Brake Issue (1 Viewer)

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

Brentbba

Brentbba

Former Golfer
Joined
Mar 27, 2003
Threads
444
Messages
11,003
Location
OC, CA
Ok, for those on the trip to Bishop/Mazourka Canyon. I've looked way back into all my maintenance records looking into why my braking was as mushy as it was coming down off White Mountain Saturday morning.

While I didn't see anything listed earlier, I can't believe my last brake fluid flush was when I put on Slee's stainless brake lines. That was back in 2007 at 180,833 miles! Quick visual inspection of the four soft brake lines from axle to caliper all looked ok. No bulges, etc. Didn't look at the three soft lines from the frame to axle. Last front brake pads, rotors and birf job was 11.12.18 with 254,838 miles. I've got 266,544 miles on the truck now. Last MAJOR services was 8.16.18 with 252,955 and that included every fluid except brakes as there's no brake fluid listed on the invoice. Seems odd as thorough as SD Trux is. AFT, tcase, coolant, all oils, belts and even fan clutch was done.

At this point I'm absolutely going to get the brake fluid flushed and replaced and am going to pull a front tire and see what kind of life is left on the front pads. Old 80 series pads didn't last long, but I thought the 100 series pads were lasting longer than 12K, but I guess not as I'd put new front pads on at 242,673 and replaced them again with the birf job at 254,838.

May just let dealer flush and replace brake fluid...
 
Brentbba said:
Ok, for those on the trip to Bishop/Mazourka Canyon. I've looked way back into all my maintenance records looking into why my braking was as mushy as it was coming down off White Mountain Saturday morning.

While I didn't see anything listed earlier, I can't believe my last brake fluid flush was when I put on Slee's stainless brake lines. That was back in 2007 at 180,833 miles! Quick visual inspection of the four soft brake lines from axle to caliper all looked ok. No bulges, etc. Didn't look at the three soft lines from the frame to axle. Last front brake pads, rotors and birf job was 11.12.18 with 254,838 miles. I've got 266,544 miles on the truck now. Last MAJOR services was 8.16.18 with 252,955 and that included every fluid except brakes as there's no brake fluid listed on the invoice. Seems odd as thorough as SD Trux is. AFT, tcase, coolant, all oils, belts and even fan clutch was done.

At this point I'm absolutely going to get the brake fluid flushed and replaced and am going to pull a front tire and see what kind of life is left on the front pads. Old 80 series pads didn't last long, but I thought the 100 series pads were lasting longer than 12K, but I guess not as I'd put new front pads on at 242,673 and replaced them again with the birf job at 254,838.

May just let dealer flush and replace brake fluid...
Click to expand...
I've heard good things about ebc yellow stuff brake pads. Good for 4x4 and truck applications.
 
Travis1zero1 said:
I've heard good things about ebc yellow stuff brake pads. Good for 4x4 and truck applications.
Click to expand...
Never used anything but OEM. Aready have new 100 series pads on order. Waiting on a response from my inquiry to Slee Offroad regarding their stainless brake line longevity since mine are 15 years old.

Now if I replace the brake lines too, I'll need to find a shop willing to do the brake fluid flush and bleed as well as install customer supplied brake lines.
 
The OE brake lines on my rig lasted at least 20 years if not longer since I just changed them out last year after 20 years in my ownership. I don’t know if the previous owner replaced them but regardless 20 years is a long time. A good mechanic can usually test for weak lines if you want to pay for ‘diagnostic’.
 
Ttoner80 said:
The OE brake lines on my rig lasted at least 20 years if not longer since I just changed them out last year after 20 years in my ownership. I don’t know if the previous owner replaced them but regardless 20 years is a long time. A good mechanic can usually test for weak lines if you want to pay for ‘diagnostic’.
Click to expand...
I sent a message to Slee Offroad. Stainless lines are theirs installed in 2007. Gut says they are fine. New front pads and a complete brake fluid bleed and new fluid including our LSPV ought to be good.
 
Replacing the brake fluid and a complete flush should be the fix. The issue is how to test it. A tough challenge replicating the real world hot 🥵 condition the past weekend. You might need another drive to the bristlecone pine forest! I hear that there you may find that Methuselah is still living amongst us.
 
grumpyoldman said:
I think you boiled fluid which caused back up to master and air in lines. Bleeding might fix but flush and new pads will I think. Glad you made it home safe.
Click to expand...
I concur!!
 
