Well, I've been here two days and already in need of some wisdom. can anyone tell me exactly what size spanner (wrench) I need to undo the front bleed screws/bleeders on my 96 XJ? I have just bled the rears but the bleeders at the front seem to need a different size spanner and I don't have a single one in my entire collection that fits.. 3/8 too big, 5/16 too small. no metric size any use either...

 

Should be 10 mm

 

Yeah 10mm.

 

Yours may be damaged. Buy new ones. If you've got new ones, you can vicegrip the old ones out.

 

Gonna need to replace them, I recommend speed bleeders if you can get them. I usually hammer a too tight socket over the offending bleeder and use an impact driver (hammer driven, not air) to "persuade" it off.

 

X2^

 

yes, what gunsmith said works well.

 

I just went through this doing a brake overhaul. Had to completely remove my caliper and put in a vice and use vice grips to remove those stubborn bastards. Went to my local parts store and picked up new bleeder bolts.

 

If I have to use vise grips on the bleeders and really reef on them to break loose I'm just gonna replace the calipers or wheel cylinders. Not worth my time to polish a turd.

 

I've had a wheel cylinder kick my ars, but don't recall not being able to get after a caliper bleeder with vice grips. Down in the jaw, tighter than tight, than a solid..."action!" IIRC my 90 has 3/8 front, and 5/16 ths on the rear cylinders.

 

Wow, responses coming thick and fast... many thanks to all. I'm going to get some new ones then use a stud puller to get the old ones out. I couldn't do this at the time of asking as I needed it on the road the next day.
Cheers all! :-)