Mikelly Posted May 18, 2005 Share Posted May 18, 2005 Brake related, but not Z related... My 98 Chevy Z71 4X4 just suffered a brake line failure due to RUST... This is the second Chevy K series I've had that this has happened on... The line failed in Herndon and it cost me $235 to get the truck to Fredericksburg. I'm pretty much wondering if it is A: GM Crap, B: The crap they are using to melt the snow now, or C: dumb luck, but a 1998 truck in this vehicles condition shouldn't have a brakeline that looks like it was fished out of the ocean! Crappy run of luck I'm having... Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim240z Posted May 18, 2005 Share Posted May 18, 2005 I believe GM has a recall for some of these issues, or at least an advisory. Check out the NTSA website for details..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zhadman Posted May 19, 2005 Share Posted May 19, 2005 Not to make light of your automotive woes, but I read this RIGHT before reading your post. GM Top of Quality Poll Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug71zt Posted May 20, 2005 Share Posted May 20, 2005 My father has a 2002 1/2 ton GM that had the anti-lock sensor problem at 30,000 miles. Confused the heck out of me and the shop for a while. Finally found it driving around watching the wheel speed sensors on a scanner. It would only do it once in a while, but it had NO BRAKES when the ABS screwed up. The wheel speed sensors, installed with one bolt in the front end, had rust under the mounting surface, pushing the sensor up and just out of range of the toothed wheel. Every once in a while, one would miss counting a bunch of teeth and report back to the ABS confuser that the wheel had locked. Instant no brakes with the ABS cycling madly. I had some very scary times in the Rockys with an early production 2500HD chev a couple years ago, had a heavy trailer on gravel mountain logging roads. The ABS wasn't very happy with the amount of slippage on the gravel and left me without much braking until I pulled the big fuse under the hood. My next truck will probably be something around a 1970 GMC, with modern power under the hood. There just isn't anything out there new that I have confidence in. Mike - You should see the underside of my 01 Maxima - here in Ontario, Canada, salt corrosion is horrible. The car has 40,000 miles on it and the corrosion on the underside and suspension makes me cringe, every time I'm under there. Your truck, if it was driven here, would be due for all new brake and gas lines, as well as lower cab corners and box sides over the wheel wells. As for your question, I answer both - they aren't making them any better, and the salt is just making it worse.. Hope you get out of this slump OK. Doug Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim240z Posted May 20, 2005 Share Posted May 20, 2005 My next truck will probably be something around a 1970 GMC' date=' with modern power under the hood. There just isn't anything out there new that I have confidence in. Doug[/quote'] Exactly the reason I decided to do a drivetrain conversion (99 Vortec/4L60E) in my 71 Cheyenne 20! Old school works every time..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pop N Wood Posted May 20, 2005 Share Posted May 20, 2005 I had some very scary times in the Rockys with an early production 2500HD chev a couple years ago' date=' had a heavy trailer on gravel mountain logging roads. The ABS wasn't very happy with the amount of slippage on the gravel and left me without much braking until I pulled the big fuse under the hood. Doug[/quote'] Absolute classic. I hate ABS brakes. I will book mark this quote for future arguments. Don't know why they can't put a switch on ABS and air bags. Or better yet, make them optional. Guess that would require the government to actually trust us. Scary that brake hard line could rust so quickly. Aren't they suppose to be stainless steel? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest RunninOnEmpty Posted May 20, 2005 Share Posted May 20, 2005 There's a fuse we can pull to defeat the damned ABS? Where is it located? I have an 04 Sierra 2500 which should be the same. Will try the same on my 04 Yukon which has "Traction Control" as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim240z Posted May 20, 2005 Share Posted May 20, 2005 I have an 04 Sierra 2500 which should be the same. Will try the same on my 04 Yukon which has "Traction Control" as well. Damn!! Money bags!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnc Posted May 20, 2005 Share Posted May 20, 2005 GM's costs per vehicle are still about $700 more then any other US manufacturer. If they price the vehicles the same as the competition, where do they make up that $700? