My brake light on the dash is flashing on and off, and I can hear a bit of a spray bottle/aerosol can type sound coming from under the truck. Wondering if my brakes are messed up or if it's the vaccum pump or something else.

When the truck starts the brake pedal is very stiff and then loosens up after driving a few seconds. But sometimes it is stiff when I actually have to come to a stop and have to stomp on it. Clutch and powersteering seem ok.

 

Definitely sounds like the vac pump.

 

sounds like the pu mp to me. If/when you change it you MUST/NEED to use a pwr steering pulley to put the pulley back on or you WILL RUIN the pump. Here was my hell day: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...uumm-pump.html

 

Thanks guys.

I can probably borrow the puller at my cousin's shop. Now do I replace the pulley at the same time or just the pump? What do the pulleys run for cost approximately?

 

I have read here that most use the same pulley, UNLESS it is bad.

 

I reused the pulley when I changed mine (last week). FWIW, the pulley puller and installed kit is part of the loan a tool program at Auto Zone. It is listed as a power steering pump pulley puller or something like that, but a $40 deposit gets you out the door. A full refund when you're done, or just keep it for the $40. Works like a charm.