hi all,
now that the fuel problem is fixed(i hope)
my brakes seem very soft an a hard stor. they have been bleed and there is no air in the system.
any thoughts?????
thanks
pete kennedy
1997 PSD 4x4 auto

 

my brakes seem very soft an a hard stor.

Can you give some more info please?

 

hi,

if i need to stop fast like a deer jumps out or someone pulls out in front of me i have to stand on the brakes to stop the truck(at a good speed like 45+ mph) it seems like the brakes are soft and they are ford pads in front and rear.
thanks
pete kennedy
1997 PSD auto 4x4

 

I just realized you have a 97'. A friend of mine had a 97' 4x4 f350 auto and it was in perfect shape with only 31,000 miles on it. He had a lot of trouble getting it to stop fast. I know this doesn't answer your question but it may be a common problem with that year?

 

You have disc or drum in the back? My thoughts either way are ill fitting pads or shoes and/or flex lines that are swelling under high pressure.

 

hi all
it has drum in the rear and they are the original and the truck has 150K maybe i should replace them?do you have to take out the axle to remove the drum or do they just pull off?
thanks
pete kennedy
1997 PSD 4x4 auto

 

They just come off of the hub. Use the usual technique to rattle it loose with an air hammer between the studs if stuck. Chances are the brake pedal will get even softer with this job as the old shoes are perfectly mated to the drum right now. You'll have to get the new shoes to mate to the drum before you'll get back to what you have now.
You have the 4 piston calipers up front right? I wonder if the housings are just flexing. They are quite large and have to span nearly a foot without outside support. Maybe before you pull things apart you could have a partner stomp on the brakes repeatedly while you look for movement. And it doesn't take much flex to show up as a lot at the pedal.

 

Another thing you could do is replace the rubber brake lines with some braided steel lines. Don't expand as much and get rid of the spongey brake feel.
Mike

 

Yes I thought of that too but didn't know if they were available for the PSD.