Brake Lines - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Heliogordy · 01-18-2019, 07:47 PM

Hello...

New to the forum...owned a 4th Gen. Camaro and loved it....am considering purchasing a 5th Gen. Camaro. I'm curious to know if any of you have had any issues with rusted brake lines. I'm a current owner of a Cadillac CTS, and after suffering a brake failure, I discovered that ALL of the lines, nose to tail, were badly rusted/corroded. I'm hopeful this hasn't been an issue with this era of Camaro.

Thanks in advance for any info and for allowing me to post in your community.

pyroguy · 01-18-2019, 08:03 PM

First off, welcome to the forum!

Secondly, my car is a 51k+ mileage car and the only brake problem that I’ve had is that I had to replace my brakes due to use. A little too much spirited use but at least I was able to upgrade to slotted rotors and ceramic pads so I didn’t have to clean my wheels of the brake dust every few hundred miles.

Deputy347k9 · 01-18-2019, 08:50 PM

OK, Welcome to the Forum

Secondly... depends on where your from. High snow area where they spread tons of salt & liquid brine then you can expect rust. I am originally from New England (Maine) where we would have heavy winter snow from December into March. Problem today is everyone expect to have "bare black tar" roads to travel on in the morning! So the State and the Townships drop massive amounts of salt!

I have a 1996 Impala SS and a 2014 Camaro, both rides are pristine underneath, no rust on any line.

Indiana gets their share of snow so I suspect they also use salt. When in Maine I always had a "winter beater"!

HOJO · 01-18-2019, 09:30 PM

Yes we get our fair share of snow and with it comes plenty of salt. Buddy of mine owns a shop and I’ve seen them doing a large number of brake line replacements. It’s amazing just how corroded these line become after years of exposure.

Dogmeat · 01-19-2019, 06:32 AM

Bought my '11 Camaro last summer from a 1 owner....has barely 36k miles on it.....was never in snow, and I damn sure ain't gonna break that record! Total underside is like new...not a trace of rust anywhere. (My 'Vette is also PUT AWAY during the el crappo weather!)

Deputy347k9 · 01-19-2019, 06:41 AM

Many dealerships in Maine make low offers of trade ins that are ten years in age due to the fact they KNOW that if they don't put the trade in thru the auction they will at the very least have to replace every inch of brake lines, exhaust as well as potential patch panels. One reason I am happier in the south. Coastal Carolina has mainly FLAT roads and you don't need a snow shovel!

Heliogordy · 01-19-2019, 08:01 AM

The one I'm looking at is in Central Indiana....daily driver, but rural roads, so hopefully not as much continued exposure as in a larger city. Going to put it in the air first and check the underbody out. It will be my daily driver except for snow, for which we have a Chevy Avalanche to drive.

Rock-It Man · 01-19-2019, 08:14 AM

You need to do a visual inspection.

That being said, I commuted for years to the tune of 30,000/year, on salt and brine treated highways in Massachusetts and New Hampshire and never had a brake line failure. I did have numerous failures of brake line and exhaust brackets and hangers. If you attend to these on time, the lines and pipes will be OK. Being a DIY maintenance person, you get under the car often enough to keep tabs on this stuff.

But results vary. Some of the worst undercarriage damage I ever saw was on a car owned by a friend who used his car in Winter, but drove only short distances and parked it in unplowed spots. Even his oil pan rusted through.

mcbuff52 · 01-19-2019, 08:33 AM

I was a auto technician in Massachusetts. Brake lines, exhaust, even stuff like dipstick tubes wasted in a few years. Cars were difficult to repair due to rusted everything!
As a tech., you become very good at removing broken bolts!
I recommend putting the car on a lift and spend 1/2 hour with a flashlight inspecting nooks and crannies for wastage. So glad I live in Louisiana, and do not have to deal with that anymore!

Heliogordy · 02-01-2019, 11:27 AM

Update: Put the car on a lift and had a mechanic give it a once-over.....brake and fuel lines clean with no rust issues....mechanic said it has "almost not worth mentioning" slight play in a tie rod. Needs tires and brakes soon.....considering Cooper Zeon's...anyone have any experience with these tires (or the aforementioned issues)?

BTW...I'm buying!

Thanks everyone for your input.

01-18-2019, 07:47 PM	#1
Heliogordy Drives: 2010 2LT Aqua Blue/Silver Ice Rally Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: Back Home Again In Indiana Posts: 73	Brake Lines Hello... New to the forum...owned a 4th Gen. Camaro and loved it....am considering purchasing a 5th Gen. Camaro. I'm curious to know if any of you have had any issues with rusted brake lines. I'm a current owner of a Cadillac CTS, and after suffering a brake failure, I discovered that ALL of the lines, nose to tail, were badly rusted/corroded. I'm hopeful this hasn't been an issue with this era of Camaro. Thanks in advance for any info and for allowing me to post in your community.

