the reverse of this.

If you have 6 sided sockets these are less likely to round a dying or not perfect bleed nipple as they tend not to round things off.

Or you could get a proper slotted brake nut tool thingo from most auto shops.

As for size My R32 brakes are 6mm if my memory serves me correctly, and the others were either 8mm or 10mm. They will be metric though.

Just for the love of all that is holy DONT use a shifter or an open end of a spanner on it!!!!!!

[Jace]

I swear I used 11mm yesterday on the rears.

[WhO]

I could quite possibly be wrong about the sizes! but im 99.9% sure they'll be metric

[GRN_VAGN]

think my rears where 9mm, and front 11mm

I knew it was a size i didnt have as a spanner

[paulie71]

depends on the make of the parts used. I had 8 mm nipples on the rear brake cylinders and 11mm nipples on the front discs.

Agree with everyone here on a few items (and a few I added from experience):
1. Open ended and shifters are the worst thing you can use when bleeding brakes;
2. Yes ze Germans used metric exclusively, unless some muppet put on other fasteners;
3. Invest in a bleeding kit that has a clear hose, thats how you can easily see that no air is in the lines;
4. overpurchase your brake fluid so you can make sure you don't run out, and finally;
5. top up the reservoir regularly to ensure you aren't putting more air into the system.

[Garbon]

Where do you buy replacement brake nipples? I think I have overtightened and nearly broken the drivers side rear one

Thanks

[Blue Flog]

There are dedicated pipe spanners that are designed to do the job without wrecking the nipples and hose connections

[wai]

As others have said, DON'T use anything other than a special spanner when working on brakes.

For working on brake pipe fittings, you need to use the correctly sized "split ring" spanners. A normal open ended spanner will see you round the corners off the fitting. The "split ring" spanner is essentially a ring spanner with a small part taken out to get it past the brake tube. The ring of the spanner is also thicker to resist flexing.

If you don't have the correct spanner and cannot get one, then take it to a brake service specialist and get it done there.

[gldgti]

I think open ended spanners are just fine as long as you or someone else hasnt over-tightened the fitting already. then you need the split ring spanner.

On mk1's, Ive seen all of 7,8,9,11,12 and 14mm bleed nipples.

[Hilal]

Let it soak in WD40 before you do anything.