I noticed my the front fluid levelon my XTR (13+kmiles) has dropped over the last month. Thought sudden excessice pad wear

Finally gave it a check (also due for fluid change) & I noticed fluid all around the bleed screw and fluid drip traces around it.

I thought maybe the screw had come loose. NO problem.

I changed the fluid, made sure the bleed screw was torqued correctly and cleaned all traces of fluid in the area.

3 days later, I noticed the base of the screw has fluid around it (more of a wet look rather than dripping).

Q1: can I use some PTFE tape (plumbing tape) or LPG thread sealing compound to stop the leak?
Q2: should I replace the bleed screw? (I can't & hope not it had been removed, then re-fitted cross screwed!!). I had the front tyre replaced about two months ago.

Q3: new caliper? I really don't want to go that route because of cost.

thanks for any views and helpful advice

thread lock/seal,ptfe tape if they dont work then you could get it helicoiled.

thanks for your help. Hopefully either of the 1st two will solve the problem.



But honestly I never had a leeky bleed screw in all my xxxxx years of motoring

As you gotta take it out your gonna be able to see whats what..you may be able to see what the tread looks like.Maybe try and clean it up.

Id go for thread lock/seal but I have had success with helicoils

Bleed screws seal on a tapered surface on the end of the screw.... I doubt thread tape will help..... might be just residual brake fluid from inside the screw???

+1 on fryguy...



Take the bleed screw out and jet out the thread of the caliper with brake cleaner. There's debris in there (or on the surface) stopping the bleed valve seating properly. The correct thing to do is strip down the block, pistons and seals out, and cleanse the whole lot and rebuild. Either way, it needs a fluid flush.

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I have a lot of growing up to do. I realized that the other day inside my fort.

fryguy
I think it is the case of what you mentioned.


Once the brake fluid change was done, I noticed some around the thread after the first ride. Dried it all up with newspaper. Second ride no trace of fluid, just looked damp. Did the same again with newspaper.
I have been on the bike about 6 times and over the two last rides, there is no more trace of fluid


So I guess as you guys mentioned, there is always some fluid getting into the thread when opening & closing the bleew screw and it seeps out.


Most of the time this is not noticeable but in my case as my original problem & reason for bleeding the brake was a leak, then I kept an eye on it with a magnifying glass.
The same on my other bike as I did the two together.


Panic over.

Chalk2 debris in the thread is a good candidate which I remember if there is a next time


thanks guys for your thoughts.


BTW I am thinking of getting a manual vaccum bleeding kit (Myvac style) to hopefully stop fluid getting into the thread

I somehow got some air in the front system so decided to do another bleed (had plenty of fuild left) but this time, I took out the bleed screw out for cleaning & inspection.


ON the screw, one of the holes was completely blocked with some hard stuff which I cleared with thin gauge wire. It looked similar to hardened sealant or toothpaste.


I did wrapped few rounds of PTFE tape around the tthread for good measure.


Wrapped it all up and job done (finally!!). The area around the bleed screw now looks as dry as my garden.

great job ... and thanks for the update.

__________________
I have a lot of growing up to do. I realized that the other day inside my fort.