It ain't just Dodge

Just picked up my up my F250 Super Duty with 61,000 miles on it from the shop to the tune of $626.00. Both brakes lines have rusted through within the past year, both rear shocks rusted through, caliper brackets and calipers rusted so bad the pistons had seized and front brakes locked up. Outside of my truck looks like new but underneath is another story. Daughter picked up her F150 FX4 last night. Brake line rusted through and had the fuel line replaced a few months ago. Terrible how things are cheaply made now days. We may get an average of 12" of snow per year so not that much salt used. Mechanic says he get 3 or 4 trucks per week now days that the brake lines have rusted through. Common everywhere?
 
It's not the truck, it's that they use calcium chloride and magnesium chloride on the roads not salt, much more corrosive and harder to wash off
 
Just curious what years are these trucks ?

I also wonder why in the heck with all the government mandated safety items on vehicles why they don't mandate stainless steel brake lines ? This would be one of the most important safety features I'd think is GOOD BRAKES !
 
Not made the way they used to be? Thank goodness! Anyone remember trucks that were rusting out in a year? Or engines that needed overhauled at 60K miles? "Real cars" weren't so great.

Brake lines and brake component rust seem more prevelent now because people keep them longer. Average vehicle age in the US is 11.5 years now. That is a testament to late model cars and their durability. People used to have to trade every 2 years because it was needing major repairs.
 
According to a local mechanic whom I trust the newer brake fluid isn't helping much. I guess it attracts moisture and if not driven all that much it sets in the lines and rusts it from the inside.

Rick
 
My 1997 F150 is ready to roll over 300,000 miles. The body is starting to rust out, but it still has the original muffler, tailpipe, water pump, and starter.
I guess I have been fortunate.
 
It helps to rinse off vehicle undersides each Spring with fresh water. Many car washes recirculate their rinse water, so it stays salty for a while in Spring.
 
We have 09's,10's and 11's F 250's where I work with the bed sides,cab corners and fenders rusted out, the gas lines,and brake lines have been replaced also. South central Pa, where they salt heavily and pre treat the roads at the slightest hint of snow. It's doing the same thing to the steel on all the bridges.
 
Pathetic, friend bought a new 150 last year, no inner fender wells, all the road spray goes right into the engine compartment! What a joke, I think its an extra now, at least the darned salesman could have mentioned it, its going to rust everything in short order.
 
Truck is a 2002. Typical farm truck and I put on the majority of miles and use it to pull my 20+5 deckover gooseneck and occasionally my 28' box trailer. I've owned it several years, know it was sold new in the Sioux City, SD area and was used to pull a bumper hitch travel trailer before I bought it. V-10 so not used as a daily driver unless needed.
 
A 2002 model is between 13 and 14 years old already. I know how you feel, several years ago I was appalled at the amount of rust under my early 1994 Chevy pickup, then I realized it was old enough to vote. The vehicles I've had before never held up that long.
 
Yes , I agree . When mine went to the floor I was on the turnpike. Very small increased cost to make stainless but big costs to replace rotted lines.
 
I don't think it's common everywhere. I've never had to replace but 1 or 2 brakes lines in the almost 50 years I've been driving. Of course we don't get as much snow and when we do the state don't put down much salt. I am in the mud quite a lot though.
 
at the store I sell on the average 100 feet of 3/16 & 75 feet of 1/4 brake line a month.
Been doing this for 41 years & have never sold what we are selling now. Granted we are a
ford store but 50% of the brake line work isn't on Fords... Worst part is all these new
funky brake line nuts.. Right now there's 08 chevy trk & a 07 F150 Getting brake lines
repaired.
 
Double standard if DEC has conflicting regulations with what DOT does. I've never researched it. Knowing what the conditions are like on the roads during the winter, its hard to figure alternatives, but the town here uses a coarse sand/salt mixture, just enough salt to do some good, but not enough to cause much if any harm from its application. Its hard to believe a new truck can roll off the assembly line with a partial inner fender, want better protection, its an extra.
 
(quoted from post at 22:42:53 07/30/15) It's not the truck, it's that they use calcium chloride and magnesium chloride on the roads not salt, much more corrosive and harder to wash off

What he said. We use to never see rust of any kind unless it was a chevy pick up. Around 05 school let out the buses got trapped out on the road because the roads froze over. Since then if the weather man calls for snow/ice are freezing rain 3/4 days out they go out and spray all the roads with salt brine... Rust has became a issue...

