Brake problems

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May 5, 2013 | 01:43 PM

wilzy14

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Brake problems

I have a 97 f-350 diesel I had my trailer on and went to stop and the brake pedal was hard as a rock and was not stopping the truck.I went and got a master cylinder and put it on and still the same problem. I started home by the way it was a 4 hour trip and i would either have real soft pedal like full of air or rock hard pedal.Any Ideas? Thank You in advanced

May 5, 2013 | 01:49 PM

BuckHammer

Cargo Master

Joined: Jul 2010

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It seems to me like a vacuum pump failure could cause this issue.

May 5, 2013 | 01:50 PM

sleepyhead416

Mountain Pass

Joined: Aug 2006

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vaccum pump When mine went out in one of my old trucks peddle was rock hard but didnt stop. Works just like a power booster. Is your belt slipping ?

May 5, 2013 | 02:07 PM

fordpride

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Joined: Dec 2009

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From: Livoina,La

Sounds like VP.

When sitting at idle with the A/C on I bet the air only blows out if the defrost vents

May 5, 2013 | 03:22 PM

wilzy14

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brake problem

I was leaning towards vac pump. Thank You for you input

May 6, 2013 | 12:18 AM

oldbird1965

Fleet Owner

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From: AZ

Easy fix, better then standing on the brakes.

May 6, 2013 | 02:11 AM

95_Dually

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From: Vacaville, Ca

I would pull the hose from the vacuum pump to the distribution manifold and check for vacuum there as well as the hose up to the booster before I bought a vacuum pump.

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May 6, 2013 | 09:19 AM

wilzy14

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Its not turned any lights on.To me it acts like as long as you are above idle it has vacuum and the pedal is soft like air in the lines but once it idles there no vacuum and its hard as a rock.I did pull the hose off going to brake booster and it had very little pull on it.Thanks Mark

May 6, 2013 | 11:25 AM

#10

fordpride

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Joined: Dec 2009

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From: Livoina,La

Quote:

Originally Posted by madpogue

^^^^^ This. Vacuum pump failure should turn on the red BRAKE (!) warning light.

Not always true. I've changed 3 pumps and none of them have ever set the light

May 6, 2013 | 12:34 PM

#11

madpogue

Lead Driver

Joined: Oct 2003

Posts: 8,476

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From: Madison, WI

Quote:

Originally Posted by fordpride

Not always true. I've changed 3 pumps and none of them have ever set the light

Then the sensor that trips the light is faulty and should be fixed as well.

May 7, 2013 | 02:31 AM

#12

stainlessstroker95

Postmaster

Joined: May 2011

Posts: 3,447

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From: Monroe City in

If you pump the brakes a couple times the light will come on from low vacuum if the pump is bad. I had a problem where the brakes were hard, and it turned out the be the booster.