Sierra, Silverado, Avalanche, Yukon corroded brake lines

[dlr33]

I've seen lots of postings on various truck forums about corroding exploding brake line on GM trucks, but I don't think the issue has been mentioned here. My 2005 Sierra treated us to a variation on 'pedal to the metal' last week when the brakes failed completely and with no warning at all. Fortunately we were not towing our fifth wheel at the time. NHTSA has an open 'investigation' into 1999 - 2003 models but may expand up to 2009 as more reports come in. So far no recall has been issued. It is worth a few minutes to climb underneath your truck and inspect the brake lines - mine was spraying brake fluid over the underside of the hood on the driver's side. There is a Technical Service Bulletin, which can be found with a little careful Googling, #13-05-22-001: it advises dealers that GM has made up kits of pre-formed and pre-flared brake lines, and that should dramatically reduce the cost of the repair from the $2,000 some dealers have been charging for manually working up replacement brake lines. Mine is still at the dealer, but when I get it back, hopefully repaired, I will add my note to the NHTSA site. GM refers to the dual-circuit braking system that should allow the vehicle to stop safely if one side fails: they neglect to mention what happens when both sides fail at once like mine did. Dangerous situation.

[Tachdriver]

Thanks for the offer...let me allocate some funds.

[BurbMan]

Tachdriver wrote:
Thanks Burb Man

I had one blow out at 2005 in my 1996 C1500...makes me look at spending the money to replace the lines.

PM me if you want a hand! In addition to the GearWrench flex head ratcheting flare wrenches, I also own a new set of crow's feet and an official GM torsion bar removal tool thanks to this job...also a Motive PowerBleeder which was a big help getting everything bled out.

If I remember the brakes lines and hoses were only like $400 and the fuel line set was like $500.

[pjs1660]

My neighbor who owns his own repair shops has been replacing brake and fuel lines on all types of vehicles all the time lately the main reason up here in the snow belt is the liquid deicer they use on the freeways now it has beet juice in it to help it stick to the road but it also sticks to the bottom of vehicles very well too He suggests hosing off the bottom of your vehicle often especially after they have salted and deiced the roads

[Tachdriver]

Thanks Burb Man

I had one blow out at 2005 in my 1996 C1500...makes me look at spending the money to replace the lines.

[phipps33]

I've had several lines blow on my 97 Sierra. We lucked out in that it always happened in the drive at home.

[v10superduty]

WOW, I would think this is a far bigger time bomb to be driving around with than some of the fuel pump problems that some are so vocal about?
Seems like most instance mentioned here was just pure "luck" when it happened. This will get attention when a couple families get wiped out in a crash. :h

[bucky]

Save any receipts if you have this work done for future reimbursement. Contact NHTSA(?) with your complaint.

[lazydays]

sausageking wrote:
Same thing happened to us on our return trip home from Michigan, luckily we were towing so the trailer brakes brought us home.

Same here. I drove over 60 miles home just using my camper brakes last year.

[Sharps45120]

We had the same issue with our 2006 Sierra. Brake and fuel lines blew - not at the same time. Luckily both happened in the driveway. Husband replaced them all with the flexible braided steel.

[dodge_guy]

It should be a recall! I`ve worked on cars from the 60`s with the OE brake lines that still look like new (other than road debris). even cars from the 70`s and 80`s. but when you get a 5 year old car/truck with rusted brake lines that`s an issue!

[monkey44]

SO is this going to come as a recall? I've already done it, and cost me $1100 on the road, had to be towed in. Flat to the floor pedal. I should then get reimbursed if so ...

[Mvander]

This happend to the MIL this past summer in their 03 sierra. Last stop in the driveway and it was foot to the floor. Im getting nervous now about my 2000 Yukon that has original lines to my knowledge. It has been oil sprayed yearly and i think that helps a lot.

[Trail-Mate]

My son is a Mechanic, last year he was working at a Small Independent shop in the Baltimore MD area, He said they were getting a lot of these in mainly brake lines. One was so bad he said the brake baking plates were rusted out and they had to replace them also. The older trucks did not have this issue because I have owned 4 GM trucks in the 91-95 range and none of these had this type of issue.

[bucky]

This is the recall that GM should be announcing. True, we live in a beach environment that hastens rust but this is a national problem. If you need brake lines, GM came out with sets last summer for most newer models in the $125 range. Your local dealer may not be aware yet, but there is a TSB out and the numbers are in the EPCs.