On Sun, 14 Feb 2010 22:27:07 -0500, "Steve W." wrote:
I'm just north of Chicago now, and they salt here. Last 13 years, before that in Chicago. As I said, I've replaced a few lines to back wheels due to rust, and the bleeders on the wheel cylinders will rust solid. Never affected caliper or cylinder operation though. Rust is hard to figure. My '88 Celebrity was rusted to hell after 10 years, while my '90 Corsica didn't start getting bad until last year. Might be the Celebrity got driven in more salt water, and it was parked on a street where it got splashed all the time. Had more snow the years I had the Celebrity too. Last year my '97 Lumina suddenly showed it's ready to hole on the rockers, and the right rear brake line went. Decided not to replace a flattened motor mount because of that. Too much work on that car when the car might have only a few years left. Have to remove a half-shaft to replace the mount. Put a new cylinder on when we did the rusted line because the kid twisted off the bleeder. He didn't want to use my method of cracking the line connection to bleed. That's worked for me before. Only 5 bucks or so for the cylinder, but I think he had to pull the shoes. I was keeping him company, but unless I'm doing it I forget. Was that you I was talking to about the rotors on the '97 Lumina? I expected them to be rusted on but they came right off. I've had it for 5 years, so maybe they were replaced before I did it, because they had grooved. I've hung those calipers a few times, and there's no rust to speak of up front on the car. I suspect the rear is always getting sprayed more when driving in salt water. Anyway, I agree rust is a PITA where they salt. Just hasn't affected my brakes except for rear lines and cylinder bleeders. Worst rust case I had was my '74 Dart. Had to dump it because the rear shock mounts rusted away. It was only 8 years old. Second worst was my '64 Bug. By '74 the front seats were dropping through the floorpan. I can live with the rust until it starts affecting safety or letting water in.
--Vic