Just got a new to me 02 Limited v8 - 128k on the clock

Noticed today while at a stop light that when I depress the brake pedal (after being stopped) it makes a squishy sound - the pedal feels different, but I don't know if spongy/squishy is the right way to describe it, it just sounds like you stepped on a waterlogged sponge.

Now the brakes definitely don't feel as good as my XLT brakes (recently replaced it due to rod knock - 02 XLT v6). It still stops but seems like it requires more effort and almost fades a little. I initially chalked up the difference in performance to me putting new rotors/pads on the XLT - Thermo-quiet semi's with Raybestos rotors.

However it appears after some brief reading this could be the master cylinder on its way out....is that accurate? I planned on taking my pads/rotors off the XLT before I ship it to the junkyard (less than 3k on that setup), but if its the master cylinder, I'd like to do that while I'm doing all my other tune up stuff this weekend

thoughts?

I'm gonna put it on the lift this weekend and see if theres any brake fluid stains to see if air is getting into the system, but looking at the reservoir over the past week I haven't noticed really any decline in fluid level.

 

Sounds like the booster to me. The "squishy sound" would be vacuum bleeding past the booster.

 

i agree with fordmerc had the same problem with my 02 explorer sport changed out the brrake booster and fixed the problem nice and easy....but that revealed another problem i didnt know i had

 

what was the other problem haha? can't leave it that open ended!

 

haha well since the idiot that had it before me didnt know jack once i fixed that then the abs (i know sounds unreal) started acting worse grinding well long story short test showed driver side was 2-3mph off looked at it tie rod was beyond shot to hell fixed that then code said front passenger side switched it out and finally good...well for the brakes lol