-----Original Message-----
 From: kevin obrien <kevindobrien@YAHOO.COM>
 To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
 Sent: Fri, 23 Dec 2005 15:09:41 -0800
  Subject: Missing Bleed Nipple...Options? Suggestions? New Calipers
needed?

 Hello All:

 I need to bleed my brakes. My 1990 Carat is missing
 the brake bleed nipples in the front calipers. Anybody
 know of a fix...or do I need new calipers?
 If I need New (rebuilt?) what is best source?

 Happy Holidays to all of you!!!

 kevin O'Brien

 Kevin,

  Probably the worst approach to repair a broken bleeder nipple is to
use a screw extractor (Easy-Out) --- there is a damn good chance that
you will end up with the brittle and hardened working end of the screw
extractor also broken off in the caliper body.

  One fix, which is more doable than it might sound, is to waste the
minor diameter of the bleeder by drilling it away with incrementally
larger drills until just the helix of the thread is left behind. Then
the remnant of the bleeder thread can be picked out of the tapping in
the caliper body and the tip of the bleeder can be removed with a
magnet. It takes some care to do this, but the hole in the bleeder is a
certain pilot to guide the drill.

  Although I have never used any, there are repair bleeders out there. I
saw one at an Advance Auto store which was essentially a small brass
pipe bushing which had been fitted with a brake bleeder. The caliper
body is drilled and tapped to accept the bushing and the bushing is
wrung in forming a new tapping and bleeder seat. In one aspect this
repair might be better than the original because the bleeder will not
be able to rust in place again.

 George