Brake bleeder screw stripped!

loworbitSI · 09-06-2005, 05:45 AM

Car has 20K and never seen snow. I changed the oil, and in the process of bleeding the brakes, the passenger outside bleed screw was loosened, bled, and upon tightening, it continued to ooze brake fluid. It would not stop. Further inspection, and removal of the bleed screw revealed stripped threads and corrosion of the bleed screw. Attached is a picture comparing the outside and inside bleed screws from the same front outer caliper.

I have never had an issue with the car itself. My fear now lies within the caliper itself and if the internals have been screwed over as well.

This bleed screw was toast from the factory.

My fear is the dealer will deny coverage, since several phone calls have yet to get a reply. Apparently the honor system doesn't work anymore.

Anyone have a spare non stripped caliper lying around???

2fas4u · 09-06-2005, 10:46 AM

Sorry to hear that. From the sounds of it I would say its the threads on the caliper too, not just the bleeder tip....

RabidSTi · 09-06-2005, 12:05 PM

I just did the same thing to my left rear caliper. I found a set of rear calipers on ebay. So if you need a right rear, I could sell it to you. Subaru wanted $650 for a rear caliper, look ebay or upgrade before doing that.

slick50 · 09-06-2005, 05:14 PM

pm me with a price for that right rear please!

STiMaine · 09-22-2005, 05:50 AM

I would push the dealer and get it covered under warranty. Like many have said, call SOA if the dealer isn't calling back. They can't expect people not to do their own work. It is within your right to bleed your own brakes and a defective bleeder screw on a new car is something they should hear about and deal with.

FasStAsS_sTi · 10-09-2005, 10:01 AM

i had the same problem, they didnt waarntee me, so i had to purchase a new front caliper for that

ShortysTRM · 10-09-2005, 10:32 AM

Can't you just fix the threads inside the caliper? It may warrant the purchase of a slightly larger bleeder screw or something, but it would save hundreds overall. I would definitely talk to your dealership first, though, or at least a dealership, since it was like that from the factory.

**Alex** · 10-11-2005, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nhluhr

If the dealer decides to deny you, don't forget that it might be easy to just tap out the bleeder to the next size up....

i was going to suggest the same thing, just go get yourself a tap and die kit and you should be golden.

ZipZip · 10-18-2005, 08:42 AM

if you get denied on the warranty, fix the threads with a helicoil kit - pretty easy and they'll be as strong or stronger than the originals (and they'll be the same size as the originals).

aspensti05 · 10-18-2005, 09:20 AM

Is it worth the time for you to contact Brembo about this and see what they say?

I had an issue with a bad banjo bolt included with my Cobb stainless brake lines this past weekend. Cobb is closed all this week so I called Stoptech and they sent me out a new bolt for free, even though I didn't buy directly from them. I ended up finding the right size die to fix the threads on the bad bolt myself.

Hard to find size 10mmx1.0 if it ever happens to anyone else!

ShortysTRM · 10-19-2005, 07:35 AM

I think you guys seriously need to work this out with SOA. This is obviously a very common problem, and given the price to replace it and the likely chance that it will happen all over again, something should be done. The huge brake systems on STi's are a big selling point for these cars, and Brembo is, of course, a very well-known company. This should not be happening from the factory.

STI_VT · 10-19-2005, 05:36 PM

I had the same problem. SOA said that since i touched the car i voided my warrenty on the brakes since there was no way to tell if it came that way or it was something I did. I was going to order a new caliper from the dealer til i found out they wanted $725 for one caliper. I ended up going over to VT Sports Car and buying a whole brake setup including rotors that came off a car that was built into a rally car for 1200. Now i have extras for later.

I thought of the helicoil kit, but wasted really sure since i am planning on doing some track days in the near future.

09-06-2005, 05:45 AM	#1
loworbitSI Professional STI Driver Car: 2004.5 Subaru WRX ST Fav Mod: 17x10s Location: Columbus OH Posts: 418 Join Date: Aug 2004 Trader Rating: (3)	Brake bleeder screw stripped! Car has 20K and never seen snow. I changed the oil, and in the process of bleeding the brakes, the passenger outside bleed screw was loosened, bled, and upon tightening, it continued to ooze brake fluid. It would not stop. Further inspection, and removal of the bleed screw revealed stripped threads and corrosion of the bleed screw. Attached is a picture comparing the outside and inside bleed screws from the same front outer caliper. I have never had an issue with the car itself. My fear now lies within the caliper itself and if the internals have been screwed over as well. This bleed screw was toast from the factory. My fear is the dealer will deny coverage, since several phone calls have yet to get a reply. Apparently the honor system doesn't work anymore. Anyone have a spare non stripped caliper lying around??? This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.

