Trucks stop better when the brakes work. - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

mvfd70 · 08-21-2007, 10:55 PM

Well I had an interesting time this morning. I got off work and was driving across town to go home with all intentions of getting out in the garage and working on the 68. I just got the rear end of it rebuilt and had to pick it up today too. Anyway, as I got about half way through town I was braking for a stop light. All of a sudden the brake pedal hit the floor!!!! I did the natual thing and pumped it. That got enough pressue to get me stopped for the light. Luckily I was right in front of an O'Reilly's. That couldn't have worked out better. There was brake fluid all over the drivers side of the rear axle and frame. I went inside bought a can of brake fluid and refilled the master. Didn't have any tools of any kind on me what-so-ever so I limped it back to work using the E-brake to stop (that was fun). Fortunately the fire department I work for does all in house maintenance on our trucks so I had plenty of tools. But I had to spend the next couple hours changing the brake line. This was on the 97 GMC Z71. That thing was a bear to get to. It was the line that runs to the back two wheels. For those that don't know where it runs, it runs along the inside of the frame rail between the frame and gas tank. And of course the front fitting for that line is right between the gas tank and frame. You gotta be a freakin contortionist to get to it. But it's fixed, I didnt have an accident, and I got the rear axle for the 68 back home ready to put the shafts in and put on the truck.

mvfd70 · 08-21-2007, 10:57 PM

Oh by the way, the busted line didnt just spring a leak. It almost snapped in half. Still don't know why GM used a plain steel line there instead of stainless.

AlienYouth · 08-21-2007, 11:01 PM

that happened to me, but i hit a building and totalled my truck, guess u got off a lil better : )

ND_guy · 08-21-2007, 11:10 PM

Lucky, you got it stopped and glad your safe.

GREASEMONKEY72 · 08-22-2007, 12:30 AM

brakes are overrated

glad everything turned out alright and you got it fixed

72armyswbtruck · 08-22-2007, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GREASEMONKEY72

brakes are overrated

glad everything turned out alright and you got it fixed

ChevLoRay · 08-22-2007, 11:22 AM

[QUOTE=I limped it back to work using the E-brake to stop (that was fun). QUOTE]

What is an E-Brake????? I got the pedal, but never had it do anything but satisfy the MSHA inspector if he looked inside it to see if it was set.

Glad you didn't have any serious repercussions.....oh, thank God for O'Reilly's, huh?

mvfd70 · 08-22-2007, 11:58 AM

I never realized how hard it was to stop using only rear drums on a pick up before. Interesting experience. Especially in heavy traffic.

And yeah thank goodness for O'reilly's. What luck that that would happen right in front of any parts store. I wouldn't have messed with refilling it but i wanted some fluid to keep some pressure in case I needed to stop quickly for some reason. It pissed people off that I was driving slow but not being able to stop sucks.

jc1969c10 · 09-12-2007, 05:49 PM

Glad your okay MDF70.

I have a similar problem, but it happened after I had to change out the gromet on the vacuum hose. After putting in the new grommet and attaching the hose, I cranked her up and now have no brakes. What could have happened? The brakes were fine before I replaced the grommet. It was bad and leaking so I had to replace it.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

08-21-2007, 10:55 PM	#1
mvfd70 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Opdyke, IL Posts: 775	Trucks stop better when the brakes work. Well I had an interesting time this morning. I got off work and was driving across town to go home with all intentions of getting out in the garage and working on the 68. I just got the rear end of it rebuilt and had to pick it up today too. Anyway, as I got about half way through town I was braking for a stop light. All of a sudden the brake pedal hit the floor!!!! I did the natual thing and pumped it. That got enough pressue to get me stopped for the light. Luckily I was right in front of an O'Reilly's. That couldn't have worked out better. There was brake fluid all over the drivers side of the rear axle and frame. I went inside bought a can of brake fluid and refilled the master. Didn't have any tools of any kind on me what-so-ever so I limped it back to work using the E-brake to stop (that was fun). Fortunately the fire department I work for does all in house maintenance on our trucks so I had plenty of tools. But I had to spend the next couple hours changing the brake line. This was on the 97 GMC Z71. That thing was a bear to get to. It was the line that runs to the back two wheels. For those that don't know where it runs, it runs along the inside of the frame rail between the frame and gas tank. And of course the front fitting for that line is right between the gas tank and frame. You gotta be a freakin contortionist to get to it. But it's fixed, I didnt have an accident, and I got the rear axle for the 68 back home ready to put the shafts in and put on the truck. __________________ 1978 Chevrolet Silverado 3/4 ton 400 small block. 2000 F-250 Powerstroke 2002 GMC Yukon Denali XL Last edited by mvfd70; 08-21-2007 at 10:56 PM.

