2007 Chevy Silverado

FERREL386

MEMBER
2007 CHEVROLET SILVERADO
V8
2WD
AUTOMATIC
13,000 MILES

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?

Thursday, January 10th, 2008 AT 9:23 PM

1 Reply

PEAR69

MECHANIC
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 thisthe 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?

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Thursday, January 10th, 2008 AT 10:12 PM