Hi everyone im new to this forum, i have a 1989 ford idi diesel that i bought about a year ago and im having some problems with my brakes. my brakes got really hard to push, and vacuum pump was seized up, which didnt allow my alternator to turn, so i replaced the vacuum pump and a diesel mechanic i talked to said it should help my brakes. Well when i changed my vacuum pump my alternator still didnt spin and my brakes are still hard as rocks. Any ideas? Brake booster? master cylinder?

 

Well I'm not too familiar w/ the diesel systems so I can't offer any advice on the alternator... I'm curious what the vac pump has to do w/ the alternator at all tho.

As for the brakes, what's the condition of the vac line running to the booster? Is it old, rotting [unusually soft] or very hard? If the line is in question at all, replace it. Otherwise it could be the diaphragm inside the booster- could be torn or have a puncture in it.

I'm sure others will be able to give you more specific advice- perhaps there's a common problem with that year truck- but it wouldn't hurt to make sure the line is in good shape.