Help with brakes before I pull my hair out

[rdezs]

I have a pair offlat needle nose vise grips, that I used my bandsaw to cut two V's..... One in each jaw opposed to each other. Specifically for exactly what you're staring at. It's worked every time.

I have to agree about the line wrenches. None of them handle extremely corroded fittings like that very well.

 

[5StarCustmSolutns]

Sounds like you may be past this stage but future readers may be able to use this?

I did a total fluid "change", (in lieu of a flush) on my 2011 about 10 years ago, and for some reason thought it was a good idea to fashion a reservoir cap with a small hole in it that I could press the rubber tip of an air blow gun against and clear out the lines with 90-100psi blasts of air. This was before I learned that brake bleeding required bi-directional scan tool, and before they were available at reasonable prices. Well....it worked to clear the lines out, worked great actually. But when it came time to bleed, w/no scan tool, I pumped the pedal for 2 days and got nothing. No fluid no air just nothing. Eventually hooked a shop-vac up to the banjo bolt with series of decreasing diameter hoses taped together. 4hrs later, I got fluid. Took 2 more hours for the other side.

The fronts, not so much: 2 more days of pumping and shop-vac suction, and nothing. I thought I was going to burn up my shop-vac. So I sent out a Bat signal to my older wiser buddy for the second time that week. Dwayne didn't talk much, he just fixed things, every and any things lol. He came over and methodically (quietly) made an air lift out of a Country Time Lemonade bottle: Drilled two holes in the cap, put a piece of brake line in one that went from the bottom to a couple inches outside the cap, then used a hot glue gun to seal any gaps between the brake line & cap. He filled the bottle w/fluid, connected a hose from the brake line sticking out of the bottle to the banjo bolt, had me take the line loose from the master on the top end, and used the same air blow gun w/rubber tip I had used to screw it all up, to fix it. He blew air into the open hole in the cap which forced the fluid up and out of the brake line sticking through the lid, through the attached hose, and into the caliper; filling the two front lines from the bottom up, from the caliper back up to the master.....and it worked perfectly

My first Bat signal was because my piston would not seal and I could not afford a new one at the time,. The rubber looked rough! Discolored in spots and felt hardened in others. He took one look at it, didn't say a word, casually walked to my back door, knocked, and asked my wife to boil a pot of water and drop it into the boiling water for 15min (I think it was 15?)....and she came back out smiling from ear to ear....carrying what looked like a brand new piston. I reinstalled, and it's been there ever since w/no issues

Just thought I'd share for those on a budget like I was at that stage of life

 

[cofferson]

I have a pair offlat needle nose vise grips, that I used my bandsaw to cut two V's..... One in each jaw opposed to each other. Specifically for exactly what you're staring at. It's worked every time.

I have to agree about the line wrenches. None of them handle extremely corroded fittings like that very well.

I have some needle nose vice grips. I might have to try this. Thank you

 

[Geotrash]

Sounds like you may be past this stage but future readers may be able to use this?

I did a total fluid "change", (in lieu of a flush) on my 2011 about 10 years ago, and for some reason thought it was a good idea to fashion a reservoir cap with a small hole in it that I could press the rubber tip of an air blow gun against and clear out the lines with 90-100psi blasts of air. This was before I learned that brake bleeding required bi-directional scan tool, and before they were available at reasonable prices. Well....it worked to clear the lines out, worked great actually. But when it came time to bleed, w/no scan tool, I pumped the pedal for 2 days and got nothing. No fluid no air just nothing. Eventually hooked a shop-vac up to the banjo bolt with series of decreasing diameter hoses taped together. 4hrs later, I got fluid. Took 2 more hours for the other side.

The fronts, not so much: 2 more days of pumping and shop-vac suction, and nothing. I thought I was going to burn up my shop-vac. So I sent out a Bat signal to my older wiser buddy for the second time that week. Dwayne didn't talk much, he just fixed things, every and any things lol. He came over and methodically (quietly) made an air lift out of a Country Time Lemonade bottle: Drilled two holes in the cap, put a piece of brake line in one that went from the bottom to a couple inches outside the cap, then used a hot glue gun to seal any gaps between the brake line & cap. He filled the bottle w/fluid, connected a hose from the brake line sticking out of the bottle to the banjo bolt, had me take the line loose from the master on the top end, and used the same air blow gun w/rubber tip I had used to screw it all up, to fix it. He blew air into the open hole in the cap which forced the fluid up and out of the brake line sticking through the lid, through the attached hose, and into the caliper; filling the two front lines from the bottom up, from the caliper back up to the master.....and it worked perfectly

My first Bat signal was because my piston would not seal and I could not afford a new one at the time,. The rubber looked rough! Discolored in spots and felt hardened in others. He took one look at it, didn't say a word, casually walked to my back door, knocked, and asked my wife to boil a pot of water and drop it into the boiling water for 15min (I think it was 15?)....and she came back out smiling from ear to ear....carrying what looked like a brand new piston. I reinstalled, and it's been there ever since w/no issues

Just thought I'd share for those on a budget like I was at that stage of life

I like people like Dwayne. No fanfare, just competence.

