Brake Question - 03 3500 vs 04 2500

[JCasper]

So I just drove my mother in laws 03 3500 Quad Cab short box tonight, had to take them to the airport. When I first started driving it, it seemed that the brake pedal was higher then mine when the brakes started working. It also didn't take as much pedal pressure to slow the truck down.



When I got back to their place and dropped off their truck and got in mine I almost blew through the first stop sign. My truck takes quite a bit more pedal pressure and needs to be pushed in further to stop the truck.



Does anyone know what might be the difference.



Thanks,



Joe

 

[EMurillo]

good question. my truck seems to do the same thing for some reason i have to

put a lot of pressure on the pedal to get it to stop. hopefully sombody can give us

an answer.



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2004. 5 ctd 325/600 swd 4 x 4, 3. 73, 48re,

 

[jelag]

Without checking the part numbers I can only assume that the power brake boosters (hydraboost) are calibrated to different points.....



The ratio is what I'm talking about... . it used to be that with vacuum boosters you could tell by the diameter of the can about how much pressure you had... . let me give you an example... . on some boosters 30 lbs of pressure in was 450 lbs out... other larger boosters were 30 lbs in and 600 out... the design allows the same person putting 20 lbs of pressure on the pedal to stop a small car or big caddy... . like Archie Bunker used to say """ those days were grand and my old La Salle ran fine"""



Our modern disc brakes take up to 1500 to 1800 lbs of fluid pressure based on the design to stop the car/truck. Also blended into this is the surface area of the caliper in sq inches. . the trailer I pull with my truck as an example has an electric power brake unit for the disc brakes on the trailer. . the brakes are large enough to handle the 24K lbs of the trailer and another 10K lbs of truck... ... .



I know this wasn't a real answer but might give you some idea... . on the other hand, those of you with vehicles with the hydro-boost system... from the power steering system. . if that output pressure say is down 150 to 200 psi from spec... the truck will steer hard and brake hard. . something you might want to have checked...

 

[CumminsBu]

Is your mother in laws truck an auto or 6spd?

 

[JasonCzerak]

Yep, I'm with BLACK PEARL here. .



Same care, auto vs manual, the brake was always different. with the auto, your kinda fight the motor to a degree where as with a manual, you just fight gravity every now and again.

 

[JCasper]

Is your mother in laws truck an auto or 6spd?

Her truck is an auto. I have a 6 speed.



Our the brakes on the 3500 bigger?



Could there be some air in my brake system?



jelag,

Sometimes my truck does steer hard, seems to happen right after you start it and just start moving.

What do I have checked and by whom?



Thanks,



Joe

 

[CumminsBu]

To my understanding the brake on the 2500 and 3500 srw are the same and the 3500 drw have a little larger brakes. Does your Kelesy brake controller tape into your brake line for a brake line pressure signal? If so and you didn't bleed your brake after the install, then you have air in your brake lines.

If you don't do your own work on your truck. I would take it to Les Schwab.

 

[JCasper]

To my understanding the brake on the 2500 and 3500 srw are the same and the 3500 drw have a little larger brakes. Does your Kelesy brake controller tape into your brake line for a brake line pressure signal? If so and you didn't bleed your brake after the install, then you have air in your brake lines.

If you don't do your own work on your truck. I would take it to Les Schwab.

No, my brake controller is an old style, it does not tap into the brake lines.



I usually do my own work, and I am perfectly able to bleed my own brakes. Is there anything specific to know with the anti-locks when I bleed them?



What I am wanting to check is the pressure on the hydro-boost system, can Les Schwab do that? How would I go about checking that?



Thanks, Joe

 

[Prairie Dog]

You need the DRBII scan tool to exercise the ABS motor while you bleed. This so called motor gets gunked up if not bled once in awhile and costs a small fortune to replace if it gets plugged up.

Soooo this is about the only maint I let the dealer do AND THEY CHARGE $100!!!

 

[JCasper]

Do you think this has anything to do with my brake problem

So looking a little closer under the hood revealed these leaks. The master cylinder is leaking and also the steering box. I also cannot turn my steering wheel unless my truck is moving. I think there is something wrong there. Would this be covered under the 7/70 warranty?



Thank you for your help.



Joe