Two weeks back I decided to let someone else check out my brake problem, I physically wasn't up for this job this time. This shop does my inspections and work when I've been unable so I have had some trust. Knowing that I have other transportation they put me on the back burner for over a week before they got around to it. The outcome was corroded brake lines from salted roads here in the winters. They insisted on replacing all lines not just the one that was bad, their reason - "a strong line may cause failure in the next weakest link corroded line" and they didn't want to fool around when it came to brakes. I was skeptical due to the fact that this 2006 truck has only 56000 miles and most of those same miles were summer miles. And I had never seen or heard of anything that new with rusted brake lines. I asked for the old lines when they're done.
Two years ago I had the same thing happen. On the frame rail behind the driver's side wheel all 4 lines run parallel at that point and there was corrosion on all lines in one particular spot. Since it was directly below the master cylinder area I attributed the cause due to a brake fluid leak (I never found). I replaced the one line that wore thin by corrosion myself and put off the remaining problem for later. This was the shortest and easiest line (serving the front left wheel and and all lines run to a distribution center under the truck on the frame behind the drivers seat, I think it's the ABS system). Initially the cost quoted was $490. I said it sounds a bit high and they reduced it to $360. A call from them later said they used less line footage so it was reduced to $330. I have yet to pick up the truck from the shop, I'm very curious to see if the corrosion is wide spread or from the same area as before.
