89 300CE 175K
Just set out to change out brake fluid with miti-vac. I think I know what I am doing but encountered a broken off bleeder nipple on front left caliper.

I don't have tools to drill out the stub or a replacement nipple. I've done the rears, put the wheels back on, jacked up the front, put it on jack stands (a driveway job) and there I am.

Any advice on clearing the caliper with the busted nipple? Should I just replace as much fluid as I can and worry about the front left later?

Thanks

Best you can do before fixing the bleeder is to bleed using the line connection at the caliper...

If the hex part that your turn is still there you can just unscrew it all the way with a hex wrench it will come out and you can replace it with one from the dealer or one that fits from an auto parts store; you don't need to drill it out.

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2005 Mercedes C230k sport sedan, 6 speed
1987 Porsche 924S - 968-engined track car

leave it alone.... no one in the real world changes brake fluid any way
thats just one of those added extra things...

do the other 3 and leave it alone... or better yet leave the other 3 alone
as well... use a large c clamp when you do the brake jobs... and just leave them be.....


Now.... if you must change the fluid go to the dollar store and buy a turkey baster.... open the fluild resvoir and suck out till your hearts desire and refill with clean fluid.... do this ...once a week for a month or two and you will have completely changed the fluid without messing with your system.

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Brilliant !!!!!

Never thought of that ..

How does the fluid recirculate back to the res . ??? .. or is it the diffusion principle ??
..and , of course , what about the hygroscopic properties of the fluid..??

Back to School.

Not to mention the grunge being forced back through the lines by the application of the C clamp. Dat's a good way to kill ABS valves. Or so I've heard.

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1989 300 SEL that mostly works, but needs TLC

No Problem... Turkey Baster will pick that crap right up, Don't cha know...??

How else to you push the caliper pistons back in when you put new pads on it? Thats how its been done since they cam out with Disc brakes. If you have crunge in there you have other problems to deal with. Never hurt my ABS brakes and I have done them 6 times on my Saturn...4 wheel Disc brakes with ABS and traction control...never an issue.

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Proud owner of ....
1971 280SE W108
1979 300SD W116
1983 300D W123
1975 Ironhead Sportster chopper
1987 GMC 3/4 ton 4X4 Diesel
1989 Honda Civic (Heavily modified)
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Section 609 MVAC Certified
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"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - Friedrich Nietzsche

Dwest,

The way to remove this is pretty simple. If you have access to a dremel tool, I would cut a slash on the exposed bleeder screw, then use a flat screw driver to twist it out. If there is no expose screw left, I would remove the caliper and take it to a machine shop. They should be able to drill it out. I would wait until this is fixed, then bleed the system at the same time. As for changing brake fluid, I would recommend doing this at the recommended interval, contrary to others.

Hope this help,

John