Date:         Thu, 3 Feb 2011 19:00:13 -0500
Reply-To:     Mike <mbucchino@CHARTER.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Mike <mbucchino@CHARTER.NET>
Subject:      Re: caliper pics
Comments: To: Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA>
In-Reply-To:  <C3C710DA-043E-4994-9029-F4D0291382D6@SHAW.CA>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
              reply-type=response

A recommendation;  when you know you're planning to remove possibly
rusty/stuck fasteners; spray well in advance ( a few times if you have time)
with PBlaster or WD-40 on all the spots that you'll be removing.
  Soak time to allow penetrant to work it's magic helps a lot.  Heating
helps, too.  (you could apply some heat to the bleeder, but not the
caliper.)
  Also, you don't have to drill out a bleeder, just leave it broken off in
there and bleed on the other one or the attachment to the flexline, if
there's no other way.  You're just buying time at that point and trying to
make the best of a bad situation.  I've been able to bleed air out this way,
enough to get a solid pedal.

YMMV,

Mike B.


-----Original Message-----
From: Alistair Bell
Sent: Thursday, February 03, 2011 6:13 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: caliper pics

posted a couple of pics of my brake caliper fiasco here:

http://shufti.wordpress.com/2011/02/03/bleeding-failure/

I hope it serves as a warning to others :)

btw, I have to say again, I did not apply very much force at all on
the bleeder to make it break. It was short wrench and I was on my side
under the van, awkward position, not a pose where you can really get
some oomph behind the wrench.

alistair