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikelly Posted May 20, 2005 Author Share Posted May 20, 2005 Well I'm all ears for a suitable late model replacement for my GM product that can tow 10K pounds... However, Coworker of mine informed me today that his 99 Ford F150 did the SAME THING (Brake line rust failure) to him back in March. Not like we're living in the rust belt or anything... Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMortensen Posted May 20, 2005 Share Posted May 20, 2005 Anyone make stainless brake lines for the Chevy Mike? Might be cheaper than replacing the whole damn thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnc Posted May 20, 2005 Share Posted May 20, 2005 Buy a small tubing bender, a nice (read expensive) double flare tool, and some stainless lines. Its another skill to add to your fabricating quiver! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikelly Posted May 20, 2005 Author Share Posted May 20, 2005 Uh, I was thinking more along the lines of replacing the TRUCK! Already have tubing benders and flare tools and been doing that stuff for going on two decades! Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest RunninOnEmpty Posted May 21, 2005 Share Posted May 21, 2005 Tim240Z - Not so much "money bags" as bags of money going to GMAC until sometime after the next ice age! BTW, didn't I see your car a few months ago? My partner (the Korean guy) and I (the old geezer) pulled up in a cop car. If so, your's is without doubt the most beautiful Z I've seen. Wish we'd had more time to check it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim240z Posted May 21, 2005 Share Posted May 21, 2005 I'll have another gathering soon...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest RunninOnEmpty Posted May 21, 2005 Share Posted May 21, 2005 Tim - I'll be looking fwd to it. I have Sundays off now, so I'll be able to come in a more appropriate vehicle:) Thanks. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug71zt Posted May 22, 2005 Share Posted May 22, 2005 RunninOnEmpty - The ABS fuse is in the master electrical box, driver's side fender. The ABS light will stay on as long as the fuse is out. If you want a real laugh, check out where GM put the really expensive ABS actuator on your truck. Here's a hint - look under the truck, right about where your feet sit... Doug Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest RunninOnEmpty Posted May 22, 2005 Share Posted May 22, 2005 Doug, thanks - one question - with the ABS fuse out does the system default to regular non-ABS? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnc Posted May 22, 2005 Share Posted May 22, 2005 with the ABS fuse out does the system default to regular non-ABS? The answer is: it depends... Automobiles that have later generation ABS systems have brake bias programmed into the ABS software. In many cases the default braking bias without ABS control is heavily front biased for safety reasons. Its almost as if the cars don't have any rear brakes. I learned this while helping Erik Messley tune the brakes on an Acrua NSX, a Viper GTS, and a Honda S2000. Short of replacing the master cylinders, brake calipers, rotors, and prop valves, the braking balance and stopping distances on those particular cars was much better with the ABS hooked up then without. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug71zt Posted May 23, 2005 Share Posted May 23, 2005 RunninOnEmpty - In light of what John has said, I am not 100% sure how the brake bias is controlled on those trucks. Like all mods, this one is at your own risk. While not noticing any difference in braking on pavement, I can't say that the brake bias remained the same ABS on to ABS off. On gravel, the difference in braking was jaw-dropping, because with ABS on, the surge brakes on the trailer where doing all the braking, while the ABS unit cycled. This was a purpose-built trailer for use as a mobile workshop/spares container for helicopter maintenance. It weighed about 7500 lbs and had 4 wheel hyd surge brakes. When I first drove the truck on gravel without the trailer, I almost put it off the road because there were no trailer brakes to stop me. Then, the ABS fuse was removed on the advice of a local GM tech(!). It stopped like a normal rig in the mountains then, I noticed no difference on pavement, but I probably only drove without the trailer 5% of the time. To sum it up, if you drive on pavement all the time, I would leave the fuse in, as you won't notice a difference and that is likely what the ABS unit is programmed for. If you drive on gravel, take it out. The braking problems were due to the deceleration speeds of the wheels on gravel, as there is a lot more slippage than on pavement. I notice that the new Range Rovers have dash-selectable ABS and Trac Control software for different road conditions. What a novel idea. Doug Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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