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AL
Dodge Dakota
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12/22/2005
14:36:19
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 Subject: 99 Dak - brakes went out when I hit them
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Last night was fun - not. I made it through rush hour in Philadelphia and got out of the city and put up with the punishment of the Blue Route. About 2 minutes after I got off, I was passing a street that I was supposed to turn down, and hit the brakes. I didn't hit them lightly, but not as hard as I'd hit them in traffic once or twice. The pedal gave way as soon as I hit some resistance, and I had no brakes to speak of. I pumped the pedal fast and got enough pressure to come to a stop. There was fluid all over.
After a flatbed ride home last night, I got up this morning and found the source. One steel line along the frame rail going to the back driver's side has split. It's a neat split in the line. There's some surface rust, but not bad - the truck is a 99 in immaculate condition and has 105k miles. I'm amazed that I didn't crash last night.
I'm going to shop for a new line - if I can buy one other then at the dealer? I have RABS, so I don't know if I'll need any special tools to bleed the system after it's fixed? I have a mitivac but that's it.
Any particular things to know before I dive in?
Thanks in advance for any tips or helpful suggestions.
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Mattleg
Dodge Dakota
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12/22/2005
15:15:17
| RE: 99 Dak - brakes went out when I hit them
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Props to you for not wrecking. Its a scary thing when you lose your breaks. First thing I would do is do a real good inspection of all your lines. Make sure thats the only one thats damaged. Since its only RW ABS you dont need to do anything special. Just start bleeding at the farthest wheel and work your way to the closes. The dealer should have a brake line for you aswell.
If your breaks ever go out, the first thing you should do is slam on the e-brake. Then pump the main brakes. Also, grinding the tires on the curbs helps aswell.
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P Y E
Dodge Dakota
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12/22/2005
15:29:41
| RE: 99 Dak - brakes went out when I hit them
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What about down shifting? Even in an Auto, you can throw it in 1st and it will slam forward but better than slamming into a tree or busy intersection ect..
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Mattleg
Dodge Dakota
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12/22/2005
16:30:52
| RE: 99 Dak - brakes went out when I hit them
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Yes downshift works aswell, cant believe I forgot to mention that.
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DakotaSport
GenIII
12/22/2005
16:37:02
| RE: 99 Dak - brakes went out when I hit them
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The problem with downshifting like that is that you risk a major wheel hop and you could spin out of control and still hit a tree.
00 Dakota Sport CC 4.7L 4x4
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GB2000
GenIII
12/23/2005
00:04:37
| RE: 99 Dak - brakes went out when I hit them
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Message:
If you got the room, you can downshift slowly...kick off overdrive, then drop to 2nd, then to 1st.
If you don't have the time to do that, if your body isn't in panic mode, I'd slowly hit the e-brake (wouldn't kick it straight down all at once or you'll prolly spin if the tires completely lock up...especially if there's anything causing you to have less traction than usual).
Downshifting straight to first, not only is risking some pretty massive wheelhop but will probably cause you to have to replace your tranny almost immediately...so I'd use that as a last resort...or if you need to stop ASAP because you're about to enter a life and death situation (or a situation that will require a LOT more money than what a new transmission is gonna cost).
Josh Blackshire - Founder, OhioDakotas.NET
Red 98 Dakota Sport - Check it out!
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