Ok so I think I’ve got the correct terminology. Garage back in January told me that a bit of the front callipers was seized, Something to do with brake fluid and that there were some pipes that needed taking off which might mean the callipers would get damaged (or something along those lines, it was a long time ago.)

 

A different garage last week also mentioned that part on the callipers was seized, and the brakes had to be bled from elsewhere, not the callipers (again I can’t quite remember the exact wording).

 

therefore I’m assuming it’s the bleed nipple that’s no good.

 

is there any other fix than new callipers? Or would a refurb on the existing ones do the trick.

The bleed nipple do sieze, sometimes you can free them with copious use of release agents like Plus gas or by heating them with a blowtorch, but if they do snap-off you then need to drill them out and re-tap the tread in the caliper if this does happen it's best to remove the piston/s from the caliper so you can effectively flush out any metal swarf from the drilling and tapping. 

 

If your not confident to do it yourself, companies like http://biggred.co.uk/ will do a complete overhaul of the caliper for you 

A garage will not risk snapping a bleed nipple but you can do it, soak the nipple overnight in plus gas, then try tightening slightly to see if it moves at all before loosening a bit then working it back and forth, you should clamp the brake flexi before attempting this, then unclamp and bleed as normal.

Edited 20 June, 20197 yr by sepulchrave

Is it ok to clamp the hose? I've read it is not advised. g

 

uess there may be no alternative if you don't want to undo and clamp it on the banjo fitting.  I did this with some 'welding' locking pliers and some rubber to seal it

 

 

Of course it's ok to clamp the hose, just don't use anything other than a proper hydraulic hose clamp.

Never been a fan of clamping hoses, and Skoda advise against it. Best method is to plug the end of the hose when removed. The flexis are internally braided and when pinch they deform and don't return back to their original shape.

1 minute ago, Tech1e said:

Never been a fan of clamping hoses, and Skoda advise against it. Best method is to plug the end of the hose when removed. The flexis are internally braided and when pinch they deform and don't return back to their original shape.

 

We've been round this loop before, I've done it so many times and never had a single problem, I've done it at least half a dozen times on my own Fabias using my Sykes Pickavant hose clamp each time I've had a front strut off.

I wouldn't suggest it if I hadn't done it myself.

34 minutes ago, sepulchrave said:

 

We've been round this loop before, I've done it so many times and never had a single problem, I've done it at least half a dozen times on my own Fabias using my Sykes Pickavant hose clamp each time I've had a front strut off.

I wouldn't suggest it if I hadn't done it myself.

 

Same here. Done it on countless cars over the years and never had a single issue. I use a proper flexi clamp but in the dark older days I used to use molegrips padded with tape or cardboard

39 minutes ago, sepulchrave said:

 

We've been round this loop before, I've done it so many times and never had a single problem, I've done it at least half a dozen times on my own Fabias using my Sykes Pickavant hose clamp each time I've had a front strut off.

I wouldn't suggest it if I hadn't done it myself.

 

True. But it’s probably more than fair to say you have an amount of mechanical know how and a sympathy. You would know what you can and can’t get away with. 

 

The same doesn't apply apply to everyone. 

How about this, new caliper fitted on this Bora by the customer. Couldn’t bleed it out. No fluid coming at the n/s/f at all. Queue firing up the parts cannon changing ABS module, master cylinder, servo etc. 

 

Then as a last ditch effort took off the caliper. Something odd about the banjo bolt

^ Haha! A plain bolt 🤣

Has anyone got any ideas on how much Caliper refurbishment costs?

Godspeed in Bridgend are a great company for caliper refurbs, drilling out snapped bleed nipples etc.

 

Used them to do my RS4 calipers.

 

If you have a go yourself plenty of heat (on the caliper not the nipple) and plus-gas along with a freeze spray such as crack-it will help. 

 

Do it gently over a quite a few days. Different sockets can also help with the grip on the nipple - pretty sure they are 11mm but try the ones that grip on the corners and the flat edges & you'll probsbly find an imperial equivalent that may fit slightly snugger. 

 

Obviously get a spare nipple to replace it with.

18 minutes ago, Wench said:

Has anyone got any ideas on how much Caliper refurbishment costs?

 

Nige posted a link earlier to Biggred

Another point about drilling out a broken nipple. It's possible that if the drill  cuts into the seat, then a new nipple will not seat correctly and nipple will leak. I have had this problem in the days before I got wiser ( was on a Maxi ,so that points length of time) and found a cure that now I don't feel is safe to disclose, although I had no brake problems in the years after, although after my " cure" I did fit easi bleed nipples all round. ( was only the front callipers that had problems). It's possible that a specialist firm will have drills with the correct angle on the drill to match the seat of the nipple.

Can’t fault bigg red 😍

13 hours ago, Wench said:

Has anyone got any ideas on how much Caliper refurbishment costs?

 

I bet you'd find a recon caliper as sold by most parts factors a lot cheaper than sending one away for a refurb/rebuild, especially if yours is a normal model Fabia and you don't want a fancy finish on it.

 

Most nowadays don't even want the old caliper back on exchange.

 

Edit - look on ebay - loads of new/recon calipers for Fabia's starting at £30 - £35, much cheaper than messing about with old seized stuff IMO

Edited 21 June, 20197 yr by Lofty

10 hours ago, Lofty said:

 

I bet you'd find a recon caliper as sold by most parts factors a lot cheaper than sending one away for a refurb/rebuild, especially if yours is a normal model Fabia and you don't want a fancy finish on it.

 

Most nowadays don't even want the old caliper back on exchange.

 

Edit - look on ebay - loads of new/recon calipers for Fabia's starting at £30 - £35, much cheaper than messing about with old seized stuff IMO

 

My thoughts exactly. Plenty on ebay.

I presume I’m going to be better off with getting recon callipers rather than “old” ones that are still in working condition.

 

as per my post further down the page about brake sizes.. are the callipers sized to different brakes, or “one size fits all”

https://www.energizedcustoms.co.uk/skoda-fabia-1999-2018-front-left-passenger-n-s-brake-caliper-85915.html

 

are these likely to be ok, or not worth the box they come in 

Wench ( sounds like we're back in medieval England ,possibly in some tavern) , 😂, I posted a link to a factor I've found useful over time on the other post (carparts4less).

Edited 26 June, 20197 yr by VWD