Suspension and Chassis Questions about your suspension? Need chassis advice?

what tool do I need to open up the bleed screws on the drums?

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Old Sep 12, 2000 | 06:09 PM
  #1  
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what tool do I need to open up the bleed screws on the drums?

They're brand new screws so it's not that they're stuck, but it seems to me that a special tool is needed to loosen them...am I correct?

If I do need one, is there something else kinda common I could also use to save me a trip and some cash?

Thanks guys.

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Old Sep 12, 2000 | 06:24 PM
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If you're talking about the brake fluid bleeder screws in your wheel cylinders, no you don't need any special tool. Use the correct size hex wrench that fits. Use a box end style wrench. Special bleeder wrenchs only have more offset to clear the brake backing plates. Here's a tip, especially since your bleeders are new. Remove them & apply some anti-sieze paste on the threads. This will prevent them from locking solid from rust after a few Chicago winters. Otherwise, good luck in opening them without breaking them off.
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Old Sep 12, 2000 | 10:13 PM
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From: Hacienda Heights, CA
Car: 90 RS 'Vert, 88 IROC-Z, 88 Firebird
Engine: 305 ci tbi, 305 ci tpi, 350 ci tpi
Transmission: WC-T5, WC-T5, 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.45, 3.27, 3.27
10 mm box end wrench. Use the box end not the open end or you'll round the flats. Slip the 10 mm on first then a vacuum hose over the end of the bleed screw. If you have a vacuum brake bleeder connect it to that. Otherwise stick the end of the tube in a jar of brake fluid and bleed away. When no more bubbles your done. Good luck, Lon.
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Old Sep 13, 2000 | 06:09 PM
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the bleed screw is the screw above the brake line fitting correct?? A 10mm box wrench won't work on that because it's round and the center is a D shape so a hex key won't work either...am I in the twilight zone??
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Old Sep 13, 2000 | 07:00 PM
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From: Hacienda Heights, CA
Car: 90 RS 'Vert, 88 IROC-Z, 88 Firebird
Engine: 305 ci tbi, 305 ci tpi, 350 ci tpi
Transmission: WC-T5, WC-T5, 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.45, 3.27, 3.27
Yep your in the TZ. The only thing I can find that looks like what you describe is the anchor pin for a drum brake. The bleed screw has a 10 mm hex fitting with what appears to be a nipple with a small hole in the center. opening it up slightly will cause the brake fluid to weep out along with any trapped air. Are ya with me now?
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Old Sep 13, 2000 | 08:56 PM
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I HAVE to be looking at something else, this just does not make sense...Where exactly is the bleed screw? Is it not right above the brake line fitting?
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Old Sep 13, 2000 | 09:52 PM
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You're talking about rear drum brakes? correct? If not, what are we talking about? You say they are new wheel cylinders..that you installed? Provide a little background on whaat's going on, maybe we can help.
Regards, FJK
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Old Sep 13, 2000 | 10:07 PM
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yes, I'm talking about the rear drums...I just got the rearend and there's a fitting above the brake line fitting and it is circular with a D shaped hole in it...MeanYellowZ told me that was the bleed screw, but everyone is saying that a 10mm box wrench should work and it doesn't even come close
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Old Sep 13, 2000 | 10:51 PM
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From: Hacienda Heights, CA
Car: 90 RS 'Vert, 88 IROC-Z, 88 Firebird
Engine: 305 ci tbi, 305 ci tpi, 350 ci tpi
Transmission: WC-T5, WC-T5, 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.45, 3.27, 3.27
Your right it is just above the brake fitting. I see the problem now. There is a shroud surrounding it. A 10 mm won't work, sorry for that bad advice. I still had my disc brake rear on my brain. It is smaller than 10 mm. I can only see using a 1/4" drive socket, but I can't locate the right one yet. LArger than 9/32, but smaller than 11/32. Good luck, Lon
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Old Sep 14, 2000 | 12:03 PM
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that's the thing though lon, it's circular, how would a wrench fit on it?...it seems like the only thing that would turn it is a D shaped tool that I can stick in the hole to turn it??
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Old Sep 14, 2000 | 05:28 PM
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Is the bleeder on the other side the same way? We're taking about something that looks like a grease fitting & is 1/4 -3/8" diameter..correct? If all this is new, consider pulling them off & taking them back. Are these no-name brand wheel cylinders?
FJK
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Old Sep 14, 2000 | 07:25 PM
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actually, that's almost exactly what they look like...a grease fitting....I have no idea what brand they are, like I said I just bought the rearend and want to bleed the stupid brakes!
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Old Sep 14, 2000 | 10:25 PM
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Well, if the look brand new like you said in the original post & you think they will unscrew easily, clamp on to them with some small vise-grip pliers, break them loose, remove them, & take them to the auto parts store. Match up the thread size & length & buy a couple of replacement bleeder screws with a hex on them. I've seen press in grease fittings without hexes. Maybe the previous owner put something like that in instead of bleeder screws. Who knows?
FJK
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Old Sep 14, 2000 | 10:35 PM
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so, they could possibly just pull out? I tried getting some full size vice grips on there, but that's not working out...so I guess I'll have to buy a small one to try that
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Old Sep 15, 2000 | 11:28 AM
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From: Hacienda Heights, CA
Car: 90 RS 'Vert, 88 IROC-Z, 88 Firebird
Engine: 305 ci tbi, 305 ci tpi, 350 ci tpi
Transmission: WC-T5, WC-T5, 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.45, 3.27, 3.27
OK, I've got your answer now. I had to swap a drum rear end back into my RS temporarily and had to bled the drums. There may be a rubber boot on the bleed screw. Remove it with a small screwdriver. Open the bleed screw with a 8 mm 1/4" drive socket. Then bleed the brakes. Got it? No vise grips, no wrench, no special tool. Good luck, Lon.

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Old Sep 15, 2000 | 06:29 PM
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lonsal
I sure hope what you described is "it". He should follow your advice.
FJK
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Old Sep 16, 2000 | 11:25 PM
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You might consider getting a set of those Russel valved bleeder screws. I think they were 8 bucks..? I have them on my front brakes, and when I swap in my rear end, I'll have them on the back as well. They do work nicely.
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