Archived Brake pedal goes to floor after recall work done

[Udaloy]

Hey all,

I'm sitting in the dealership, waiting for the air bag recall work to be done. They said the steering linkage had a recall as well, and fixed that as well as the air bag. I go out to jump in the truck and leave, when the brake pedal goes to the floor. I just had new brakes put on it a month ago, Dodge parts, and it was fine when it went in. They are trying to tell me that's the way it was when they drove it, which I know is bull****. What can it be? It acts like it needs to be bled. It eventually stops, but the brake light comes on when the brakes do finally engage. Help.

 

[DonFitzwater]

My guess would be a bad master cylinder.........do you have fluid in the power steering system? Isn't this a hydro-boost system? Is your power steering working?

 

[BigPapa]

Did it go to the floor when you initially applied the brakes but not since? Were you able to pump it up to where it felt normal?

What I'm getting at is that maybe they had the calipers off and just didn't pump them back up.

 

[petersonj]

It eventually stops, but the brake light comes on when the brakes do finally engage. Help.

By your explanation of events I am understanding that you have driven the truck and have made several brake applications and that during each brake application the pedal travels much farther than it should and the brake warning light comes on. If this is the case (and if technology hasn't changed here) then I would say there is likely to be a leak in one-half of the brake system. The warning light (typically red in color) would be turned on by the pressure differential switch due to an imbalance of pressure in the split hydraulic system during brake pedal application. It could also be caused by a considerable amount air introduced into one-half of the hydraulic system.

As DonFitzwater points out, a faulty master cylinder could also cause this situation. Although this is possible, I think it is highly unlikely with such a new truck. It is more likely that work done on your truck at the dealership is the cause. If I was in your shoes I would go back to the dealer and talk to the appropriate representative and get the specific details of what was done to the truck (all the while keeping an open mind and keeping my emotions in check).

Please let us know what the results are.

- John

 

[sag2]

I don't see how anything they did with the steering linkage or air bag had any effect on the brakes.

 

[petersonj]

As DonFitzwater points out, a faulty master cylinder could also cause this situation. Although this is possible, I think it is highly unlikely with such a new truck.

After re-reading the original post I realized that the truck is a 2004.5 year model. I mistakenly thought it was a 2016 model (DonFitzwater's truck). So, yes I agree that it could very easily be a master cylinder problem and if it is, it would be no fault of the dealer - just unusual timing.

Sorry about my confusion,

- John

 

[Udaloy]

Sorry for the delay. I didn't take it anywhere. As soon as I got in, the brake light was on, and the pedal went to the floor. I'm so glad my 18 year old wasn't driving, or my wife. The dealership knew the brakes were out, and were going to let me leave like that. It would have been an accident waiting to happen. The dealership is on SR 74, in Indian Trail, NC, which has heavy traffic doing 60 MPH.

The issue ended up being the brake line had a hole in it, above the rear axle where it first goes from steel to rubber. It was the fitting itself. The dealer wanted $1000 to fix it, claiming the part was $400. Had it taken to a mechanic, replaced the whole back half with new lines, $450.

The mechanic took me to the front of the truck, where the guy replaced the steering linkage. He forgot to install the stamped metal part that goes between the two bolts on the linkage, ensuring the bolts are installed down, to keep the long end of the bolt from engaging the frame, and binding the steering. There was evidence that it already hit the frame, and the truck didn't even get driven anywhere.

So unhappy with this dealership. I'm sitting in the dealership right now waiting for them to fix it again. Wish me luck.

 

[Udaloy]

This is the piece just hanging there.

 

[Udaloy]

So not only did this place attempt to let me drive away with no brakes, I could potentially have lost steering as well. I'll be informing Ram directly, and skipping any of the idiots around here.

 

[petersonj]

View attachment 97442

This is the piece just hanging there.

This does make it difficult to "keep an open mind and keep one's emotions in check" while talking to the dealer representative.

I'm glad you found and corrected the low brake pedal problem.

- John

 

[DonFitzwater]

Good find and glad nothing bad happened......I'd be looking for another dealer as well.

 

[Udaloy]

Here was their fix.*

So I brought it home and fixed it myself.*

I'll have to get the right bolt with a shoulder, and replace the pos they put in there.*