Technical Brake bleed screw missing?!

[benny279]

Hey guys,

So it's my M.O.T tomorrow so I thought I'd look around the car tonight and see if everything is in shape to only come across a missing brake bleed screw on one of the rear drums!

I seriously cannot believe I've been driving around with the car like that!

Here's a picture I just took:

^ Is passenger side which is the one with the missing screw.

^ Driver side with a bleed screw intact!

Now, straight onto the question (without a doubt I'd need to bleed the system!) can I just get another bleed screw and put it in there? And does anyone know what size they are?

Thanks in advance!

 

[T14086]

just get a wheel cylinder after the MOT, they are cheap and saves messing about. Depending on mileage get a set of rear shoes as well while your there.

 

[fingers99]

My guess is that some klutz sheered it off, so you'd have one hell of a job getting the remnants out.

Slave cylinders (complete with bleed screw) are under a tenner, so best replace the lot. a fuel/brake hose clamp will minimise the amount of bleeding you have to do, but don't be tempted to use mole grips or the like on the flexi hose. Plus Gas or GT-85 recommended.

 

[benny279]

My guess is that some klutz sheered it off, so you'd have one hell of a job getting the remnants out.

Slave cylinders (complete with bleed screw) are under a tenner, so best replace the lot. a fuel/brake hose clamp will minimise the amount of bleeding you have to do, but don't be tempted to use mole grips or the like on the flexi hose. Plus Gas or GT-85 recommended.

I agree with you on that, seems like someone cowboy has done this certainly not when i've had the car my pretty guess is previous owner....

Are they pretty easy to replace? Just watching a video on youtube two bolts one small nut for brake line move shoes outwards and pull out the cylinder etc?

Correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[Ziggy122]

Time for a Full system Bleed or even a nice fresh brake fluid change

but is it me or does it look like they put a little hex screw in there?

Ziggy

 

[fingers99]

Does look like the hole you'd expect (running through the centre of the nipple). But can't be sure without a macro lens!

 

[benny279]

Time for a Full system Bleed or even a nice fresh brake fluid change

but is it me or does it look like they put a little hex screw in there?

Ziggy

Have no idea to be honest, feck knows but there's no leak so would this be okay on MOT would come down as an advisory? And are the cylinders easy to remove?

 

[fingers99]

Fairly easy. The rust is likely to be an issue, so plus gas, etc.

Providing brake efficiency is OK, should be no MOT issue.

 

[Ziggy122]

Cylinder removal is easy
Clamp the flexi
Remove the Brake pipe
Remove drum and pull shoes out way/disassemble as required
Remove 2x Bolts
pull cylinder free

Refit is oppersite of removal - but remember to bleed well

Ziggy

 

[benny279]

Fairly easy. The rust is likely to be an issue, so plus gas, etc.

Providing brake efficiency is OK, should be no MOT issue.

Well, before there was a problem with the efficiency but when I put new brake pads (front) this seemed to cure that although still has some sort of travel not a great deal doesn't hit the floor. Is that acceptable?

 

[Ziggy122]

Well, before there was a problem with the efficiency but when I put new brake pads (front) this seemed to cure that although still has some sort of travel not a great deal doesn't hit the floor. Is that acceptable?

Could be a sign of some air in the pedal - which could be related to pedal travel

bung it into the MOT now, they'll tell you if its crap or not

Mind you tho - it reminds me that i do need to get my fluid changed - it was very morning wizz colour when i replaced the brake pads... and little history of it

ziggy

 

[benny279]

Could be a sign of some air in the pedal - which could be related to pedal travel

bung it into the MOT now, they'll tell you if its crap or not

Mind you tho - it reminds me that i do need to get my fluid changed - it was very morning wizz colour when i replaced the brake pads... and little history of it

ziggy

Although, efficiency seems okay in terms of stopping like they seem sharp enough like earlier when some old git slammed his brakes on in front me i came to a complete halt without any hesitation.

 

[Ziggy122]

Anything tho from a 1 poorly adjusting caliper/drum will cause excess pedal travel as the slack has to be taken up

I'd be tempted to try the other bleed screw after MOT / before fetching a new one to make sure that one comes off okay
Because if it dont - if your doing 1 - your doing another

Ziggy

 

[benny279]

Anything tho from a 1 poorly adjusting caliper/drum will cause excess pedal travel as the slack has to be taken up

I'd be tempted to try the other bleed screw after MOT / before fetching a new one to make sure that one comes off okay
Because if it dont - if your doing 1 - your doing another

Ziggy

I wouldn't say it's too much of excess there to be honest, only a little bit like really a little bit barely noticable

 

[atom0007]

My guess is that some klutz sheered it off, so you'd have one hell of a job getting the remnants out.

Slave cylinders (complete with bleed screw) are under a tenner, so best replace the lot. a fuel/brake hose clamp will minimise the amount of bleeding you have to do, but don't be tempted to use mole grips or the like on the flexi hose. Plus Gas or GT-85 recommended.

Oops, slip oof the finger, meant "like"....sorry about that