10-19-2005, 05:36 PM	#12
STI_VT STI Driver Car: 04 WRX STI Location: St. Albans, VT Posts: 269 Join Date: Jan 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	I had the same problem. SOA said that since i touched the car i voided my warrenty on the brakes since there was no way to tell if it came that way or it was something I did. I was going to order a new caliper from the dealer til i found out they wanted $725 for one caliper. I ended up going over to VT Sports Car and buying a whole brake setup including rotors that came off a car that was built into a rally car for 1200. Now i have extras for later. I thought of the helicoil kit, but wasted really sure since i am planning on doing some track days in the near future. This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.

09-06-2005, 10:46 AM	#2
2fas4u Silver Member Car: 05 STI Location: Manchester, Maryland Posts: 1,864 Join Date: Aug 2005 Trader Rating: (3)	Sorry to hear that. From the sounds of it I would say its the threads on the caliper too, not just the bleeder tip....

09-06-2005, 12:05 PM	#3
RabidSTi Silver Member Car: 07 Urban Grey STi Fav Mod: torque Location: Alexandria, VA Posts: 240 Join Date: Apr 2004 Trader Rating: (1)	I just did the same thing to my left rear caliper. I found a set of rear calipers on ebay. So if you need a right rear, I could sell it to you. Subaru wanted $650 for a rear caliper, look ebay or upgrade before doing that.

09-06-2005, 05:14 PM	#4
slick50 STI Driver Car: 05 STI Location: Allentown, PA Posts: 213 Join Date: Dec 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	pm me with a price for that right rear please!

09-22-2005, 05:50 AM	#5
STiMaine STI Driver Location: Maine Posts: 217 Join Date: Nov 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	I would push the dealer and get it covered under warranty. Like many have said, call SOA if the dealer isn't calling back. They can't expect people not to do their own work. It is within your right to bleed your own brakes and a defective bleeder screw on a new car is something they should hear about and deal with.

10-09-2005, 10:01 AM	#6
FasStAsS_sTi Spec C Club Car: autocross, road racing, Bike cruising Fav Mod: student/design engineer Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 1,892 Join Date: Dec 2002 Trader Rating: (0)	i had the same problem, they didnt waarntee me, so i had to purchase a new front caliper for that

10-09-2005, 10:32 AM	#7
ShortysTRM Amateur STI Driver Car: 02 Legacy 2.5 GT, 93 Pontiac Grand Am GT Fav Mod: Seat time... Location: Teays Valley, WV Posts: 43 Join Date: Sep 2005 Trader Rating: (0)	Can't you just fix the threads inside the caliper? It may warrant the purchase of a slightly larger bleeder screw or something, but it would save hundreds overall. I would definitely talk to your dealership first, though, or at least a dealership, since it was like that from the factory.

10-18-2005, 08:42 AM	#9
ZipZip Amateur STI Driver Fav Mod: Coming Soon Posts: 31 Join Date: Jul 2005 Trader Rating: (0)	if you get denied on the warranty, fix the threads with a helicoil kit - pretty easy and they'll be as strong or stronger than the originals (and they'll be the same size as the originals).

10-18-2005, 09:20 AM	#10
aspensti05 Spec C Club Car: BMW M5 993 Turbo Location: Southwestern, CT Posts: 1,293 Join Date: Sep 2005 Trader Rating: (5)	Is it worth the time for you to contact Brembo about this and see what they say? I had an issue with a bad banjo bolt included with my Cobb stainless brake lines this past weekend. Cobb is closed all this week so I called Stoptech and they sent me out a new bolt for free, even though I didn't buy directly from them. I ended up finding the right size die to fix the threads on the bad bolt myself. Hard to find size 10mmx1.0 if it ever happens to anyone else!

10-19-2005, 07:35 AM	#11
ShortysTRM Amateur STI Driver Car: 02 Legacy 2.5 GT, 93 Pontiac Grand Am GT Fav Mod: Seat time... Location: Teays Valley, WV Posts: 43 Join Date: Sep 2005 Trader Rating: (0)	I think you guys seriously need to work this out with SOA. This is obviously a very common problem, and given the price to replace it and the likely chance that it will happen all over again, something should be done. The huge brake systems on STi's are a big selling point for these cars, and Brembo is, of course, a very well-known company. This should not be happening from the factory.