2001 Chevrolet Redundant Silverado 2500

I HAD JUST REPLACED THE HUB AND BEARING HOUSING ON THE RIGHT FRONT AXLE ON MY FOUR WHEEL DRIVE 2001 CHEVROLET HD2500 SILVERADO PICKUP AND WAS IN THE PROCESS OF REFILLING AND BLEEDING THE AIR FROM THE BRAKE LINES. DURING THIS PROCESS IT APPEARED AS IF IT WAS REQUIRING MORE FLUID THAN I HAD REMOVED IT WAS THEN THAT I NOTICED BRAKE FLUID DRIPPING FROM THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL WELL. TO MY SURPRISE AFTER REMOVING THE PLASTIC WHEEL WELL COVER I COULDN'T BELIEVE MY EYES AT WHAT I SAW, THERE WERE THE BRAKE LINES EITHER RUSTED AWAY OR DELAMINATED. I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED ANYTHING LIKE THIS IN OVER FIFTY YEARS OF REPAIRING MY OWN VEHICLES, I CAN ONLY BE THANKFUL THAT I WASN'T ON THE ROAD TOWING MY FIFTH WHEEL TRAILER WHEN THE BRAKE LINES FAILED IN SUCH A CATASTROPHIC MANNER. SINCE THIS HAPPENED LATE IN OCTOBER OF 2013 I HAVE YET TO REPLACE THE BRAKE LINES, IF YOU NEED PICTURES OF THE PROBLEM I CAN PROVIDE THEM TO YOU. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON US 41 WHEN THE LIGHT STARTED TO CHANGED I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, THE REAR BRAKE LINE BURST, THIS FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS IN SEPT 2012, THEN THIS NOVEMBER THE SAME THING OCCURRED ACCEPT THE FRONT BRAKE LINE BURST. BOTH TIMES I HAD THE CHEVROLET DEALER PERFORM THE REPAIRS. THE SECOND REPAIR ,I WAS INFORMED BY THE SERVICE TECH THAT THIS OCCURS WITH TRUCKS THAT ARE IN THE NORTHERN STATES QUITE OFTEN AND IS DUE TO CORROSION THAT ATTACKS THE CARBON STEEL BRAKE LINES. I WAS VERY LUCKY IN BOTH BRAKE FAILURES THAT NOBODY WAS IN FRONT OF ME, OTHERWISE THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE INJURIES.. *TR

WHILE BACKING UP THE TRUCK TO HOOK UP TO A TRAILER, I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND IT WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE BRAKES FAILED. I PRESSED THE PEDAL A FEW MORE TIMES AND HEARD BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM OUTSIDE THE CAB SOMEWHERE, SOMEWHERE UNDER THE DRIVER SEAT. AFTER LOOKING AROUND THE MASTER CYLINDER AND FIREWALL I TRACED THE LINES ALONG THE FRAME AND FOUND THAT ALL FOUR LINES ALONG THE FRAME RAIL WERE SEVERELY RUSTED/CORRODED. AT LEAST ONE LINE HAD RUSTED THROUGH AND WAS LEAKING FLUID. THE BRAKE SYSTEM LOST PRESSURE AND THE TRUCK CAN ONLY BE SLOWED BY USING THE PARKING BRAKE. *TR