Chrysler recalling 76K Dodge Ram trucks

From Associated Press
December 14, 2010 1:05 PM EST
********>document.write('******** style="float:right;margin-left:5px" src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/adi/news.earthlink.dart/news_300x250_top;sz=300x250;ptile=5;ord='+rand+'?" width="300" height="250" frameborder="no" border="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no">*********>');*********>******** style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px" border=0 marginWidth=0 marginHeight=0 src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/adi/news.earthlink.dart/news_300x250_top;sz=300x250;ptile=5;ord=86844890?" frameBorder=no width=300 scrolling=no height=250>*********>WASHINGTON (AP) — Chrysler is recalling about 76,000 Dodge Ram pickup trucks to fix a power steering issue that could make brake pedals return slowly after the driver applies them.
The recall affects certain 2010-2011 model year Dodge Ram trucks built from March 2009 through October 2010.
Chrysler said some trucks with diesel engines and a hydroboost brake system could be equipped with a power steering reservoir cap with excessive vent pressure levels.
The excessive levels could lead to brake pedals that are slow to return and cause the brake lights remain on, potentially causing a crash.
Chrysler spokesman Vince Muniga said there have been no crashes or injuries reported. He said the problem was first noticed by dealers and a modified cap will relieve some of the pressure causing the problem.
Chrysler said it will notify owners. Dealers will replace the steering reservoir cap free of charge.
Owners can contact Chrysler at 800-853-1403.

Does this make sense to anyone? Power Steering,brakes or what. Did they put wrong caps on one of the resevoirs?

 

I believe I heard it was a power steering issue. I wish I could remember all I heard but old age has hit my mind, what little I have left.

Craig

 

Here is the deal.

Vacuum boosted brakes are what passenger car and light truck folks are familiar with.
Diesel engines do not have throttles, so no manifold vacuum.
The most common way to provide for power brakes is a belt-driven vacuum pump.
Another way is to use a hydraulic boosted brakes running off the power steering hydraulic system. This apparently is what the current Ram has.

So, if the venting system is inadequate, when you release the brakes, power steering fluid cannot immediately return to the reservoir, causing slow brake pedal return.

Update: Got on the internet and discovered that Ford did put hydroboost units into some of their cars back in the 70’s. The big Mercury cars got them and some of the Mercury Monarch Ghia vehicles got them in the 74 to 79 time frame. A lot of browsing showed that no one has installed any of this particular unit in any other vehicle and only one site knew that Ford installed these in the above cars. Since these were gasoline engines, it may have been early emissions tuning that provided inadequate vacuum to stop these relatively heavy cars. GM diesel cars also used a similar setup in the '80's and the turboed Buick Grand National also. It is also interesting that dad's '64 Lincoln had hydraulic wipers running off the power steering system, instead of the more common vacuum or electric type.