08-21-2007, 10:57 PM	#2
mvfd70 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Opdyke, IL Posts: 775	Re: Trucks stop better when the brakes work. Oh by the way, the busted line didnt just spring a leak. It almost snapped in half. Still don't know why GM used a plain steel line there instead of stainless. __________________ 1978 Chevrolet Silverado 3/4 ton 400 small block. 2000 F-250 Powerstroke 2002 GMC Yukon Denali XL

08-21-2007, 11:01 PM	#3
AlienYouth Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Westminster, Maryland Posts: 411	Re: Trucks stop better when the brakes work. that happened to me, but i hit a building and totalled my truck, guess u got off a lil better : ) __________________ Picturesss 71 C10 383/TH400 13.65 @ 99... 2.06 60' spinnin :/

08-21-2007, 11:10 PM	#4
ND_guy Tool Addiction=Money Shortage Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Grand Forks, ND Posts: 233	Re: Trucks stop better when the brakes work. Lucky, you got it stopped and glad your safe. __________________ 1967 K20 400TBI SM465/NP205 posi front, Detroit locker 4.56 rear

08-22-2007, 12:30 AM	#5
GREASEMONKEY72 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bakersfield,CA Posts: 7,893	Re: Trucks stop better when the brakes work. brakes are overrated glad everything turned out alright and you got it fixed __________________ -steven Alte Seele S.S. "Allison" '72 C/10 LWB 350SB/TH350 - DD PITBULL IS NOT A CRIME

08-22-2007, 11:22 AM	#7
ChevLoRay Old Skool Club Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Benton, AR "The Heart of Arkansas" Posts: 10,880	Re: Trucks stop better when the brakes work. [QUOTE=I limped it back to work using the E-brake to stop (that was fun). QUOTE] What is an E-Brake????? I got the pedal, but never had it do anything but satisfy the MSHA inspector if he looked inside it to see if it was set. Glad you didn't have any serious repercussions.....oh, thank God for O'Reilly's, huh? __________________ Member Nr. 2770 '96 GMC Sportside; 4.3/SLT - Daily driven....constantly needs washed. '69 C-10 SWB; 350/TH400 - in limbo The older I get, the better I was.

08-22-2007, 11:58 AM	#8
mvfd70 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Opdyke, IL Posts: 775	Re: Trucks stop better when the brakes work. I never realized how hard it was to stop using only rear drums on a pick up before. Interesting experience. Especially in heavy traffic. And yeah thank goodness for O'reilly's. What luck that that would happen right in front of any parts store. I wouldn't have messed with refilling it but i wanted some fluid to keep some pressure in case I needed to stop quickly for some reason. It pissed people off that I was driving slow but not being able to stop sucks. __________________ 1978 Chevrolet Silverado 3/4 ton 400 small block. 2000 F-250 Powerstroke 2002 GMC Yukon Denali XL

09-12-2007, 05:49 PM	#9
jc1969c10 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: The Villages, FL Posts: 17	Re: Trucks stop better when the brakes work. Glad your okay MDF70. I have a similar problem, but it happened after I had to change out the gromet on the vacuum hose. After putting in the new grommet and attaching the hose, I cranked her up and now have no brakes. What could have happened? The brakes were fine before I replaced the grommet. It was bad and leaking so I had to replace it. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.



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