Brake failure on my Truck...

[DrewW]

GM seems to have used some cheap lines in these trucks, dad has a 3/4 ton that only had 65,000 on it when the line rusted in two on it, had to remove all the cab mounts and jack up the cab to get to the line on his truck, we replaced all the lines on his truck with stainless because a brake line giving way is scary, luckily when he lost his brakes he was pulling an empty trailer with brakes on both axles, the trailer brakes got everything stopped really quickly and then we limped her home.

His truck came out of Michigan and it is a 99 and both cab corners are already rusted through so I would say it saw a lot of nasty winters which caused it to go so soon.

I firmly believe that all brake lines should be stainless to save money they keep getting thinner all the manufactures are guilty of it and I have fixed to many failed brake lines because they rusted in two long before they should have.

 

[shovelwrench]

Blown brake lines from rust are great.... One second your brakes are fine, the next, you got none. Happens quite frequently here in PA, on newer stuff then yours.

 

[Herknav]

Originally posted by CAJUNLAWYER:
You've got a 2000 with only 90k miles!

My 1999 Suburban just turned 290,000-yours is just getting broken in.

You're lucky, Caj. Mine's got 72K, and I spent almost $3,500 last year for a new tranny.

 

[Xfuzz]

Went down to the mechanics and looked.
All four lines heavily rusted. Only one
busted.
However, I'm having all 4 replaced.

Tab...w/towing fee and taxes......$521.03

 

[BarbC]

We (he, actually) replaced the brakeline on the Bronco. He told me to get in the truck and press the brake pedal down on the floor while he did something under the truck. He hollered, "OK!" I pressed the brake pedal down and he yelled, "Hold it!" So I immediately let it go. He did some stuff and then said, "OK - again!" So I hit the brake and he yelled, "Hold it!" So again I immediately let it go.

Finally he came out from underneath and said, "What are you doing??" Oh. I thought "Hold it" meant "Stop what you're doing right now!"

Tab... Having your wife help you repair the vehicle... Priceless.

 

[2Loud4You]

Originally posted by BarbC:
We (he, actually) replaced the brakeline on the Bronco. He told me to get in the truck and press the brake pedal down on the floor while he did something under the truck. He hollered, "OK!" I pressed the brake pedal down and he yelled, "Hold it!" So I immediately let it go. He did some stuff and then said, "OK - again!" So I hit the brake and he yelled, "Hold it!" So again I immediately let it go.

Finally he came out from underneath and said, "What are you doing??" Oh. I thought "Hold it" meant "Stop what you're doing right now!"

Tab... Having your wife help you repair the vehicle... Priceless.

That's why we use the "up, down" method. You don't let the pedal up until you hear "up".

 

[shovelwrench]

You know what pisses me off, stanless brake lines last FOREVER, almost.

YET, factories don't use em, and mechanics don't either. It's all I use.

 

[2Loud4You]

Originally posted by shovelwrench:
and mechanics don't either. It's all I use.

Because customers don't want to pay for it. Here in ATL we don't really have to deal with rusted lines though.

 

[gjgalligan]

I live in Michigan and the brake lines plus the fuel lines have rusted out on 1997 Chevy P/U (about 70k miles).
My conclusion is that I need to run it through a carwash that sprays the underside MUCH more often.
The salt here just eats it up!