01-18-2019, 08:03 PM	#2
pyroguy Started#gottalovethatblue Drives: ABM #831 Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: TN Posts: 6,918 View My Garage	First off, welcome to the forum! Secondly, my car is a 51k+ mileage car and the only brake problem that I’ve had is that I had to replace my brakes due to use. A little too much spirited use but at least I was able to upgrade to slotted rotors and ceramic pads so I didn’t have to clean my wheels of the brake dust every few hundred miles. __________________ '10 Camaro 2SS/RS \| Aqua Blue #831 of 3,903 \| Silver Stripes Check out my build thread

01-18-2019, 08:50 PM	#3
Deputy347k9 Drives: 2014 Ashen Gray Convertible Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Havelock, NC Posts: 1,328	OK, Welcome to the Forum Secondly... depends on where your from. High snow area where they spread tons of salt & liquid brine then you can expect rust. I am originally from New England (Maine) where we would have heavy winter snow from December into March. Problem today is everyone expect to have "bare black tar" roads to travel on in the morning! So the State and the Townships drop massive amounts of salt! I have a 1996 Impala SS and a 2014 Camaro, both rides are pristine underneath, no rust on any line. Indiana gets their share of snow so I suspect they also use salt. When in Maine I always had a "winter beater"! __________________

01-19-2019, 06:32 AM	#5
Dogmeat Drives: 2011 RS Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Coldwater Mi Posts: 175	Bought my '11 Camaro last summer from a 1 owner....has barely 36k miles on it.....was never in snow, and I damn sure ain't gonna break that record! Total underside is like new...not a trace of rust anywhere. (My 'Vette is also PUT AWAY during the el crappo weather!) __________________ Proud Owner Of '11 Camaro

01-19-2019, 06:41 AM	#6
Deputy347k9 Drives: 2014 Ashen Gray Convertible Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Havelock, NC Posts: 1,328	Many dealerships in Maine make low offers of trade ins that are ten years in age due to the fact they KNOW that if they don't put the trade in thru the auction they will at the very least have to replace every inch of brake lines, exhaust as well as potential patch panels. One reason I am happier in the south. Coastal Carolina has mainly FLAT roads and you don't need a snow shovel! __________________

01-18-2019, 09:30 PM	#4
HOJO Drives: 2014 Camaro SS/RS 1LE 1967 Camaro Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Fort Wayne, IN Posts: 874	Yes we get our fair share of snow and with it comes plenty of salt. Buddy of mine owns a shop and I’ve seen them doing a large number of brake line replacements. It’s amazing just how corroded these line become after years of exposure.

01-19-2019, 08:01 AM	#7
Heliogordy Drives: 2010 2LT Aqua Blue/Silver Ice Rally Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: Back Home Again In Indiana Posts: 73	The one I'm looking at is in Central Indiana....daily driver, but rural roads, so hopefully not as much continued exposure as in a larger city. Going to put it in the air first and check the underbody out. It will be my daily driver except for snow, for which we have a Chevy Avalanche to drive.

01-19-2019, 08:14 AM	#8
Rock-It Man 376 cubic inches of fun Drives: 2023 Camaro ZL1 A10 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: MA Posts: 4,031 View My Garage	You need to do a visual inspection. That being said, I commuted for years to the tune of 30,000/year, on salt and brine treated highways in Massachusetts and New Hampshire and never had a brake line failure. I did have numerous failures of brake line and exhaust brackets and hangers. If you attend to these on time, the lines and pipes will be OK. Being a DIY maintenance person, you get under the car often enough to keep tabs on this stuff. But results vary. Some of the worst undercarriage damage I ever saw was on a car owned by a friend who used his car in Winter, but drove only short distances and parked it in unplowed spots. Even his oil pan rusted through.

01-19-2019, 08:33 AM	#9
mcbuff52 Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS/RS A6 Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Bourg, La. Posts: 74 View My Garage	I was a auto technician in Massachusetts. Brake lines, exhaust, even stuff like dipstick tubes wasted in a few years. Cars were difficult to repair due to rusted everything! As a tech., you become very good at removing broken bolts! I recommend putting the car on a lift and spend 1/2 hour with a flashlight inspecting nooks and crannies for wastage. So glad I live in Louisiana, and do not have to deal with that anymore!

02-01-2019, 11:27 AM	#10
Heliogordy Drives: 2010 2LT Aqua Blue/Silver Ice Rally Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: Back Home Again In Indiana Posts: 73	Update: Put the car on a lift and had a mechanic give it a once-over.....brake and fuel lines clean with no rust issues....mechanic said it has "almost not worth mentioning" slight play in a tie rod. Needs tires and brakes soon.....considering Cooper Zeon's...anyone have any experience with these tires (or the aforementioned issues)? BTW...I'm buying! Thanks everyone for your input.