I don't think I have ever seen a foreign car 80's on rust a brake line I think they use armor coated lines... Yes, there is no doubt manufactures could at the least use Poly-Armour PVF Steel Brake Line...


http://agscompany.com/product-category/brake-fuel-transmission-lines/poly-armour/
 
A couple of months ago, I walked into the local service station and they had a fairly late model pickup on the hoist. (Not saying the brand here, but it wasn't a Ford) The U-bolts that hold the rear end to the leaf springs were down to about the size of a pencil and the shop was replacing them. I was shocked becaue every thing else looked pretty good under it. Had these broke, it could have caused a serious accident.
 
Stainless lines would be worse yet. Chlorides attack stainless. Those used on the roads are magnesium CHLORIDE, calcium CHLORIDE, sodium CHLORIDE, and even potassium CHLORIDE. Also an issue would be that stainless has less tensile strength than steel. Lines could burst under heavy braking. So far, steel is still the best choice. Galvanizing might be of some help as well.
 
And I was mad because the winter chore truck rusted through a rear line. Darn 1980 Chevys. They just aren't meant to haul bales in the cow manure everyday for 35 years. If I would have known I would have thought twice about it! Lol.
 
At least their key doesn't shut the truck off all on its own.
But it does occasionally turn the radio on when you turn the key off.
Computer setting set wrong,
 
There is some other type of lines aftermarket sells and some foreign cars use not sure what it is though. It is to hold up.
 
nothing can stand up to road salt. it's like battery acid.
got a spare tire under the bed more than a few years old?...junk..it will actually leak thru the rim.
brake lines first, gas lines soon after.
calipers rust stuck...dealers will tell you to drive it more often?!?!
huh? didn't see that mentioned in the buy papers......

get out your tub of wheel bearing grease...rub all brake/gas lines, every single line junction/fitting/clamp pack it with grease.
Like enough where you can't see it at all.
once or twice a year...repeat...sigh
 
The "Canadian Tire" flyer is advertising "Nickel Copper Brake Lines" this week. "Will not corrode, easy to bend, form and flare, and are kink resistant."
 
My 2008 Chevy Silverado has plastic coated brake lines from the factory. Plenty of other rust under the truck but the brake lines look new.
 
(quoted from post at 09:56:14 07/30/15) Just curious what years are these trucks ?

I also wonder why in the heck with all the government mandated safety items on vehicles why they don't mandate stainless steel brake lines ? This would be one of the most important safety features I'd think is GOOD BRAKES !


DITTO-especially since a few years ago nearly all vehicle manufactures were bragging about their S/S exhaust system components.
 
(quoted from post at 12:59:14 07/30/15) Yeah, and can you imagine what the State of NY would do to US if we dumped that much salt around?????


No shortage of salt on NYS roads in the winter.And you're right ,if joe blow tossed that much salt anywhere he'd be in big trouble.Keep this in mind-if you live in a state/locale where sales tax is collected that state,county,town or city dosen't care how often you replace your vehicle,it's money in their pocket.Where I live in NNY state add 8% to the purchase price of everything except food and meds.
 
(quoted from post at 19:29:40 07/30/15) A 2002 model is between 13 and 14 years old already. I know how you feel, several years ago I was appalled at the amount of rust under my early 1994 Chevy pickup, then I realized it was old enough to vote. The vehicles I've had before never held up that long.

I had a '94 Ranger that had a pristine body, bed and interior on it. The frame and components underneath were another story, all rust. Got rid of it before the frame rusted through.
 
Those exhausts hold up good. My 1996 Dodge had one. I put 2 sets of clamps on it as they rot off but the pipes held up.
 
(quoted from post at 10:57:05 07/30/15) Not made the way they used to be? Thank goodness! Anyone remember trucks that were rusting out in a year? Or engines that needed overhauled at 60K miles? "Real cars" weren't so great.

Brake lines and brake component rust seem more prevelent now because people keep them longer. Average vehicle age in the US is 11.5 years now. That is a testament to late model cars and their durability. People used to have to trade every 2 years because it was needing major repairs.

No, I DON'T remember that, not in this country anyway but since that they started with the 'mag' here about 20 years ago we're seeing brake lines failing and body rust-through.

ALSO.......the people who are so worried about water quality seem to forget that if you put salt on a road it WILL end up in the watershed eventually. :roll: If 'mag' causes blistering on human skin what does it do to the guts of fish ('whirling disease' is a big concern for Colorado's 'Fish Fuzz') or the reproduction rates of mule deer (Div. of Wildlife is worried about declining deer populations here)? Everyone wants to drive 5 over the speed limit no matter the weather so DOT is 'puttin' the salt to 'er' :twisted: but, not to worry, there's an 'app' for it, I'm sure, so .... no worries! :roll: I'm going for a walk, now. :cry:
 

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