Yeah, that didn’t go as planned.

Well actually it started off with me snapping the caliper bleeder screw off with a 6-point socket, had plenty of PB blaster too. So then I drilled carefully and fight with an EZ-out, didn’t get no where fast. I took a torch and heated up, hot, very hot, tried again but only getting frustrated.

I figure bigger is better, took a larger drill and bigger EZ-out, still nothing. By this time, I’m copping an attitude so I go for broke, took a ½-inch drive air impact wrench to the EZ-out and blasted it. It was all over before I could blink. The EZ-out, instead of backing the screw out, threaded itself deep into the caliper splitting it wide open.

Well it was a rough day at work and was working on my Fiero while tired out, don’t know what got into me, but it is kinda funny if you think about it, yeah a $75 dollar yuck-yuck. Anyways,,,,, hahahahaha,,,,,, at least I can laugh at myself.

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jetman
Silver 86 SE 2M6 4-speed, with "check wallet light"
Now fortified with 8 essential slices of bacon goodness

If that screw was in it that bad, the caliper was probably a goner anyway. When I broke both bleeder screws off on my rear calipers, I took them both to two machine shops. They both told me there was nothing they could do. So I had to get new calipers and use the old ones as cores. You can bet I used anti-sieze on the new caliper's bleed screws.

quote Originally posted by Doug85GT: You can bet I used anti-sieze on the new caliper's bleed screws.

I love anti-sieze, you know those parts will come apart next time.

Thank you for the kind words of consolation.

quote Originally posted by Doug85GT: If that screw was in it that bad, the caliper was probably a goner anyway. When I broke both bleeder screws off on my rear calipers, I took them both to two machine shops. They both told me there was nothing they could do. So I had to get new calipers and use the old ones as cores. You can bet I used anti-sieze on the new caliper's bleed screws.

That's not true, they were lazy

I have had bad luck with bleeders also. The ones that break off.... I just leave them and bleed the brakes through the banjo bolt, not perfect, but works good enough if you try hard.

anti-seize is the best, every bolt I put back together on the body gets anti-seize.

J.

I called Time Cert and Helicoil they gave me the name & Number of a local machinist who goes from service station to service station doing thread repairs. I met the man at his shop he drilled out my broken bleeder screw, cleaned up the seat, installed a helicoil and a new bleed screw. Took half an hour and he charged me twenty dollars. Worked great!

I've broken them off before. Always resulted in buying new calipers. By the time you get the bleeder out, you've marred the bottom of the hole to the point it won't seal properly.

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Jay Brintnell
Southern Ontario Fiero Association
Yellow 85 Notchback(A.K.A. GodFearN)

quote Originally posted by jetman: Yeah, that didn’t go as planned......... ........The EZ-out, instead of backing the screw out, threaded itself deep into the caliper splitting it wide open.

This sounds like something I'd do. You hit a point with a job where " THAT'S IT ! " ......something is going to happen that is going to require replacing something somewhere.....and even though you spent a little more money than expected, you will win that fight one way or another.

You need to have that caliper on display by your car this weekend.

Mark

It's great to hear others stories of Oopps.

Thanks Mark, that made me feel better.

I did get a bleeder screw out of my 86 last night, used PB blaster, some heat, more PB Blaster and a 6-point line wrench and a tap hammer to simulate the effect of an impact wrench, I was totally sucessful.

The core will be exchanged this morning, won't be on display, matter of fact, both of my nice 88's are down for various maintenance so I will be driving my "Detroit car" Fiero. You'll know it, it's rough looking, for some reason, shopping carts always roll away from it.

It's reassuring to know that I'm not the only shade tree mechanic that has had an ooops.

quote Originally posted by jetman: I did get a bleeder screw out of my 86 last night, used PB blaster, some heat, more PB Blaster and a 6-point line wrench and a tap hammer to simulate the effect of an impact wrench, I was totally sucessful. The core will be exchanged this morning, won't be on display, matter of fact, both of my nice 88's are down for various maintenance so I will be driving my "Detroit car" Fiero. You'll know it, it's rough looking, for some reason, shopping carts always roll away from it. It's reassuring to know that I'm not the only shade tree mechanic that has had an ooops.

1) That's what I would have suggested. I always get out the PB and torch and heat the caliper body around the bleeder and PB quench it 3-4 times before I even TRY cranking on em. Haven't broken one in a few years on this method you've gotten down to.

2) You have a "Detroit car" Fiero too? I have a 85 coupe with an engine built out of spare leftover parts from 4 cars (1 used 88 crankshaft, used 87 rods/pistons, an 84 head/exhaust manifold/crank gear, and an 85 block cam/ recycled(!) cam gear, lifters from two different engines, and 8 nice pushrods scavenged from two engines.

It has damaged trim, subpar paint, a rough interior, and I drive it everywhere. Over 400 miles in the last two weeks, even though my commute to work is only 2.05 miles. I leave it unlocked and nothing gets stolen, and the car never gets hit (unlike my pace car).
I also don't feel guilty beating it up on the Beirut bombed-out roads down here in Detroit, and I even put taller 195/65-15s on to make sure I didn't "fall in" to some of them.

3) You are certainly in good company with the rest of us, having bolts/bleeders/studs twisting off.

quote Originally posted by jetman: ........It's reassuring to know that I'm not the only shade tree mechanic that has had an ooops.

Oh, my.........the stories I can tell.......

Gentleman,,,,,"Are you sure that this work is in competent hands?
Curly,,,,,,"Certainly,,,,we're all incompetent"

Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk

quote Originally posted by FrugalFiero: Gentleman,,,,,"Are you sure that this work is in competent hands? Curly,,,,,,"Certainly,,,,we're all incompetent"

While I didn't use dynamite like the boys would, I did use a torch so I guess that I qualify. The Stooges used a cool blow torch, threw flames at least 10 feet, always hit someone in the rear with fire. Thanks for posting Frugal.