E-350 dual

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Jan 25, 2017 | 06:43 PM

wannaBelkhuntin

Thread Starter

Cross-Country

Joined: Jul 2010

Posts: 82

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From: western NY

E-350 dual

I have a 2001 Ambulance chassis/diesel. Tonight on the way home my brakes went out. Managed to drive it home and still had some pedal but not much. I don't see any busted/leaking lines and also this only has 40,000 miles on it, it's not all rusty and corroding from the salt here in NY. I am thinking it is a bad master cylinder or the brake booster, any thoughts guys ?

It did not all of a sudden go to the floor like a busted line. As I attempted to stop to make a right turn the brake just faded away and the pedal went to the floor, if I pumped them it would build a little pressure but quickly fade. One last thing I have never been impressed with the brakes on this thing, they have always been there but never very impressive.
Thx Dave

Jan 25, 2017 | 10:15 PM

163junk

Senior User

Joined: May 2016

Posts: 398

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From: Western NY

Hows the fluid, and did you look at calipers for leaks ? That low of miles, have you serviced the caliper slides ?

Jan 25, 2017 | 11:35 PM

Spaznaut

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Aug 2004

Posts: 1,276

Likes: 7

From: NE Tennessee

Check that fluid level in the master cylinder. If it isn't low then the master went bad. If it s getting low then probably a busted cylinder in the rear drum. Top off the reservoir if low and then check in the morning for the leak.

Jan 26, 2017 | 08:52 AM

EagleFreek

Tuned

Joined: Mar 2010

Posts: 425

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From: Fayetteville, TN

Since it's a diesel, it has a vacuum pump. We have an 03 4x4 "box" van here at work and the brakes went out and it was the vacuum pump. And yes the brakes absolutely suck on ours, also.

Jan 30, 2017 | 03:42 PM

djbonsu

Junior User

Joined: Sep 2012

Posts: 55

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Check your vacuum pump and connections at the vacuum manifold (near the brake booster). If those check out, then the problem is the brake booster.

Jan 31, 2017 | 05:18 PM

blageurt

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: May 2011

Posts: 1,414

Likes: 10

From: Thornhill , Ontario

Since I have a Diesel ...when the Vacuum pump fails the pedal is HARD like old school brakes.... and it still does not stop.... it is a Master Issue ( Could be a line too ) ...If it does stop it is a Booster Issue....I beleive you have rear Disc Brakes ...It should be a Dana 70 HD with a 4:10 FF so it should be Disc...SO you do not have rear Drums...so No cylinders...