2007 Chevy Silverado

2007 CHEVROLET SILVERADO
13,000 MILES • V8 • 2WD • AUTOMATIC
Avatar
FERREL386
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
hi i was haveing trouble with my truck, my wife filled up the brake fluid with powersteering fluid. i thinks its been a couple of weeks now and somethings acting up i tryed to drain and flush/bleed out my brakes but i think its to late the damage has been done. while driving the truck it seems as thought the brakes are on all the time likle they lock up and when i push the gas its fighting.scraping the brakes .do you know what i will need to replace to fix the problem?
Jan 10, 2008 at 9:23 PM
Advertisement
Avatar
PEAR69
  • CERTIFIED EXPERT
  • 1,482 POSTS
Well, if my wife put power steering fluid in my 2007 Silverado with 13000 miles on it, I would kindly and gentally thank her for destroying the brake system on the truck.
Brake fluid is designed to tolerate extremely high temperatures--as much as 1500F degrees. Powersteering fluid is not...What is happening to your brakes is this------the calipers are not releasing off the brake pads--or they are sticking. The powersteering fluid destroyed the seals and pistons inside of your calipers..and probably inside of the anti-lock braking system because when powersteering fluid has a much lower boiling point than brake fluid. When powersteering fluid boils and cools down it turns to gel. THAT'S NOT GOOD.
You must replace all the calipers and/or wheel cylinders on the truck.. And you must completely drain all of the fluid --- flush out the brake lines with brake cleaner --- change the master cylinder -- maybe change the power brake booster -- and maybe change the anti-lock system. The brake booster and the anti-lock system should be checked at the dealer.

BTW--Why was your brake fluid low in the first place?
Jan 10, 2008 at 10:12 PM