brake lines

[chevyaz]

I have a 1994 GMC Silverado 2wd truck and my Question is Is thier a specfic time you you should change your brake lines? My brake lines are the original lines and my brakes work just fine.I was courious if there is a set time to swap them for new ones. And no they are not leaking and look just fine.

Topic

[Walter Cheryba]

Hi chevyaz! My experience is this, with the metal portions of the brake lines visual appearance tells all. Here on the East Coast we use brine solution on the roads as a pre-treatment for salting for snowstorms. This has resulted in higher than usual metal line corrosion and failure. I doubt you have much of that there in Arizona. The rubber lines are a different story. you will have one rubber line at each front wheel and one at the rear of the vehicle where the line tees at the rear axle to allow for the movement of the rear axle assembly. This again is a visual check, you are looking for cracking, dry rot or hardened rubber. Given the summer heat of Arizona I’d be inspecting the rubber lines regularly. Hope this helps!

[college man]

#1 on the above. Check the rubber lines for cracking or bulging.
If you do replace the rubber lines.Look into using stainless braided
lines. eliminates soft pedal feel and brake fade.

[dave]

If you live in the southwest you will never have to change brake lines. However, if you live up here in Michigan, you will change brake lines at least once in the vehicles lifetime.

[chevyaz]

Ive been thinking about updating them as a maintence item so to speak as well as updating the front calipers they are orginal also. If I change out the brake lines will I notice a improvement in the brake pedal? Also College Man what brand of steel lines would you say are good to use?

[Ross Wagner]

If it aint broke don’t fix it. I have a 95 1500 and my lines are still good, But I have had booster problems in the past.

[college man]

[quote=”chevyaz” post=57123]Ive been thinking about updating them as a maintence item so to speak as well as updating the front calipers they are orginal also. If I change out the brake lines will I notice a improvement in the brake pedal? Also College Man what brand of steel lines would you say are good to use?[/quote]

Here are the four brands. what you would have to find out is 1994-1999
the same.The application only seems to start at 1999. I have the goodgidge
g-stop on my truck.What a world of difference over the stock rubber hoses.
anyone of these brands are good.Hopefully one will fit your truck.

http://www.autoanything.com/brakes/Chevy/Silverado/111A50530A50574A0A115A2690A1.aspx

[chevyaz]

I like the steel lines but as far as the price right now Im going to have to do stock replacement. Yes I know if it aint broke dont fix it but Im very picky about my truck Im gonna keep it around for awhile and try to put new maintence items on it as much as I can.its for piece of mind I guess.And its a easy upgrade for little cash. If you get what I mean. And I get to get dirty!LOL

[crandall]

I am in the process of changing brake lines on a 96 Accord. However, this vehicle spent many years in West Virginia, where a lot of snow, salt, and other bad stuff can accumulate on the lines. The result is a lot of corrosion which eventually, will eat away at the line.

As I took the lines off, I noticed, not surprisingly, that the parts of the line that were directly exposed to the road were damaged the most. However, the one line that was the cleanest was the front line under the hood, which was also the most protected.

Bottom line, you can probably visually inspect your lines to see if there is a need to change them out. As mentioned above, the rubber hoses will need to be changed out occasionally. You can replace these with steel braided lines which are probably more durable, and certainly look better.

[Author]

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