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1

General Car Chat / Re: Seized / sheered brake bleed nipples

« on: 22 January 2026, 12:32:19 »

Cheers Jim. That seems like a good alternative.
As the bleed nipples should be slackened every two years for bleeding, would that not destroy the seal between the threads and the alloy caliper body possibly resulting in future galvanic corrosion? If they were being removed the threads could he cleaned and more Hylomar applied, but how do you thik would the sealant stand up to just being slackened to bleed?

2

General Car Chat / Re: Seized / sheered brake bleed nipples

« on: 18 January 2026, 00:34:07 »

After doing more digging, I think I will stick with original Brembo /Audi steel replacement bleed nipples.
Reasoning behind it - galvanic corrosion when two types of metals are in contact with each other (as we all know), and an electrolyte (humidity / rainwater/ sea or salt water etc). Alloy calipers are made from an aluminim alloy I understand, and this corrosion requires an anode and cathode to start the process, if the  two metals are similar this process is reduced.
Unfortunately stainless steel and aluminium alloy are more prone to electron transfer, and titanium even more so; mild steel or zinc plated steel less so. In other words the more similar the metal are between anode and cathode, the less galvanic corrosion occurs.
You would have thought the engineers at Brembo would fit the most appropriate bleed nipples for the metal in their calipers, so with that in mind, I am going to stick with their standard bleed nipples. I'm not saying galvanic corrosion won't occur again, but with a barrier on the threads such as ceramic grease or red rubber grease (being unaffected by brake fluid) should help to reduce the effect.
Took some research but stainless in alloy, and titanium in alloy are not recommended at all unless sleeved with a more compatible metal.
Now have to get the snapped and seized bleed nipples out......

3

General Car Chat / Re: Seized / sheered brake bleed nipples

« on: 17 January 2026, 16:01:12 »

Thanks Nick - they have always had the rubber caps on the nipples. Stainless was my thoughts too of the the two metals from what I've read. Checked the cost of them and they aren't too bad price wise either.

4

General Car Chat / Seized / sheered brake bleed nipples

« on: 16 January 2026, 22:38:25 »

Wondered if any of you knowledgables have had any experiences of this issue...
I have a set of ceramic front brake calipers on an Audi (which I believe are made by Brembo). The inner bleed nipple on both calipers have seized primarily I presume as the bleed nipple is steel and the caliper body is alloy causing corrosion between the different metals
The brake system has been bled religiously every two years.
I have a chap who has had success of removing seized / snapped bleed nipples so I'm not overly concerned about getting out - but should I replace them with stainless steel or titanium alternatives?
I have researched this on t'interweb, and I'm leaning towards a high grade of stainless with maybe a smear of ceramic brake grease or red rubber grease on the thread,  but there is some suggestion that titanium and alloy are possibly better suited to the different metals, although there will aways be some reaction over time.
I am a little miffed that dispite them being slackened to bleed every two years they have seized, but if I can reduce the likelihood of this problem in the future, which alternative metal bleed nipple would be best?
Thanks

5

General Discussion Area / Re: What has P*ssed you off today?

« on: 07 January 2026, 00:20:19 »

And before you even suggest it, approaching from the opposite direction on the opposite carriageway, stopping adjacent to the scene and hopping over the armco or concrete central reservation to the scene on foot is also another big no no....

6

General Discussion Area / Re: What has P*ssed you off today?

« on: 07 January 2026, 00:06:27 »

Monday. Smart motorway. The M1 heading south. Serious accident 350 yards up from us.. Four lanes of stationary traffic.

No lane for emergency vehicles. The incident commander and someone from fire brigade came running between the vehicles. Smart motorways my 4rse.

That's not exclusively a smart motorway problem, but no hard shoulder really doesn't help matters.
One day, they'll figure out that you can approach the scene from the other direction at the next junction.