 

[Charlie207]

Brake dragging can be deteriorating brake lines. They deform and allow pressure to be retained in the lines.

They should be upgraded to braided stainless to prevent expansion as well as swapped out every decade.

Any recommendations for braided lines?

 

[Tonyrodz]

Any recommendations for braided lines?

I used StopTech. Been going strong for 7-8 yrs.
This set is for the rear.

 

[Charlie207]

I used StopTech. Been going strong for 7-8 yrs.View attachment 452320
This set is for the rear.

Thanks!

New brake lines and upper control arms are about the only things left to change out... then I can start working on the paint bubbles of doom.

 

[petethepug]

StopTech is a good one.

 

[j91z28d1]

Sounds like you may be past this stage but future readers may be able to use this?

I did a total fluid "change", (in lieu of a flush) on my 2011 about 10 years ago, and for some reason thought it was a good idea to fashion a reservoir cap with a small hole in it that I could press the rubber tip of an air blow gun against and clear out the lines with 90-100psi blasts of air. This was before I learned that brake bleeding required bi-directional scan tool, and before they were available at reasonable prices. Well....it worked to clear the lines out, worked great actually. But when it came time to bleed, w/no scan tool, I pumped the pedal for 2 days and got nothing. No fluid no air just nothing. Eventually hooked a shop-vac up to the banjo bolt with series of decreasing diameter hoses taped together. 4hrs later, I got fluid. Took 2 more hours for the other side.

The fronts, not so much: 2 more days of pumping and shop-vac suction, and nothing. I thought I was going to burn up my shop-vac. So I sent out a Bat signal to my older wiser buddy for the second time that week. Dwayne didn't talk much, he just fixed things, every and any things lol. He came over and methodically (quietly) made an air lift out of a Country Time Lemonade bottle: Drilled two holes in the cap, put a piece of brake line in one that went from the bottom to a couple inches outside the cap, then used a hot glue gun to seal any gaps between the brake line & cap. He filled the bottle w/fluid, connected a hose from the brake line sticking out of the bottle to the banjo bolt, had me take the line loose from the master on the top end, and used the same air blow gun w/rubber tip I had used to screw it all up, to fix it. He blew air into the open hole in the cap which forced the fluid up and out of the brake line sticking through the lid, through the attached hose, and into the caliper; filling the two front lines from the bottom up, from the caliper back up to the master.....and it worked perfectly

My first Bat signal was because my piston would not seal and I could not afford a new one at the time,. The rubber looked rough! Discolored in spots and felt hardened in others. He took one look at it, didn't say a word, casually walked to my back door, knocked, and asked my wife to boil a pot of water and drop it into the boiling water for 15min (I think it was 15?)....and she came back out smiling from ear to ear....carrying what looked like a brand new piston. I reinstalled, and it's been there ever since w/no issues

Just thought I'd share for those on a budget like I was at that stage of life

she boiled the brake caliper piston?

 

[donjetman]

@cofferson
here's a good video on bleeding brakes:

 

[cofferson]

@cofferson
here's a good video on bleeding brakes:

Thanks, it's not the technique that's the problem. It was the abs block with corroded valves from sitting. Verified the brakes stick only after the RR inlet valve activates with a scan tool. Then deactivated ABS with both fuses and it doesn't drag on a test drive. My theory is the stuck and gunked up abs valves were trapping the air and it only came through once I utilized fluid velocity over pressure.

 

[j91z28d1]

I have a pair offlat needle nose vise grips, that I used my bandsaw to cut two V's..... One in each jaw opposed to each other. Specifically for exactly what you're staring at. It's worked every time.

I have to agree about the line wrenches. None of them handle extremely corroded fittings like that very well.

I'm going to try and remember this one.

 

[5StarCustmSolutns]

I like people like Dwayne. No fanfare, just competence.

