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8.7

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$500
Average Mileage:
94,950 miles
Total Complaints:
12 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. replace brake lines (8 reports)
  2. not sure (2 reports)
  3. keep the area between cab and bed clean! (1 reports)
  4. put grease below the piston dust seal to prevent rust (1 reports)
2001 Chevrolet Silverado brakes problems

brakes problem

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2001 Chevrolet Silverado Owner Comments

problem #12

Aug 252012

Silverado LS 5.3L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 79,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

About two years ago, in 2012, I noticed make brake lines were severely rusted. As I drove a short distance to the local store, my brake pedal went to the floor. Fortunately, I was not going very fast and I was able to use the parking brake to slow/stop and turn around to go back home. Under the truck was a huge puddle of brake fluid coming from brake lines under the driver’s side (near the ABS module). After some researching, on-line, I found companies that made compete CNC-bent Stainless Steel brake line kits for about $300.00. The cost was only about $50.00 more than the standard steel lines, so I quickly ordered a set, from Classic Tube and installed them myself. I did have to unbolt the bed and jack it up 6 inches or so to get the rear line in, but other than that removing and installing the lines wasn't too difficult for me to do, as I do 90% of auto repairs and maintenance on my own vehicles anyway. At that time, I also replaced the brake line hoses to the calipers, as well. The stainless steel lines should last as long as I own the truck, and should never rust out again!

I've owned many vehicles since 1971, and none have ever had rusted out brake lines.

Thanks GM for installing inferior brake lines (cheap steel) that could have resulted in an injury or death! How much did you save using these crappy lines on vehicles? If you were going to use cheaper materials, you could have powder coated, or clear coated them to protect them from corroding/rusting through. I bought this truck new, but it's the last new GM I'll ever buy.

Toyota Tundra may be the way to go, for me, next time!

- ddchevct, Ansonia, CT, US

problem #11

Apr 252014

Silverado LS 5.3L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 132,360 miles

What's the point of complaining..this is a fortune to fix

- Matthew S., Mentor On The Lake, OH, US

problem #10

Aug 072012

Silverado LS 5.3L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 90,269 miles

I live in a section of town where there are numerous, steep hills. On the way home, I began braking to keep below the 35mph speed limit, and the brakes went way further down than normal, but the truck slowed down. Since I was very close to home, I kept going on my way very slowly. I downshifted all the way down to first gear the next time I needed to brake (at my house), this time the brake went all the way to the floor and finally stopped when I was standing on the brake pedal with both feet.

Upon looking under the rear of the car, I discovered the rusty brake line that had ruptured, and several other brake lines and fuel lines that were very rusty as well. Truck remains parked for now, to replace the broken line, (the one that runs from the ABS/Proportioner to the rear brakes) The bed must be unbolted and jacked up.

- Brandon C., Port Orchard, WA, US

problem #9

Jun 092012

Silverado LS 5.3L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 103,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Started truck, went to put in gear and brake pedal went clear to floor. Looked under truck and had a puddle of brake fluid approximately under the front of the driver’s door. Upon inspection, the line that went from the ABS module up to the right front brake had ruptured (small pin hole). All the brake lines on the truck are about rusted through. This rupture left me with no brakes on the truck. Luckily it happened in a parking lot while putting in gear instead of while trying to brake on the roads

- Scott B., Forest, OH, US

problem #8

Jul 172011

Silverado LS 4.8L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 154,456 miles

brake lines ruptured... thanks gm for selling junk. never had this problem on my older chevy trucks. where is the recall chevy? they have recalls for tail gate straps..big deal and abs sensors that fail again after 2 years. starting to lose my chevy pride and my gas lines are rotted out too, as well as exhaust manifold bolts,. jeeeezzzz this is pissing me off

- Chris W., East Berne, NY, US

problem #7

Sep 132010

Silverado 8.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 77,000 miles

Brake lines rusted out between abs unit and front brakes and master cylinder. Pedal went to floor unexpectedly. It happened close to home so I could make it back using emergency brake. Never had this happen even on old chevies restarted after sitting in the weeds for years. Chevy needs a recall!!!