Rather a ridulous statement - the emergency services would NEVER approach the scene of accident by travelling against the direction of the traffic flow, even if 4 lanes were blocked due to collision. It is very rare that 4 lanes are actually totally blocked, and after the initial aftermath prior to the arrival of the emergency services, drivers that feel their presence at the scene to assist or give their details as a witness is no longer necessary, or a stricken vehicle is moved, they will manoeuvre past the scene and continue on their journey, only to be met by emergency vehicles travelling opposite direction? A big no no.
The other point that you haven't considered is any vehicles that may have previously stopped in an emergency refuge between the scene and the next junction for whatever reason who then continue on their journey only to be confronted by emergency service vehicles travelled towards them.
Travelling against the normal flow of traffic would only be considered once a police vehicle has travelled from the scene to the next junction to check for any potential.problems or previously stranded vehicles, and then and only then once they area is sterile, would any emergency or recovery vehicles be permitted access from the opposite direction, but that would only be as a last resort.
Use yer noddle.....

7

General Car Chat / Re: Predictive cruise

« on: 28 December 2025, 21:58:56 »

https://news.motability.co.uk/motoring/predictive-cruise-control-explained/

TA .....I'd never heard of it. Sounds like yet another step towards autonomous cars & another reason to keep the car I already have. 

I drive a lot of various 'newer' cars in connection with work. Many of the driver assistance systems are actually  taking away the actual pleasure of driving. Personally I still enjoy driving (depending what the car is of course) but it just makes me want to keep my 'older' cars without these 'new fangled' so called driver assistance systems.

8

General Car Chat / Re: Predictive cruise

« on: 28 December 2025, 21:28:43 »

https://news.motability.co.uk/motoring/predictive-cruise-control-explained/

9

General Discussion Area / Re: Word Association.

« on: 15 December 2025, 17:59:08 »

Dover

10

Omega General Help / Re: Engine ECU repair.

« on: 12 December 2025, 01:09:39 »

I have a 2003 3.2 which about 10 years ago apparantly fried the ECU due to an electrical surge or spike from the battery(?), and I had more lights on the dash than a Christmas tree.
Spoke to a couple of places that repair ECU's (one was in Derby I recollect), and I sent it to them but it was returned as unrepairable.
I decided to take the plunge and bought a used one from Ebay off a Police 3.2, complete with the transponders ring and key fob chips.
A former VX auto electrician with I presume a Tech2 etc reprogrammed it to my own 3.2, retaining my original key fob chips and transponder ring, and it has been fine ever since.
An option to consider if you know anyone with the ability and means to do it...?

11

General Car Chat / Re: So what have you done to your car today?

« on: 19 November 2025, 09:52:43 »

It may also be worth contacting a firm called Woolies in Peterborough who are specialists in upholstery and trim repair / recolouring etc. They have been going a long time and have supplied quality products for trim renovation for classic cars for years.

12

General Car Chat / Re: So what have you done to your car today?

« on: 19 November 2025, 09:45:40 »

https://www.kolorbond.co.uk/vinylkote-paint-leather-vinyl/

This product is generally well recieved in classic car circles for both recolouring and rejuvenating both vinyl and leather interior trim and upholstery.

13

General Discussion Area / Re: Word Association.

« on: 16 November 2025, 21:21:24 »

Kinky

14

General Discussion Area / Re: Word Association.

« on: 16 November 2025, 19:21:34 »

Bond

15

Omega General Help / Re: Replacing rubber around windshield

« on: 15 November 2025, 01:05:25 »

It can be done because I've done it.
To remove the good one, I would suggest using a pick tool to get the tongue started out of the retainer, and use some silicone lubricant to slide the pick tool between the lowest part of the tongue and against the retainer making sure that it isn't distorted. If it bends significantly (ie by pulling it up by hand) the likelihood it won't sit properly on refitting.
Make sure the tongue is spotlessly clean of any grit or crud, as  is the retainer. Lightly lubricate the tongue with either red rubber grease or silicone spray, position the moulding so that the top curve is exactly in position, the start gently thumb the tongue into the retainer at one end regularly checking that the top corner will still sit in the correct position. Go easy on it and take your time exerting a firm constant pressure as you go round the moulding, and it will go on easily. You will feel when it slots correctly into the groove on the retainer.
There is a good chance that some of the bonding used on the windscreen fitment may be in contact with and  support the retainer in part but don't be hamfisted and keep its profile as flat as possible when removing/ refitting and you should be able to do it ok