Brake line rupture

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I had a close call today, a small suv pulled out a bit close in front of me and i had to slam on the avalanche brakes. I hit the pedal hard and suddenly it went straight to the floor. If the other car had not continued over into the lane beside me, I'd have rear ended him.

It looks like the hard line ruptured on the drivers rear where it goes up the frame over the rear wheel. I can't see it, but thats where all the brake fluid is pouring from. I am going to have it towed to a shop monday. They are going to use Ni-copp line.


I hate to think what would have happened if i had been towing. My travel trailer has electric brakes, but that would be asking a lot of them to stop the tt and the 5800lb truck.
 
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Yeah it's no fun when you blow a line. I've only done it in driveways, very very lucky, knock wood.

People will tell you that you have redundant hydraulics and can still stop. Nuts to them, this isn't how it goes down in the real world!

Plus of course they blow under high pressure, high braking need, and the last thing you need is to lose two wheels worth of stopping power.
 
Originally Posted By: eljefino
Yeah it's no fun when you blow a line. I've only done it in driveways, very very lucky, knock wood.

People will tell you that you have redundant hydraulics and can still stop. Nuts to them, this isn't how it goes down in the real world!

Plus of course they blow under high pressure, high braking need, and the last thing you need is to lose two wheels worth of stopping power.


I was surprised how little braking i had, basically none. I'm not sure why, but i only had front brakes when i pumped it over and over.

I'm thinking that with the pedal suddenly going to the floor, that i killed the MC at the same time.
 
As a teen in a old car, I went to the local fleamarket and parked, but the brake pedal went too low.

I looked and found a rear line rusted and weeping brake fluid.

I found a vendor with bottles of brake assembly lube, like thick brake fluid,
so I filled the master cyclinder and pumped it thru the system and drove it carefully
for another year! Crazy kid! not recommended!
 
I like to give my breaks an emergency panic slam before I leave the driveway whenever I drive. The idea is if they are going to blow hopefully it would be in the driveway
 
If you're so inclined a company called Inline Tube makes complete pre bent stainless lines for GM truck. I recently installed a full set on my friends 2007 GMC 2500HD after one of his original lines blew. Their fit and quality are fantastic. I highly recommend them.
 
I had that happen in my old Integra as I was leaving the dealership for an unrelated issue. Went to hit the brakes after leaving the service bay and the pedal went to the floor. Rusted completely through. I also had the master cylinder go out during the Woodward Dream Cruise. Imagine driving in stop and go traffic having to put it in park at every stop...
smile.gif
 
I thought all vehicles of that age had dual brakes so if one system malfunction the other one still works abet only 1/2 the total system. You may have more problems that just a brake line. Ed
 
Lucky! I've only had it happen to me once in one of the taxis many years back, and I was lucky, too. I was just sitting at a red light, and my pedal went to the floor. Of course, already stopped, it didn't matter much, except to the people inconvenienced behind me.
 
Originally Posted By: Eddie
I thought all vehicles of that age had dual brakes so if one system malfunction the other one still works abet only 1/2 the total system. You may have more problems that just a brake line. Ed


My Mercedes had a reservoir with two Chambers that separated the brakes into two systems. My f150 has no such divider. My brake line that runs across the diff blew and I had so little braking power. I got my truck home by taking slow roads and downshifting to slow me and only using the brakes to keep me from rolling at a light. Pretty much all the we're good for.
 
Originally Posted By: Eddie
I thought all vehicles of that age had dual brakes so if one system malfunction the other one still works abet only 1/2 the total system. You may have more problems that just a brake line. Ed

You have to pump the brake pedal to get the remaining half to work. Which is hard to get yourself to do when you want to stop right away!
 
Do cars rust in North Carolina?

Only time I've had a brake line issue was in the 1970 VW Beetle. Brake lights weren't working and they run off a pressure switch on the master cylinder. So I pushed the brake pedal real hard trying to see if they'd work while I was in the driveway and the original rubber brake hose blew on the front right wheel. Luckily I wasn't driving it when it happened.
 
Originally Posted By: Nick1994
Do cars rust in North Carolina?

Only time I've had a brake line issue was in the 1970 VW Beetle. Brake lights weren't working and they run off a pressure switch on the master cylinder. So I pushed the brake pedal real hard trying to see if they'd work while I was in the driveway and the original rubber brake hose blew on the front right wheel. Luckily I wasn't driving it when it happened.


Usually not. I bought this truck when it was only a couple of years old. It did not have much visible rust then, but it developed later. I'm sure someone had it on the beach, probably the Outer Banks, Possibly had the back end in the water with a boat and did not really rinse the underside.
 
Originally Posted By: spasm3
Originally Posted By: eljefino
Yeah it's no fun when you blow a line. I've only done it in driveways, very very lucky, knock wood.

People will tell you that you have redundant hydraulics and can still stop. Nuts to them, this isn't how it goes down in the real world!

Plus of course they blow under high pressure, high braking need, and the last thing you need is to lose two wheels worth of stopping power.


I was surprised how little braking i had, basically none. I'm not sure why, but i only had front brakes when i pumped it over and over.

I'm thinking that with the pedal suddenly going to the floor, that i killed the MC at the same time.
I would put money on the M/C being damaged ! Excellent call.
 
A lot of times the brake system rots from the inside out due to the same brake fluid absorbing moisture and being in the system for years.
I wonder how many guys on here are overly picky about motor oil choice but neglect changing the brake fluid?
 
Originally Posted By: FlyNavyP3
If you're so inclined a company called Inline Tube makes complete pre bent stainless lines for GM truck. I recently installed a full set on my friends 2007 GMC 2500HD after one of his original lines blew. Their fit and quality are fantastic. I highly recommend them.


I've used their lines twice. Once on a truck, another on a Suburban. Made a set of lines using NiCopp on another Suburban.

I discovered Dorman makes kits for these vehicles now, too. I ordered a set for my own Suburban (lines over the tank are pretty rusty...) from Amazon for $85. They look good in the box, and if they fit well without much fuss, this seems to be the way to go cost wise.
 
I lost 1/2 the brakes in an '86 escort. It was a diagonal system, so the right front and left rear worked. Of course, the rear brakes are detuned, so basically I had one-wheel brakes, which made it entertaining the morning I figured out at the bottom of my steep hill in a morning rain and ended up purposefully putting the car sideways to stop. The one circuit still had fluid that afternoon so I drove it home and put a new reservoir in a few days later. The one wheel was effective enough, but the car obviously wanted to spin, and the wheel wanted to lock, but it was capable of stopping the car. It was also a stick, so engine braking was absolutely available.

A short time later, the handbrake failed - the little button and spring and ratchet pawl all shot out -- I found them at the defrost vents -- after finding my car 75 yards down the road in the neighbor's yard. Thankfully the wheel wasn't locked straight, and it slowly turned then spun as it hit the curb. It was parked in 1st gear. We lived on a steep hill.

That car had a number of other problems. Aside from achieving some seriously awesome MPG, and being generally fun to drive, it was more or a less a heap.

-m
 
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My 1997 Lincoln was set up for brake line rusting. The steel lines under the driver's rocker panel were supported by a light steel/aluminum horizontal ledge that held up lots of snow/slush/salt. A prime time place for rot through...which it did do. Poor design. By my 2002 that altered that design and encased the steel lines with a plastic coating...smarter.
 
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