- Mike C., Leonardtown, MD, US

problem #6

Mar 162009

Silverado LS 4.8L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 42,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Cost to fix was $200 with rebuilt calipers bought from internet, more than twice that if dealer parts. Chevy has failed to put a water blocking substance below the piston dust seal, consequently the piston rusts to the caliper. The rebuilt units have grease below the dust seal. Also the parking brake design uses a single shoe within a drum that is part of the rear rotor. This design is a one shoe version of the 2 shoe drum within a rotor in my 1965 Corvette; a failed design from day one. The shoe hangs up and wears out and in a few years wears the shoe out. The new Silverado just has rear drum brakes now. Do not solve the problem, avoid it. I got a brake bleed kit and 4 wheel flushed out all the old water clouded brake fluid till it ran clear (1 quart of fluid). When will they use silicon fluid that rejects water and can even run at higher temps?

- dhl00, Seaford, VA, US

problem #5

Aug 192009

Silverado Z71 5.3L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 52,000 miles

I was backing down a steep,narrow driveway when the brake pedal went to the floor!

after crossing a busy 2 lane hwy going backwards at what felt like 40 mph I finally whipped the wheel to the left and got the truck stopped by jerking it into drive, when I got out I noticed brake fluid dripping on the ground just behind the left front wheel,I looked under the truck and saw that ALL 4 brake lines were BADLY rusted in that area where they run along the top of the frame-rail just before they go into the A.B.S. unit,,,

- dmaggard, Big Stone Gap, VA, US

problem #4

Dec 012008

Silverado 2500 HD 8100

  • Automatic transmission
  • 140,000 miles

Brake lines are rusting out as well as the power steering line. We've had nothing but problems ~ rusted hood latch (the hood flew up & broke the windshield & messed up the right front quarter panel), rusted tailgate cables, o2 sensor quit, crankshaft sensor defunct, rusted bolts in manifold, the list just goes on.

- johnsond, Linwood, KS, US

problem #3

Oct 152008

Silverado 2500 5.3L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 137,000 miles

This morning on my way into work my brakes failed. As if this wasn't bad enough, I was going down a hill into a town when it happened. I've never had anything like this happen before so it scared the life out of me. One of the brake lines sprung a leak by the ABS Module and I lost all the fluid. Thankfully I was only two minutes from work when this happened so I called and had the local mechanic come and get it to fix the line. I think Chevy should take more responsibility for the quality of product they put out. I checked online for other complaints about this particular problem just to make sure it wasn't some kind of quirk.

Not only do I have to replace all the rest of the brake lines because of rust-rot I also have to replace all of my gas lines - which run right along side of the brake lines. That's a pretty hefty maintenance bill to have to pay two months before the holidays. I'd like to see a recall on this. I'm sure other folks have had this problem too.

- Jennifer E., Westmoreland, NY, US

problem #2

Aug 272007

(reported on)

Silverado 1500 5.3L L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 80,000 miles

Again, probably my fault but this IS a poor design by GM engineers. The brake line to the back brakes is exposed between the cab and bed of the truck. I got mulch (from hauling) in between the cab and bed and it sat there, got wet, and rusted out the line. Luckily, I was at work in the parking lot when it popped and got a tow (or else I might not be writing this). Remedy- Keep the area between the cab and bed clean. I use a cheap air compressor extension from Harbor Freight to blow out this area every so often.

- Dale L., Brunswick, OH, US

problem #1

Jul 132007

(reported on)

Silverado Extended Cab 4.8L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 52,000 miles

Due to low mileage, year of vehicle and total loss of braking, this is a major issue that should be address by Chevrolet. Just today I talked with an owner of a 2000 Silverado who had the same problem happen yesterday. I've looked on the internet high and low with little or no comments about this issue. I feel there are more owners with the same problem, but they have not published it yet. If you had this problem, please let your voice be heard. Hopefully Chevrolet with post it as a bulletin and then have a recall. If you experience this problem, be sure to save your service shop receipts, so if there is a recall. The receipts will be required for reimbursement.

- Scott B., Queensbury, NY, US

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