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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Rear brake bleed nipple spanner

There was a lot of swearing yesterday as I tried to bleed the brakes after renewing the fluid. I have the late midget brakes all round on the Frogeye, and the rear nipples are a swine. Why did they use such tiny ones, recessed into the backplate behind the rim? I had to file out a pressed steel ring spanner to fit. They are so small that the bleed tube keeps falling off. My friend Mr Google says that there is indeed a very special spanner, but nobody has one - unless you guys know better.

Fortunately all the brakes bled perfectly first time, or the language would have been even worse.

Les
L B Rose

Les,
it might be your mix of Frogeye to later brakes as the ones on my late 1275 are a bit fiddly but not too bad. Getting the tubing on isn't bad, depending on weather temperature I might add a small cable-tie. Spanner use is a bit of a fiddle though.

If the nipples are original then 1/4" spanner but if newer wheel cylinder then 7mm, I bought a 7mm just for this job and it's not the best fit.

I use the one-man-and-a-jar method so not too much pressure and I don't have to open the nipple far.

"Bleed nipple for all rear wheel cylinders plus GWC101 and is 1/4"unf thread. current wheel cylinders are using 7mm rather than 6.2mm(1/4")spanner size but same thread."

https://www.minispares.com/product/classic/513118A.aspx
Nigel Atkins

Les you need something like this
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/254491552547

or even shorter, if you can find one.
David Smith

I think it would need to be shorter or need more angle to the heads.

I don't know how close to 7mm the 7mm bleed nipples are, or how close to 7mm my Halfords Advanced combination spanner is as I don't have accurate measures.

Pressed steel with a bend might be the best for the job.

Or, even if it might be a 7mm, a set of imperial mini spanners as one might fit and the other might be useful for other tight areas on the car.

Such as the ones my wife got me without saying at the time (£8 at the NEC) after I looked at them and umm'd and arh'd and put them down. I've not used them yet but I can think of occasions in the past when they might have helped. -
https://abtoolsonline.com/imperial-sae-af-mini-combination-ring-spanner-set-3-16-7-16-10pc-set/

Or perhaps these that I also looked at -
https://abtoolsonline.com/mini-spanner-wrench-set-imperial-sae-9pc-1-8-1-2-model-engineering-hobby/

They're only cheap sets but if they're for something at low torque and save time and hassle they'd be great and if they're never used at least they weren't a lot of money invested.

IIRC (I often don't) I had more hassle with the front bleed nipples. I have a small collection of spanners so I try different ones but then forget which was the best fit.
Nigel Atkins

you only use the ring end. The modern replacement wheel cylinders have 7mm nipples. 7mm exactly. The 4th pic on the ebay as shows the crank angle on the ring end, it is sufficient.
David Smith

IIRC using the ring end doesn't leave much space for the tubing to sit on the nipple.

Perhaps the fitting to the backplate and/or the infamous E-clip vary between different cars making some slightly more awkward than others.

The crank angle on the Snap-on looks the same as my Halfords Advanced (standard 10/15(?)) but I find it a tight fit either end on the new rear wheel cylinder nipples and the handle a bit long. But I can't remember having too much of a problem. Perhaps I need a better spanner.

My neighbour has some spanners that have a sharper crank angle, forget which make, and a few different sets of spanners so next time I might try a few from his collection if I remember or need to.
Nigel Atkins

Thanks folks, my nipples (!) are 7mm and maybe that eBay one will work. I still wonder why they are so small - the front ones are twice the size.

Les
L B Rose

It will work but still be a bit fiddly and possibly no better than you have now.

More recent years Snap-on isn't as good as many years back, or so I was told by someone I knew who worked for Snap-on in the UK, he said the same for Blue Spot(?) who Snap-on acquired. I wouldn't know as I've never owned either.
Nigel Atkins

Nigel, Blue-point is the other name. It is Snap Ons second string cheaper brand, largely made elsewhere, although I gather Snap On stuff is not all made in the USA as it once was.

Trev
T Mason

Trev, thanks that's it, just couldn't recall.

Until fairly recently many in the USA were reasonable happy to go along with 'Made in USA' being China, same as we liked the very cheap prices here - reap what you sow, weap at what you sowed. :)
Nigel Atkins

This thread was discussed between 30/01/2020 and 01/02/2020

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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