Bleeder Screw

Suspension related stuff goes in here.
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jeff1
Posts: 23
Joined: Sun Aug 22, 2021 7:01 pm
Your car is a: 1978 Fiat Spider 124

Bleeder Screw

Post by jeff1 »

My spider came with a hex bolt in place of one of the bleeder screws:

Image

I tried replacing it with a normal bleeder screw, but it leaked (out of the top). I believe the issue that the bottom of the bleeder screw hole, where the screw seats, is messed up. I guess I have a few options:

1. If it ain't broke... As far as I can tell, the bolt works fine. It's a bit more work to bleed, but not that bad.
2. Replace the caliper. Seems kind of a shame given everything else on it seems okay.
3. Use a repair kit: https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/UP_BF117. I've never used one of these, so I'm not sure how much of a hassle it is.
4. Is there some other clever trick?

Anyway, curious if anyone else has seen or repaired something like this.
Nut124
Posts: 748
Joined: Wed Oct 25, 2017 6:39 pm
Your car is a: 1978 124 Spider 1800

Re: Bleeder Screw

Post by Nut124 »

Is the bleed screw you tried made for the Fiat caliper?

https://autoricambi.us/brake-bleeder-screw/
TX82FIAT
Posts: 1814
Joined: Mon May 03, 2010 11:04 am
Your car is a: 82 Fiat Spider 2000 CSO
Location: San Antonio

Re: Bleeder Screw

Post by TX82FIAT »

If the brakes are working well and the brake fluid is clean I would wait until you have a reason to do brake work. You will need to repair this eventually. The hard part is going to be a straight drill hole for the tap. You will need to buy the right size NPT tap if you do not already own one for the size repair kit you select. Clean out the metal shaving and make sure you lubricate the thread with anti-seize. Not a hard job, but one that requires exact attention to detail or you will end up buying a caliper anyway.
Buon giro a tutti! - enjoy the ride!

82 Fiat Spider 2000
03 BMW M3
07 Chevy Suburban
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Yadkin
Posts: 162
Joined: Fri Jun 27, 2014 10:08 pm
Your car is a: 1974 Spider
Location: Pisgah National Forest, NC

Re: Bleeder Screw

Post by Yadkin »

This is hydraulic pressure, so metal-to-metal contact is required to get a good seal. The make conical part of the screw must contact the female cone in the caliper. The bolt used definitely screwed up the cone. Teflon tape on the bolt threads is not a safe seal for this high pressure application. So replace the caliper.
18Fiatsandcounting
Posts: 3798
Joined: Fri Mar 15, 2019 11:23 pm
Your car is a: 1969 and 1971 124 spiders
Location: San Francisco Bay Area

Re: Bleeder Screw

Post by 18Fiatsandcounting »

jeff1 wrote:3. Use a repair kit: https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/UP_BF117. I've never used one of these, so I'm not sure how much of a hassle it is.
Several decades ago when Fiat calipers weren't as readily available, I used one of these repair kits and it worked. But, given that new calipers aren't that expensive these days, it's not worth the hassle factor and I agree with the others that the easier and safer option is to buy a new caliper. For example:
https://autoricambi.us/front-passenger- ... liper-new/

-Bryan
3505jd
Posts: 25
Joined: Wed Jun 26, 2019 5:19 pm
Your car is a: 1974 Fiat 124 Spider

Re: Bleeder Screw

Post by 3505jd »

Looking to buy speed bleeders. Can anyone advise the bleed screw diameter and thread pitch?
3505jd
Posts: 25
Joined: Wed Jun 26, 2019 5:19 pm
Your car is a: 1974 Fiat 124 Spider

Re: Bleeder Screw

Post by 3505jd »

Found the answer on the forum. 8mm x 1.25.
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