Brentbba said:
Ok, for those on the trip to Bishop/Mazourka Canyon. I've looked way back into all my maintenance records looking into why my braking was as mushy as it was coming down off White Mountain Saturday morning.

While I didn't see anything listed earlier, I can't believe my last brake fluid flush was when I put on Slee's stainless brake lines. That was back in 2007 at 180,833 miles! Quick visual inspection of the four soft brake lines from axle to caliper all looked ok. No bulges, etc. Didn't look at the three soft lines from the frame to axle. Last front brake pads, rotors and birf job was 11.12.18 with 254,838 miles. I've got 266,544 miles on the truck now. Last MAJOR services was 8.16.18 with 252,955 and that included every fluid except brakes as there's no brake fluid listed on the invoice. Seems odd as thorough as SD Trux is. AFT, tcase, coolant, all oils, belts and even fan clutch was done.

At this point I'm absolutely going to get the brake fluid flushed and replaced and am going to pull a front tire and see what kind of life is left on the front pads. Old 80 series pads didn't last long, but I thought the 100 series pads were lasting longer than 12K, but I guess not as I'd put new front pads on at 242,673 and replaced them again with the birf job at 254,838.

May just let dealer flush and replace brake fluid...
Click to expand...
I'm just curious Brent how did your breaks perform on the way home? Based on your post, if brake fluid hasn't been replaced/flushed in that many years that certainly could be a contributing factor. Especially with the heat & steep descent we experienced.
Marc
 
oc cruiser 97 said:
I'm just curious Brent how did your breaks perform on the way home? Based on your post, if brake fluid hasn't been replaced/flushed in that many years that certainly could be a contributing factor. Especially with the heat & steep descent we experienced.
Marc
Click to expand...
My brakes didn't break on the way home.😉 Sorry for the play on words there Marc! They were just slightly mushy when I stopped to dump my gas in the tank but several pumps of the pedal helped. No other issues.

I'm going to put new front pads on then get the brake system flushed and bled with fresh brake fluid. Hopefully by the time the brake pads arrive I'll have heard back from Slee on the 15 year old age of my soft brake lines. 7 brand new lines is only $220...plus whatever to have them installed when I replace the brake fluid. May be a little anal replacing the lines too, but we'll see what Slee's opinion on that is. It may be just cheap insurance replacing the lines too.

Hope Mazourka Canyon was nice.
 
Quick update. Front 100 series pads arrived today so I put them in. Old pads with 12k on them were at 5mm. 4mm is minimum for fronf pads...at least 80 series front pads per the FSM. Close enough to replace under the circumstances.

Now to get the brake fluid flushed, replaced and bled!
 
I’m curious about what fluid you’re going to use. Synthetic? Dot3 vs Dot4?
 
Ttoner80 said:
I’m curious about what fluid you’re going to use. Synthetic? Dot3 vs Dot4?
Click to expand...
I have absolutely no clue Dat. Recommendations? I haven't even looked at what Mr. T recommendes...but that would have been from 1994. Brake fluids, like everything else have improved.
 
Brentbba said:
I have absolutely no clue Dat. Recommendations? I haven't even looked at what Mr. T recommendes...but that would have been from 1994. Brake fluids, like everything else have improved.
Click to expand...
I use Dot4 simply because of higher wet boiling point than that of Dot3. Dot3 tends to be more common and Dot3 and Dot4 can be mixed but that would lower the dry and wet boiling points. More importantly, brake fluid should be changed after 2 years which can absorb as much as 4% water at a typical rate of 1-2% per year.
Synthetic or conventional doesn’t matter much to me but you or your mechanic may have a preference or simply what’s in stock!
 
Ttoner80 said:
I use Dot4 simply because of higher wet boiling point than that of Dot3. Dot3 tends to be more common and Dot3 and Dot4 can be mixed but that would lower the dry and wet boiling points. More importantly, brake fluid should be changed after 2 years which can absorb as much as 4% water at a typical rate of 1-2% per year.
Synthetic or conventional doesn’t matter much to me but you or your mechanic may have a preference or simply what’s in stock!
Click to expand...
All good info Dat. I think I'll look into changing out my fluid while my rig is down for the summer.
 
Wow, fresh brake fluid makes all the difference in the world with the brake pedal. I'm ready to run Mazourka Canyon now!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 2 (members: 0, guests: 2)

Share this page

Back
Top Bottom