Brake Problem

[robbie]

Okay... thinking that I'm gonna get massive stopping power I changed out my brakeline to steel braided ones. With it I got the self-bleeders. Upon install the truck lost stopping power by more than half.

 

So I took it to get it bleeded professionally since I didn't have anyone around who can help me.

 

They had a problem with bleeding it. So they put the original front bleeders back in. The brakes worked alright.. not much improvement from the rubber lines. possibly worse.

 

Later when I got my rear brakes changed, my truck would not stop at all. I took it back three times and they said there was no problem and the brakes work fine. Out of frustration, lack of time and energy to argue anymore I just lived with no brakes for almost a year.

 

So I took the truck to a shop recently to have the brakes looked at while I was getting a tune up. The guy said only one side of the front brakes were working and the rear brakes were adjusted all wrong. I told them about the bleeders compromising the braking and to put the old ones back in. (remaining two)

 

So I get my truck back and there was a vast improvement in braking. I don't have to rely on gears to brake anymore. I later realize the guy didn't even put the bleeders in like I told him to. and says that the ones in there are fine and it wouldn't make a difference. They didn't even return one of them and is probably lost now.

 

So I'm driving today and had to brake suddenly cuz of some asshats on the 101.. twice. Almost plowed into the cars in front of me... twice. I had to stomp on the brakes cuz the initial reaction wasn't nearly enough for the truck to stop. It just slowed down some, and when the pedal finally got near the bottom (after getting through the hydraulic delay) the brakes finally caught on and stopped the truck inches away from the car in front.

 

I'm so frustrated. spending all this time and money into trying to improve my brakes have given me 2 years of grief, too many near rear end collisions, and having to get jerked around by 3 different garage mechanics who just can't make those damn brakes work.

 

all logic tells me to just put the rubber lines back on, but there must be some credibility to braided lines. The guy even rerouted one of them ...

 

I don't know. I don't even want to take it to another shop to have to argue with another mechanic again. Is it the bleeders? I'm just frustrated.. sorry for the long post.. any ideas what's wrong?

Edited October 19, 2005 by robbie

[Precise1]

Hmm, maybe you got a defective line ? Maybe your master cylinder or power booster is not working properly ? Maybe you just have air trapped in the lines somewhere or a tiny leak ? I'd pretty much start checking things top down... Most of the inspection and testing is pretty easy. Do you have a manual ?

 

B

[GrimGreg]

Clogged lines?