STI Brembo bleeder swap suggestions??? Front calipers.
 

I recently got this from a forum member and was gonna flip the bleeders for proper orientation for the twins. Stock bleeders came out with no problem. When i tried to take out the opposite side (allen screw), it just won't budge. Used a T40 torx bit but to no avail. So here's my dilemma...:iono:


should I:

a. Try to use a mini torch to heat up the screw and see if it will work? (possibly damaging the nice paint and risking the screw from breaking)

b. Just leave it like that and just reverse the whole caliper during install. (meaning the LEFT with install on the RIGHT). I read somewhere here that this doesn't affect performance. Although may lead to uneven wear of pads.

c. Leave it like that, separate caliper from rotor and just use a block of wood when bleeding while bleeder is pointing up.


Thanks!!!!

Unfortunately, in order to break free bolts that were installed using Loctite (or other thread locker), you'll need to apply a considerable amount of heat. You could maybe get away with using a higher powered soldering iron and use just the tip (that's what she said) to heat the bolt in question. I think someone had mentioned using this method for their Brembos and it worked, but I don't want to spend any time searching for that since that's something you could do.

depends on how old the calipers are. the older the caliper the harder to get those allen nuts out. mine was 07s, and I used the torch to take those allen bolts out, but left the browning residue due to the heat. It wasn't a big deal for me since I was planning on powdercoat the caliper anyway.


a friend of mine suggested to not bother with it and told me to just separate the caliper to bleed the fluid but I don't think it's practical.

Torch. Those are differential bored calipers, so use them correctly.

Are these the calipers that are direct fit with the bleeders flipped? What year are they from ?

04-07 STI. With bleeders flipped they are oriented correctly as they are differentially bored - the leading and trailing pistons are different sizes.

I swapped the bleeders on my 2008-2012 STI calipers, and I don't recall it being a torx bit, it was just a standard metric allen bit. I used a 3/8" breaker and my allen bit socket and had no issue removing them and swapping them after I bolted the calipers to the car. My advice would be to use some heat but possibly try and take some measures to protect the paint on the caliper.

As Obital mentioned these are the cheap from Japan gold 04-07 STI calipers. The newer black 08-12 STI front calipers are the same and also bolt on but need the bleeders flipped as well.

It's pretty easy to shear the threads in the caliper because aluminum. I *highly* recommend heat.

Qué? Available on USDM 04-07 STI. Available on JDM/UKDM 01+ STI.

I had to drill the allen heads out, and re-tap the threads. Mine wouldn't come out with no matter how much heat and PB blaster I applied.

Take the time and do it right.

Most of these you see come from Japanese breaker yards and they are relatively cheaply found on eBay. They normally display damage to the paint as well. I am not implying they are any better or worse than the newer ones just easier and cheaper to find.

When you guys say swap bleeders, do you mean do it like this (please see attachment)? Only the front need it right?

I just got a set of 08 sti caliper front and rear, and I am thinking to swap bleeder before powder coating them.

Yes. Fronts only.

^Yes.