Scary Brake Issue

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Jul 4, 2015 | 11:19 AM

mulepic

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Junior User

Joined: Oct 2006

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Scary Brake Issue

@ weeks ago we were towing our 4000lbs TT out of Yosemite down Tioga pass. It's a 22 mile steep hill. About 5 mins in the decent the truck would pulsate really bad with any amount of braking. I had thought it was the trailer brake controller b/c it will do that sometimes but never on a hill. So I turned off the controller and pressed the brake peddle. The truck still pulsated badly. In addition to that any amount of brake pressure would not slow down the truck. Luckily I was able to get the truck into 1st gear and coast down at 20mph. About 3 months ago I put on new pads and rotors all around. The truck has not pulsated anymore since Tioga pass. But the brakes are not all that confidence inspiring when towing.

Has anyone else had this issue and/or know what's going on? Is this a fluid issue? Or are my brake hoses old and swelling under heat/pressure and I should replace them w/ steel braided lines?

Thanks for the help.

Jul 4, 2015 | 11:25 AM

Don Naslund

Laughing Gas

Joined: Sep 2014

Posts: 830

Likes: 39

From: Whittier

I would suspect something in the hydraulic booster system. A continuous pulsating would be a rotor problem but since yours goes away, it wont be rotors. Just to rule out the fronts, Jack up the front and see if there is too much wobble in the front wheel bearings.

Jul 4, 2015 | 12:32 PM

1 Excursion camper

Cargo Master

Joined: Oct 2006

Posts: 2,097

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From: chicago northwest suburbs

Sounds like you were riding the brakes down the mountain! This in turn overheated the brakes. I ways keep it in 2nd going down this keeps me at 50mph. I'll always remember the smell of burning brakes when I was in Glacier NP on The Going To The Sun Road. Nearly every car that went by smelled from burning brakes.

Keep the foot off the brake!

Jul 4, 2015 | 01:09 PM

fordboy67

Cargo Master

Joined: Dec 2007

Posts: 2,822

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From: Minnesota

I had a similar issue following a doofus in a Chevy pulling a dump trailer in the mountains on the way home from Yellowstone, he was riding his brakes big time, ended up pretty much boiling the brake fluid....pulled off on an overlook let it cool for about half an hour, then proceeded down, flushed brake fluid the next day!

Jul 4, 2015 | 01:36 PM

Krazee Matt

Logistics Pro

Joined: Jan 2014

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I wouldn't rule out the boiling brake fluid fordboy67 mentioned. Very weird things can come from overheating the brakes as well as the juice that makes them work...

Wouldn't be a bad idea to do a full system flush on them, supposed to do it approx every 30k miles in any vehicle.

Jul 4, 2015 | 03:03 PM

mecdac

Lead Driver

Joined: Jul 2013

Posts: 9,263

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From: In the field...

Since you have already R&R the pads and rotors, the previous advice by Fordboy and KM is applicable, change the fluid and yes install the braided stainless lines.

Your confidence in the brakes will be restored.

Jul 4, 2015 | 05:31 PM

Vwags

Elder User

Joined: May 2014

Posts: 547

Likes: 1

From: Southern California

Did you ride the brakes or were you in 2nd gear allowing the trans and engine to slow you down? It sounds like you overheated the rotors and when they cooled back down the didn't pulsate anymore. I too would replace the brake fluid but that isn't what caused your pulsation. Boiling brake fluid would cause a loss of pedal. You may consider replacing your pads again if they did get overheated as a safety precaution.