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2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Have you checked your brake lines!?!

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Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Injector recommendations

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:eek:

Pulled into the drive way after running some errands and saw something driping back by the fuel tank... But it wasnt' fuel. It was BRAKE FLUID. :eek:



The brake line running along the frame is litterally rotten and is just "sweating" brake fluid towards the back behind the fuel tank. Are the brake lines avaialbe any where or am I going to have to bend one up??
 
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The same thing happened on my truck back in January. Due to snow and freezing temps. , I had to pay a shop to fix it Fortunately it let go in my driveway and not on the highway. My friend had the same thing happen on his 2001 1500. I'm thinking about ordering these pre-bent stainless steel lines: PRE BENT OEM BRAKE-HARD LINE REPLACEMENTS FOR DODGE RAM, FORD PICKUPS AND SUVS :: Truck Upgrades :: Circle Track Supply, Inc. . These were posted on the DTR website. A little pricey, but a permanent fix. -Glen
 
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You can get the line you're talking about from your local Dodge dealer for about $40. 00. I'm going to look at all the lines. -Glen
 
Well it took all afternoon but it's all fixed:) Got brake lines from the local NAPA and bent them to match. The NAPA lines have a polymer coating on them so maybe that will help with the corrosion. I completely understand how that de-ice crap they spray on the roads eats away the rebar in bridges. I just emptied a whole can of WD40 on my undercarrage. I may just start doing that every fall to see if it helps.



But wow does the truck stop now... I don't think the back brakes have been doing much lately:rolleyes: I was suprised that there were no actual holes in the line. I had my wife bump the brakes and you could see the old line just "sweat" brake fluid in about 5 different spots.



So not what I had planned on doing today, but repair complete. :cool:
 
I just emptied a whole can of WD40 on my undercarrage.



You may want to look at a more permanent spray-on-rust-inhibitor on your brake lines. Especially on critical components under the vehicle that are short lived due to rust. WD-40 is short lived in a moist atmospheres and has little abrasion resistance. One easily obtainable product is LPS, which makes some pretty good inhibitors designed for many different corrosion control scenarios. Here's a link to LPS.
 
Great... Another '96 with brake lines biting the dust; actually turning to dust. First Kenny's; now your's. Is mine next. . ?

I wouldn't waste a plugged nickel on replacement Dodge lines. Brake or fuel. Cheap junk. Find Kenny's recent thread where I think I posted a link there to some stainless steel replacement lines. I'll look for that link and supplier again, too.
 
Great... Another '96 with brake lines biting the dust; actually turning to dust. First Kenny's; now your's. Is mine next. . ?



I wouldn't waste a plugged nickel on replacement Dodge lines. Brake or fuel. Cheap junk. Find Kenny's recent thread where I think I posted a link there to some stainless steel replacement lines. I'll look for that link and supplier again, too.



I had to replace all my line on my 99. Found a leak behind the gas tank when installing the PF100 fuel pump. I was in a bind so had a local shop in Kenosha WI do it. Cost @250 for the job. The lines are green in color and are suposed to be furst proof. If and when I get the time Iam going to order the pre bent stainless kit to have a neat insatl. The shop just bent lines tomake them fit, functional but not prity. There was 130K miles on it at the time.
 
Considering you live in New Mexico, not exactly a part of the rust-belt, that is rather disturbing. How come the NTSB doesn't ever go after the auto manufacturers for such irresponsible use of cheap metals and parts?



I had an '89 GMC with "composite brake rotors". Those idiot-designed, penny-pincher rotors sheared right off their el-cheapo sheet metal factory hubs in a construction zone in Chicago rush hour. That was a helluva ride through the barricades with my 20 year old nephew at the wheel! We had a 1500 pound pop-up camper on the truck (a junk new-generation pseudo 3/4 ton and the last Chevy this chevy man ever bought) and some jerk cut him off and slammed his brakes on (due to construction lane closures) forcing my nephew to do the same. Just a BANG! and the brakes utterly failed. I told him to just stay calm and keep hitting barricades and to use the parking brake, too; do NOT hit the cars and trucks; we'll stop eventually!



Such potentially deadly brake failures due to corporate profiteering use of substandard materials, like our brake lines, is criminal! :mad:
 
Considering you live in New Mexico, not exactly a part of the rust-belt, that is rather disturbing. How come the NTSB doesn't ever go after the auto manufacturers for such irresponsible use of cheap metals and parts?



I had an '89 GMC with "composite brake rotors". Those idiot-designed, penny-pincher rotors sheared right off their el-cheapo sheet metal factory hubs in a construction zone in Chicago rush hour. That was a helluva ride through the barricades with my 20 year old nephew at the wheel! We had a 1500 pound pop-up camper on the truck (a junk new-generation pseudo 3/4 ton and the last Chevy this chevy man ever bought) and some jerk cut him off and slammed his brakes on (due to construction lane closures) forcing my nephew to do the same. Just a BANG! and the brakes utterly failed. I told him to just stay calm and keep hitting barricades and to use the parking brake, too; do NOT hit the cars and trucks; we'll stop eventually!



Such potentially deadly brake failures due to corporate profiteering use of substandard materials, like our brake lines, is criminal! :mad:





I had the truck in Wisconsin for 10 years. Rust is a way of life that I am now doen with. :)
 
Lucky guy!! Folks that live in such places know they have it good, but not how good when it comes to vehicle longevity.

I've spent more time, effort, and money by far on rust prevention and (soon) repair (one door and one fender need replaced) and body protection than any other thing on this truck except the front steering and suspension.

I'm determined to make this Dodge "Iowa-proof".
 
Two years ago, backed into my driveway, pressed the brake peddle, it just went to the floor, lost a rubber front brake line.

Two weeks ago, was at the drive-in window at Wendys, moved up in the line, applied brake to stop, and it just "popped" , and went to the floor, lost the same rear brake line, same spot. Not dripping, but it opened, hit the brake and it came out like a garden hose. Made it home with ounces to spare and using the EBrake...
 
Mine just went today. Same spot in frame rail over rear axle. Any suggestions on replacement procedure?
Thanks for any help.
 
I was able to replace the line without entirely dropping the fuel tank. Supporting the tank with a floor jack, I removed the rear strap entirely and loosened the front one. This allowed me to slide the tank over against the drive line giving me just enough room to work. And I do mean "just. "
 
yea, I looked at it, didn't have the time to mess with it during the week and couldnt wait to mess with it all Saturday, so dropped it off at the shop and had the guys do it.....
They said it's not a fun one to do.
 
I was able to replace the line without entirely dropping the fuel tank. Supporting the tank with a floor jack, I removed the rear strap entirely and loosened the front one. This allowed me to slide the tank over against the drive line giving me just enough room to work. And I do mean "just. "



Exactly what I did when mine went out last spring. Such a fun job to replace that piece...
 
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