Okay.... I have been losing a very large amount of brake fluid lately, almost to the point the reservoir is dry. I have filled it up twice in one week and my brakes are having very serious issues. They go all the way to the floor with very little resistance at all. I checked the master cylinder for any leakage as well as all the wheel cylinders. However I did notice a very strong leak coming from underneath my truck on the left side towards the middle to back of the truck. It was dripping of the frame and not being shy about it. I smelled the liquid and sure enough it smelled like brake fluid. I need to get this replaced asap and my manual does a very poor job at explaining anything. Any ideas what is leaking or how to fix it would be very appreciated.

 

Sounds like a broken brake line. Are you certain that the lines are secured to the master cylinder? If fluid is dripping off of the frame, then there is a break somewhere along the path of the line. Better get on it ASAP before you have a wreck.

 

Do you know how to get to that line? My manual does not explain any of that. Also, is there a website that has those diagrams so I have a better idea of what I am working with? Thanks again!

 

Just get in there and start looking. You'll need some light from above when you're looking from below, etc. I would go so far as to disconnect hard line one by one and remove it to see if there is any visible breakage.

 

should be a small steel line running up the frame rail. You should be able to trace it from the rear axle forward to the leak.

 

Common place is by the gas tank

 

how difficult would it be to replace it myself? will i need any special tools?

 

I found where the leak is coming from. It is where the steel line runs along the frame but it is between the frame and the gas tank. I can't really see it that well but I am not sure how I am going to get to it. Is there an easy way to do it or will it be very involved?

 

The lines are run along the frame rail in a stack. I recommend you drop the fuel tank so you can get a clear picture of what is happening. Go to the FAQ in this forum and look around for a link to the Merry Christmas thread where you can download the 2001 Field Service Manual. You need that so you have an idea of what you are up against and how to carry out these procedures. For removing the brake lines you'll need the flair nut wrenches (looks like a box-end wrench with a chunk taken out). Since you sound inexperienced, plan on spending the weekend doing this. Oh, and my advice for dropping the tank is to ensure it is very close to empty.

 

You can usually buy the whole hard line already bent. Of not you need a special tool to bend the line, and a double flare kit.