Leaking brake bleeders?

[V1]

Yesterday I bled the brakes and clutch on my CBR. Brake bleeding is something I've done before, so it was a pretty efficient process for me. No problems there.

Later on, I came out to find that some of the bleeder screws looked wet around the base near the threads. So I cleaned them off again, and made sure the bleeder screws were good and tight. Same thing an hour later.

I started to think that maybe I over-stressed the threads during the open/close process. Even though I paid particular attention to how much I was torquing, I still tend to have a gorilla grip.

So the next thing I did was I pressure tested the system by clamping the brake lever. The system maintained pressure, and thankfully there were no signs of additional leakage. Just the same tiny bit of wetness near the threads.

So what could be causing this to happen?

 

[Lorenzo]

When I bleed my brakes, I usually get a little fluid that weeps from the threads when I loosen the bleeder. Often there is still a little residual that appears the next day but then it stops. Before you get to replacing anything, try cleaning with brake cleaner and make sure it is really additional fluid coming out.

If there really is additional fluid weeping out from the threads, you should replace the bleeders. Or, you could probably just apply some teflon tape to get a better seal. Hopefully it's the bleeders that are worn, not the caliper.

 

[V1]

Thanks, Lorenzo. That's some good info.

Hopefully that little bit of wetness is just residual. I kind of doubt that I damaged the threads. It still helps to hear others' experience in the matter. A leak would be pretty evident during pressure testing, wouldn't it?

 

[V1]

My bleeders are showing the same symptoms as before - wetness around the threads. The only explanation I have is that fluid is seeping through the threads. How should I correct this?

-Remove bleeders, clean, use teflon?
-Install new bleeders?

 

[tom slick]

bleeders seal before the threads so if you have a leak it is not from the thread seal.

 

[Norm Olt]

Check the hose connections, banjo bolts, etc.

 

[PT1]

Try some white loctite on the threads. Easier than the tape. Or try some speed bleeders. I put them on my Harley and they work great.