Lisle 5/16" & 3/8" Brake Bleeding Wrench

[The Critic]

I am looking for a "filler item" to meet a free shipping threshold and found this bleeder wrench:

https://www.thetoolwarehouse.net/p-15892-lisle-10900.aspx

I know that 5/16" will usually work on 8mm bleeder screws. Will 3/8" usually work for 10mm bleeder screws?

Can anyone confirm? Thanks.

 

[ChrisW]

5/16 is 7.9375mm
3/8 is 9.525mm

Since they are a bit smaller than the metric, I'd say no, however, if it were the other way around, I'd say you can use a 8mm on a 5/16 and a 10mm on a 3/8. However, I'm not sure how exact bleeder screws are machined, nor how exact the wrenches are made.

 

[Rick in PA]

I've noticed the following "crossover" points for metric and english sizes:

5/32" (.156") - 4mm (.157")
9/16" (.312") - 8mm (.315")
3/4" (.750") - 19mm (.748")


The following are a bit of a stretch, but might work)
1/16" (.062") - 1.5mm (.059") (material substitution)
.080" - 2mm (.079") (material substitution)
5/8" (.625") - 16mm (.630")

Outside of the above, I wouldn't expect it to work well.
Too much difference on the:
3/8" (.375") - 10mm (.394")

My old brain likes to think in thousandths.

 

[Trav]

Quote:
9/16" (.312") - 8mm (.315")

9/16 is closer to 14mm (14.28) AFAK

OP don't substitute inch for metric on bleeder screws they are too easy to round off if the fit is a little sloppy and PITA if they are snug.

 

[Chris142]

No a 3/8 wont work on a 10 mm but a 10mm will losely fit on a 3/8.

 

[Rick in PA]

Originally Posted By: Trav
Quote:
9/16" (.312") - 8mm (.315")

9/16 is closer to 14mm (14.28) AFAK

OP don't substitute inch for metric on bleeder screws they are too easy to round off if the fit is a little sloppy and PITA if they are snug.


OOOPS! Sorry, typo instead of 9/16", I meant 5/16".

 

[Trav]

NP its all too confusing for me anyway Rick.
I have an awful time with this inch stuff when i run into some old timer or garden stuff.
I know the basics like 1/8, 1/4. 3/8, 1/2 etc but these things like 9/32, 5/16, 13/16 and so on are a royal PITA.

 

[Kruse]

FWIW, I try to avoid using an SAE wrench on a metric bleeder screw, or vice versa. Once you round off the corners, then what?

 

[The_Eric]

5/16 will work fine on an 8mm application as it's a tiny bit smaller, however 3/8 and 10mm will not interchange. As others have said, 10mm is sloppy on a 3/8.

I would still get the tool as the 3/8 will have relevance, because many re-manned calipers will have a 3/8 hex on their bleeders. I've run into many that have 3/8 in place of 10mm OE or 8mm & 5/16 in place of larger hex sizes. Often times they won't even be the same size from side to side.

FWIW here are some sizes that I've found cross over well enough to be interchangeable in most situations.

9/32 & 7mm
5/16 & 8mm
7/16 & 11mm
5/8 & 16mm
3/4 & 19mm
13/16 & 21mm
7/8 & 22
15/16 & 24mm

 

[eljefino]

The 5/16 will work great. I like things tight in the rust belt. 3/8-10mm? No way! You can justify the purchase just on the 5/16 imo.

 

[Donald]

My brake bleeder wrench which is Snap-On (used on EBAY) is like this one

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Snap-On-3-8-5-16-Brake-Bleeder-Wrench-S-8184-S8184-Auto-Tool-/221192983333?_trksid=p2047675.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D222002%26algo%3DSIC.FIT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D14292%26meid%3D5798835366721335541%26pid%3D100011%26prg%3D1095%26rk%3D1%26sd%3D360594656547%26

You want to offset

 

[tom slick]

Originally Posted By: Kruse
FWIW, I try to avoid using an SAE wrench on a metric bleeder screw, or vice versa. Once you round off the corners, then what?


Vice grips!

 

[Rick in PA]

Originally Posted By: tom slick
Originally Posted By: Kruse
FWIW, I try to avoid using an SAE wrench on a metric bleeder screw, or vice versa. Once you round off the corners, then what?


Vice grips!


And if it got to that, I'd consider slipping the butt end of a drill into the fitting to keep from crushing it! But then, let's hope it doesn't gets to that...

 

[Kruse]

Originally Posted By: tom slick
Originally Posted By: Kruse
FWIW, I try to avoid using an SAE wrench on a metric bleeder screw, or vice versa. Once you round off the corners, then what?


Vice grips!


LOL! Yea. When it comes to that, I also get the torch out and make the molecules in the bleeder screw really beat up on each other.

 

[The Critic]

Thanks guys. I think I'll wait for a real 8mm/10mm wrench.

 

[ajchien]

I have a 5/16-3/8 brake bleeder.

The 3/8 will not fit on a 10mm bleeder.

 

[The Critic]

Problem solved. Just won 2 Snap-On bleeder wrenches off ebay for $20 total.

 

[ajchien]

Nice.

I do it the ghetto way. 6 point craftsman wrench, lol.