The Under the Hood
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Dear Motor Medics, I took my 2012 GMC Yukon into my local mechanic because the brake pedal had become lower to the floor over a week’s time. Eventually it ended up on the floor and the red brake warning light came on and the ABS warning light.
After they looked it over, I was told that every brake line on the vehicle made of steel needs to be replaced due to the rust. The total cost of replacing all these brake lines is over $2,000 and I also need front and rear brakes which will add another $600 or so.
Is this a common failure? The vehicle has absolutely no rust anywhere on it and I can’t understand why the brake lines rusted so badly.
Jerry in Trent, South Dakota
Dear Jerry, This is a very common problem on many cars and trucks. More so with GM vehicles, at least in our area of the country.
The metals used to make the brake lines have been reacting in a bad way to the new chemicals on the roads to treat ice in the winter months. This reaction has caused brake lines to be completely rusted away to the point of failure, while other body parts are not nearly as affected. The line sets are not too expensive but the labor to install them is intense, taking an entire day.
It is a safety concern and should not be patched. Do it right. Take care, The Motor Medics
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