Had a brake line burst on a Chevy 2500 yesterday in my driveway

Was doing a simple pad slap on a 2014 Chevy 2500 when the rear brake line just popped as I bled the system. Rust had eaten through the line right near the frame bracket, probably been weak for months. Ended up having to cut out a 2-foot section and flare new line with my old Ridgid tool. Anyone else seeing these GM trucks from the salt belt just rot out faster than they used to?

2 comments

2 Comments

oliver_ward141mo ago

Yeah I used to think people were just being dramatic about the salt belt eating trucks alive. Then I had a 2013 Silverado where the entire hard line from the master cylinder to the ABS module basically crumbled in my hands when I touched it. That Ridgid flaring tool saved my ass too but man it's frustrating how fast this stuff goes now. The metal they're using just doesn't hold up like the old stuff did.

seth_carr1mo ago

Man that's wild about the master cylinder lines just crumbling... I had a buddy with a 2012 that found rust holes in his frame that weren't even visible til he poked at them with a screwdriver and the metal just fell away like wet cardboard. @oliver_ward14 you're spot on about the metal quality - I swear they're using thinner gauge steel now or something because my dad's old 1998 C2500 lines still look decent after 25 years in Ohio salt... this new stuff starts flaking after like 8 seasons.