Caliper bleed nipple leaking brake fluid - replace?

Minstadave · 12 Jun 2017 at 17:23

Finally managed to get some warranty work done at BMW after a long, arduous process.

They've phoned me to say a brake caliper is leaking brake fluid through the bleed nipple and they'd like £600 odd to replace the caliper.

They didn't do my last brake fluid change, my local garage did. So I'm tempted to take it back to them to fix.

Is a replacement caliper the only way to fix it? I don't entirely trust my main dealership unfortunately.

Lordgrayone · 12 Jun 2017 at 17:29

Depends on if it's the nipple that's faulty or the caliper, I would assume they have tried a new nipple to see if it resolved the issue.
That said if you don't trust them and don't know if it was leaking before they touched it, I'm guessing the work done was brake related? you could always get them to show you.

Minstadave · 12 Jun 2017 at 17:33

No they've not tried a new nipple. Just said it looked tight and was oozing. I thought a new bleed nipple would be a first port of call.

They're not doing brake work, they're changing the front suspension arms and diff bearings. As part of the "dealer experience" they like to phone me each time I go in with other stuff they'd like to do, today it was - wipers, washer fluid, some broken plastic trim on the underside, uneven tyre wear and the leaking bleed nipple.

I'll phone my local garage in the morning and get them to sort it. They seem a bit more sensible and they worked on the brakes last.

grudas · 12 Jun 2017 at 18:53

Probably cross threaded like mine was, popped out randomly one day and I lost both brakes and clutch. It's usually either rethread of the calliper or new nipple or new calliper. Depends which thread is gone.

pastymuncher · 12 Jun 2017 at 19:08

£600 for a caliper!! I only paid £67 for a pair of brand new front calipers two weeks ago. It was for a Astra and not a BMW though. I would try changing the bleed nipple first as they cost next to nothing. At least if it still leaks it won't have cost you much.

Minstadave · 12 Jun 2017 at 19:21

Sounds sensible to me, I'd rather not give that dealership my hard earned.

Roland Butter · 12 Jun 2017 at 21:22

Put a brake hose compressor on the brake hose, remove the bleed nipple, inspect for damage, or buy a new one and refit it to the required tightness.