Nipples - Help!

[Cunning Plan]

I was helping my sister out and replaced the disks and pads on her Ford KA. Went round in order to get the air out of the system and three were OK, back right was a little tight, however, the last one to do in the sequence - back left brake drum - SNAPPED OFF

Now I watched as someone pumped on the peddle and no brake fluid was coming out, so I presume it didn't move at all to let air in. So, I took it for a drive and it was ok, obviously it will take a while for the new brakes to bed in anyway but the question is - what do I do?

A) Nothing, it works, leave it, it's a £1k car. Unless you need to do work on the drum for the MOT or something, which you can replace it then. (Is this advisable?)
B) Drill it out (How hard is that? )
C) Replace Drum piston / cylinder - which contains a new nipple

Thoughts please gents.

(p.s. yea yea, no actual nipples, but made you look )

[Roadkill]

Quoting: Cunning Plan

A) Nothing

Correct.

If you were only replacing discs and pads there is no reason to bleed the system anyway - unless you're doing it for another reason.

(Just top up the fluid if needed).

The only time you NEED to bleed the system is if you've replaced / removed a section of the system (caliper, pipe, flexi, slave cylinder etc . . ).

Quoting: Cunning Plan

B) Drill it out (How hard is that? )

Very.

You'd be best - if it's a drum rear - getting a new slave.

[Titsy]

Quoting: Roadkill

The only time you NEED to bleed the system is if you've replaced / removed a section of the system (caliper, pipe, flexi, slave cylinder etc . . ).

Or if you are replacing old fluid with new...

[Jamieg285]

You can try drilling the center and using a screw extractor, but I don't rate your chances.  Don't drill too deep as the seal is on the point at the end, not the threads.  

I'm in a similar position with one of my fronts.  I bought a repalcement caliper, but haven't swapped it yet as it seems to be OK as is, although I would prefer to do the job properly.

Also, the bleeding order was wrong, you should start furthest from the master cylinder first and work to the closest last.

[Cunning Plan]

Quoting: Jamieg285

Also, the bleeding order was wrong, you should start furthest from the master cylinder first and work to the closest last.

That's what I usally do, but the Haynes manual told me to do FL, RR, FR, RL.

Quoting: Titsy

Or if you are replacing old fluid with new...

Yah it was a bit 'spongy' before, so I thought while I was at it I would replace the fluid too..
 

Quoting: Roadkill

You'd be best - if it's a drum rear - getting a new slave.

I think you're right.. ******* typical though, the last one to do and the last job to do.

Quoting: Roadkill

If you were only replacing discs and pads there is no reason to bleed the system anyway - unless you're doing it for another reason.

Yah, but see above

Quoting: Roadkill

Correct.

Roger that, I just don't like leaving jobs not done right

Quoting: Jamieg285

although I would prefer to do the job properly.

Same here..

[Cunning Plan]

Quoting: Cunning Plan

Roger that, I just don't like leaving jobs not done right  

Just called PartCo.. They have a replacement new cylinder for £9 To think I was going to go to the scrapyard to get a replacement!

Looks like I will be doing this tomorrow - I will always be thinking about it if I don't do it properly

[art b]

you can almost guarantee brake caliper nipple will snap off as soon as ya look at em...

dont tweak any nipples... in this weather you will snap em....

[FUBAR]

Quoting: art b

dont tweak any nipples... in this weather you will snap em....

[Andy]

Quoting: Cunning Plan

I think you're right.. ******* typical though, the last one to do and the last job to do.    

Same on my car when i changed the pads and discs on the rear. First one went perfectly, on off in about 30 mins. Other side started alright, then boom, head rounded off completely on the caliper bolt, and because they're on the same axle it would feck up the braking, so had to get it off. Cold chisel FTW!

[Cunning Plan]

Ugh well that was no fun at all. Fitted a new one but in minus conditions it sucked a big one!

Brakes are much better now though, even though they haven't bedded in yet.

Thanks for help all