Soggy Brakes

[rootmanslim]

I have a 95' 2wd 2500 with 88,000 miles. Brake warning light was coming on once ever 45 days or so after driving to town & back (15 mi). So I got out my new TDR and did the brake flushing and bleeding routine. (I was a Porsche mechanic in my "ute" so it's not a mystery) Now what I have is no light (thus far)and a pedal that's rock hard with the engine off. BUT when I fire up the "Clatterer", the truck stops fine BUT if you press down hard on the pedal at a stop it gradually (5 seconds) goes almost to the floor (I suspect to the front brake lock-up point). I'm wintering in FL and hesitate to take the truck to my Local Dodge/Chrysler/Ford/ Lincoln/Subaru/you name it non 5 star dealer and get Louie the "parts changer" swapping out $300. 00 components until he finds it. On the other hand when I return to WY in the spring, I don't want to be towing my 5000 lb
load of horses & trailer with questionable brakes. thanks, Larry

 

[Big-D]

If the brake pedal goes to the floor after prolonged pressing at a complete stop, my guess is your master cylinder is toast. That is assuming you cannot find a leak anywhere. Flushing the system is a good idea, but you may have caught a small piece of dirt/grit in one of the value seals inside the master cylinder and now fluid is by-passing within the cylinder itself. The hard pedal with engine off would be a normal situation for there isn't any "power assist" to help force the fluid along.

Your concerns are valid about towing a horse trailer, so if you don't want to waste your hard earned cash on a mechanic you don't trust, you might just want to drive it around without a load for awhile longer. The real problem will present itself in a matter of time. Hope things work out for ya soon.
Dave

 

[BCFAST]

Sounds like the valving in your master cylinder is gone. First, check out the vacuum hoses to the booster looking for cracks. My 2 cents.

 

[Dane]

Sounds like the master cylinder to me...

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2001 HO 6 speed Regular Cab SLT 4x4 3. 54 anti spin 2500. Used for the daily grind and sneaking away to some secret Baja beaches toting a cabover

 

[Cooker]

I'll agree with the master cylinder being toast, but like Big D said "assuming there is no leak. " Look carefully.

 

[AlK]

Had the same problem in my car - master brake cylinder problem.

 

[sam peterson]

you may have a problem with the RABS valve for the rear antilock brakes. It is often mis diagnosed as a bad master cyl. when it starts going bad it gives you a lower than normal pedal and all the stopping is being done on the front. when the valve malfunctions it dumps the fluid pressure to the rear. it should be checked prior to buying a new master cyl. the only way to check it is to bypass the valve and operate without it. if the pedal stays up and is normal, replace the valve. they are only available at the dealer.