Still running every day trying to get things done. I’ll save you all the boring details but I will share that I have the Esky rolling again. It’s been sitting in garage at the other house with brake lines removed. I finally got them installed. The rear one and the front right were bastards to get in. Seems like the body is lower to frame on this SUV as compared to my 2500HD.
I ended up removing the EBCM (abs chunk) and cutting the top off the circuit board to look for cold solders. I had an issue with the ABS doing a self check whenever you first start driving it and it would apply the front brakes slightly. I didn’t see anything that stood out but I ended up soldering the coil connections anyway.
Had to drop the fuel tank to get the rear line installed. The fuel line fitting kicked my butt. Rust build up on the line kept me from squeezing the retainer to release the line. There was no good way to get a straight shot at it because of where it’s positioned but I ended up getting it off with a really long set of needle nose pliers but I mutilated the retaining clip so I had to replace that.
Once tank was down the lines finally got done and ECBM put back on.
Now it was time to bleed the brakes. Started at the furthest from master, the right rear. Hooked up my vacuum pump to bleeder and pumped it up to 20”hg. The level in master wasn’t going down and pump was holding 20”hg. That’s strange! Maybe I need to bleed the master since it was completely empty. Never had to before but what the hell. Cut the ends off the original lines at master and installed them with jumper hoses going back into the top of the master and pumped the pedal. Plenty of fluid coming out so I hooked the new lines back up to master. Still nothing at bleeder and still holding vacuum. ?????? So I went to ECBM and opened lines coming from master feeding ABS manifold. Have fluid there. Still holding vacuum at bleeder! So I figured if I open bleeder on left rear the vacuum should drop off because it’s in the same line. Open bleeder and nothing. Still holding vacuum on right rear. So I pulled the bleeder and looked at caliper. There’s an open hole, is the new brake hose plugged or hole not open at banjo bolt? That all looked good. So now I’m over an hour in and I haven’t gotten fluid to caliper yet! I look at bleeder and the hole in the side almost looks blocked. I can’t blow thru it!! Brand new caliper and bleeder, they didn’t drill the bleeder all the way thru. Luckily I have an assortment of bleeders so I found a matching one and installed it. Sure as shit, that’s all it was!
After getting rear brakes bled, topping off reservoir and bleeding the fronts I had a pretty good pedal. I pulled the fuel pump relay and did an ABS bleed with scanner. That helped. Went thru the vacuum bleed process again and called it a night and drove back to the new house.
This past Friday I was doing my daily search for KMC wheels for her Escalade when I came across a full set for $900. Talked to the guy for about 1/2 hour, got him down to $800 before finding out they were 5 lug. SOAB!! I need rims so I can get the Esky from old house to new house because she has my wheels and tires on hers. Found a set of 22’s with wheels for $800 on marketplace. Guy was at Illinois Wisconsin border but I had to jump on it because all I have left to do is put the fuel tank back up and I’m ready to bring it home.
Saturday morning Julianna and I head north about 8am to go get the wheels. It’s 41° and raining cats and dogs. We’re in my truck that has bald ass rear tires because, well, you know, I drive like I’m sponsored and go thru tires on this truck, 2 tires a year. It quickly turns to 34° and snowing. Roads are like driving on snot and cars and trucks are just sliding sideways off the road like they were just t-*****. No apparent reason, I seen 2 that were driving straight and then it was like the guy floored it and went sideways right off the road. One in front of me and one behind me. That got my attention. So much so I had to put my beer down and slow down to 75MPH.
We made it without having to plow thru any corn fields thankfully. Took 2-1/2 hours one way. But I got home safe and sound with my princess and the new to me wheels and tires.
Tires are about 75% so I’m just gonna have her run them for now. We both like the KMC wheels better so I’m still searching for 2 of them.
These were freshly powder coated so they still need to be balanced. Which I will be doing myself at my dads old work because I hate the way idiots today balance wheels @Tonyrods.
Last night I went back and installed the tank with new fuel fitting retainers and cleaned up the lines to get the rust off them. Put these wheels and tires on and drove the Esky to the new house. Since my truck was at the the other house I had to drive this to work today. Little shimmy at about 60 but nothing too bad without being balanced. I also have a parking brake bragging slightly on right rear but I’ll let that wear itself in.
I’m almost whole again with my vehicles. Just need to get the bird together. But I have so much left on my plate right now until I sell the old house. This making double utility bills and payments is really setting me back. Until next time, take care and be safe. If I don’t get a chance to tell ya, have a merry Christmas and safe and wonderful New Years.
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