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6/13/2019 6:08 AM  #1


Another Weeping Issue

I too have a weeping problem, although it's not any of the IF fittings, they all sealed perfectly and don't leak at all.  Instead, I've got brake fluid weeping around the driver's side caliper bolt.  At first, I thought it was just a bad copper washer, so I changed both, re-bled the brakes, let it sit overnight and it was weeping again the next morning.   I'm using Cobra calipers and Russel steel braided hoses.   

Before I pull the caliper and/or hose, does anyone have any suggestions for a type or brand of washer that might seal better?  The first set came with the calipers and the second set I tried are a generic off the rack at Napa.

Thx!

 

6/13/2019 7:14 AM  #2


Re: Another Weeping Issue

Take new washers before installation and heat them up with a propane torch and let them cool by air.  The copper may be too hard to form an effective seal.  Heat annealing them renders them dead soft.  Its an old trick I learned working on airplanes. 

 

6/13/2019 7:19 AM  #3


Re: Another Weeping Issue

TKOPerformance wrote:

Take new washers before installation and heat them up with a propane torch and let them cool by air.  The copper may be too hard to form an effective seal.  Heat annealing them renders them dead soft.  Its an old trick I learned working on airplanes. 

Thanks, I will give that a try!
 

     Thread Starter
 

6/13/2019 10:21 AM  #4


Re: Another Weeping Issue

Never had that issue. Be sure the bolt is not too long. It may be bottoming out before it clamps the washers? 
Otherwise, maybe just not tight enough.


Money you enjoy wasting is NOT wasted money... unless your wife finds out.
 

6/13/2019 11:38 AM  #5


Re: Another Weeping Issue

MS wrote:

Never had that issue. Be sure the bolt is not too long. It may be bottoming out before it clamps the washers? 
Otherwise, maybe just not tight enough.

Yeah, it’s a new one to me too. I’ll double check the bolt, but I am pretty sure it’s identical to the other side. I did snug it up as tight as I felt comfortable doing, but didn’t put a torque wrench on it. Maybe I’ll try a new bolt, with new heated up washers and torque it down with a torque wrench this time and see what happens.
 

     Thread Starter
 

6/13/2019 3:26 PM  #6


Re: Another Weeping Issue

Ah, but maybe the threads in the caliper giving you trouble aren't cut as deep.  If the washer trick doesn't fix it  would thread both bolts into both calipers until they are tight without the lines, then measure the distance from the washer sealing surface to the underside of the bolt head with calipers and compare. 

 

6/13/2019 4:19 PM  #7


Re: Another Weeping Issue

Also, and I am not sure they really are better, but I prefer the washers that have the concentric rings machined into them.  It certainly takes less torque to compress the rings than it does to deform the complete face of the washer.

Assuming the threads are OK, you probably are just not tightening the bolt tight enough.


Money you enjoy wasting is NOT wasted money... unless your wife finds out.
 

6/13/2019 6:29 PM  #8


Re: Another Weeping Issue

Well, I picked up a new bolt and some new washers on the way home tonight. Took the old bolt out and the threads didn’t look great, but ran the new one in with my fingers and it felt fine, so I threw the new washers on and torqued the new bolt down to about 29 ft/lbs.  Torqued the rest of them too for good measure.

I cleaned and dried everything when I was done. We”ll see if it is still dry in the morning.

     Thread Starter
 

6/14/2019 4:56 AM  #9


Re: Another Weeping Issue

On my 03 calipers, I found that the washer fits into a boss on the caliper. Hadta replace the washer once and couldn't stop it weeping.
Compared the washer to the original and found that there was a height difference. The new washer was not sitting high enough to get enough crush on it.


"Those telephone poles were like a picket fence"
 

6/14/2019 6:01 AM  #10


Re: Another Weeping Issue

50vert wrote:

On my 03 calipers, I found that the washer fits into a boss on the caliper. Hadta replace the washer once and couldn't stop it weeping.
Compared the washer to the original and found that there was a height difference. The new washer was not sitting high enough to get enough crush on it.

 
When I removed the old bolt and washer last night, I actually noticed the same little recessed area on the caliper and had a similar thought. The old washers appeared to be slightly larger in diameter than the new washers I installed, so I measured them. The diameter of the old washer was .669” and the new one was .625”. I wonder if the larger washer wasn’t sitting down in that little recessed area all the way, allowing some fluid to leak by?

     Thread Starter
 

6/14/2019 6:49 AM  #11


Re: Another Weeping Issue

I guess that's also possible. My fix was a thicker washer.


"Those telephone poles were like a picket fence"
 

Board footera


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