He was no nonsense and didn't sugar coat $hit! A real "Just the facts mam" guy.. I learned a lot from him. Met him 20+ years ago and we didn't really click. I could sense he was a little uncomfortable around me, never overly friendly... He was a mid-40's independent long haul driver who worked part time at his buddies 4x4 suspension shop, repaired small engines, repaired HVAC, tools, appliances, did automotive repairs / maintenance, and pretty much anything a 7 out of 10 or better woman asked lol.. I was in my late 20's and had become very proficient at post disaster FEMA housing inspections. So much so that I was the fastest ever promoted to QC manager. I was arrogant, already knew everything on earth, and also had an affection for 7+ women.

It wasn't until I came to my senses, left the dead end gov job, got completely humbled by jumping into the construction business, and learned to listen after asking a question that Dwayne and I realized how much we had in common. I spent more time with him than anyone else besides Amanda from 2013-2020.. He died from liver cancer in April of '20 at 64..

If he knew he had it he didn't tell a soul. He stopped by here on a Fri night and brought me a monster size S&B Air Filter for a 6.6 Duramax, and said he was goin home to sleep he was worn out and felt like he might be getting a fever. I didnt' hear from him all weekend, called him on Monday, again Tuesday, and Wednesday= no answer. So I called one of our buddies that live nearby and sent him over to check. He found him face down in the floor with a very weak pulse. Got him up and to the hospital and 2hrs later a Dr walked out and said he had stage 4 liver cancer. Gave him 2-7 days. In his typical stubborn independent nature he made it 6wks to the day.. He would love the Cold Air Intake I made out of that filter!

sorry long post and off topic, got started rollin and couldn't think of good stopping point. I probably wouldn't be on here if not for Dwayne though.....if I was I sure as heck wouldn't be answering questions and offering repair solutions lol

 

[5StarCustmSolutns]

she boiled the brake caliper piston?

lol master cylinder

 

[Geotrash]

He was no nonsense and didn't sugar coat $hit! A real "Just the facts mam" guy.. I learned a lot from him. Met him 20+ years ago and we didn't really click. I could sense he was a little uncomfortable around me, never overly friendly... He was a mid-40's independent long haul driver who worked part time at his buddies 4x4 suspension shop, repaired small engines, repaired HVAC, tools, appliances, did automotive repairs / maintenance, and pretty much anything a 7 out of 10 or better woman asked lol.. I was in my late 20's and had become very proficient at post disaster FEMA housing inspections. So much so that I was the fastest ever promoted to QC manager. I was arrogant, already knew everything on earth, and also had an affection for 7+ women.

It wasn't until I came to my senses, left the dead end gov job, got completely humbled by jumping into the construction business, and learned to listen after asking a question that Dwayne and I realized how much we had in common. I spent more time with him than anyone else besides Amanda from 2013-2020.. He died from liver cancer in April of '20 at 64..

If he knew he had it he didn't tell a soul. He stopped by here on a Fri night and brought me a monster size S&B Air Filter for a 6.6 Duramax, and said he was goin home to sleep he was worn out and felt like he might be getting a fever. I didnt' hear from him all weekend, called him on Monday, again Tuesday, and Wednesday= no answer. So I called one of our buddies that live nearby and sent him over to check. He found him face down in the floor with a very weak pulse. Got him up and to the hospital and 2hrs later a Dr walked out and said he had stage 4 liver cancer. Gave him 2-7 days. In his typical stubborn independent nature he made it 6wks to the day.. He would love the Cold Air Intake I made out of that filter!

sorry long post and off topic, got started rollin and couldn't think of good stopping point. I probably wouldn't be on here if not for Dwayne though.....if I was I sure as heck wouldn't be answering questions and offering repair solutions lol

In the words of one of my favorite former coworkers (she was from Germany), that's a "happy eye, sad eye" post. Learning to listen is something that took me years to learn. I'm still not perfect but getting better.

 

[cofferson]

Hey, does anyone by chance have access to the full factory service manual and could share any diagram they might have for the EBCM pinout? If they have it, a diagram for the board itself but I doubt they have that. This needs to be the 2008 suburban 2500 specifically.

 

[Rocket Man]

Hey, does anyone by chance have access to the full factory service manual and could share any diagram they might have for the EBCM pinout? If they have it, a diagram for the board itself but I doubt they have that. This needs to be the 2008 suburban 2500 specifically.

You can have access to the service manual with a subscription to alldatadiy. You won’t find a diagram for the board anywhere, it’s proprietary GM.

 

[j91z28d1]

jd9 or jh6 rpo?

 

[cofferson]

Jh6

 

[j91z28d1]

hopefully you can download and zoom in to see it.