*** Soft Brake Pedal Resolved ***
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2007
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*** Soft Brake Pedal Resolved ***
I found this at another site. I tried it on mine and it worked like a charm. No more spongy brakes.
Hope this helps...
*** Soft Brake Pedal Resolved *** - F150online Forums
Hope this helps...
*** Soft Brake Pedal Resolved *** - F150online Forums
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 1997
Posts: 23,165
Likes: 18
From: Enjoying the real world.
Why not just tell us what the fix is instead of linking to a 14 page thread so everyone reading doesn't have to read 14 pages to determine what everyone in the thread ends up agreeing to? 
Just food for thought....
Just food for thought....
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Senior User
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Its something that I can't take credit for and I thought people might want to read through the results others have had before trying it their selfs.
Anyway here it is.
Here are the steps I took:
-Remove the two nuts holding the master cylinder to the brake booster, they are 1/2in bolts.
-Once the nuts are removed, slide the master cylinder straight away from the brake booster. As I mentioned before there will be alot of resistance due to the vacuum build up. You can rock the master cylinder back and forth and you will here the vacuum relieving, once it does you can slide the master straight back.
-Locate the rubber o ring and ensure it is still in place. It fits between the master cylinder and the brake booster.
-With the master cylinder pulled back(leave all lines and wires attached) just position it out of the way. You will clearly see a 7mm bolt that is threaded into the rod sticking out of the brake booster. The rod has a grooved shaft that you will need to hold with needle nose pliers to keep it from turning while backing out the 7mm bolt.
-Back the 7mm bolt out of the rod(counter clockwise) about 1/2 turn or how much you see fit. I tried half turns until I got the brake pedal to where I wanted it. It is possible loosen the bolt to much to the point where your brakes will drag, thats why I went in such small increments. It took mine about 1.25 - 1.5 turns to get it right.
-Bolt the master cylinder back in place and your done.
-Remove the two nuts holding the master cylinder to the brake booster, they are 1/2in bolts.
-Once the nuts are removed, slide the master cylinder straight away from the brake booster. As I mentioned before there will be alot of resistance due to the vacuum build up. You can rock the master cylinder back and forth and you will here the vacuum relieving, once it does you can slide the master straight back.
-Locate the rubber o ring and ensure it is still in place. It fits between the master cylinder and the brake booster.
-With the master cylinder pulled back(leave all lines and wires attached) just position it out of the way. You will clearly see a 7mm bolt that is threaded into the rod sticking out of the brake booster. The rod has a grooved shaft that you will need to hold with needle nose pliers to keep it from turning while backing out the 7mm bolt.
-Back the 7mm bolt out of the rod(counter clockwise) about 1/2 turn or how much you see fit. I tried half turns until I got the brake pedal to where I wanted it. It is possible loosen the bolt to much to the point where your brakes will drag, thats why I went in such small increments. It took mine about 1.25 - 1.5 turns to get it right.
-Bolt the master cylinder back in place and your done.
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 63
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From: portland,oregon
i did this fix. after two visits to my dealership about a soft brake pedal, which all they did was bleed my air lines. after 3 and 1/2 years of dangerous brakes, i saw a tread about this rod behind the m/c. i removed the m/c, put needlenose plyers on the rod and backed out the nut one full turn.(counter clockwise) my brakes firmed up to the point that when my foot touches the brake pedal it stops. what a concept. just so you know my brake pedal was very soft, so others might not need one full turn. it worked for me good luck, garman 2004 S/crew lariat
Senior User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 301
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From: Tallahassee
Will you need to bleed the brakes or anything special? I notice it said to not disconnect anything so I am guessing you will not have to do it.
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Senior User
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Nope.
Its so simple and easy to do. It only takes about 15 minutes to adjust. Just don't back out the rod bolt to far or the brakes will catch. I marked the bolt with a sharpie and only adjusted about a 1/4 turn at a time till it felt right. Take it for a test drive after each adjustment. I used a stick to push the pedal down to push the rod out to make easier to adjust.
One more thing - With the truck off pump the brakes a couple times, it uses up the vacuum thats left in the mc then it slides of real easy.
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Senior User
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 210
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From: Kingwood, TEXAS
I noticed my truck had squishy brakes right away when I first test drove it, kinda scared me. Gotten used to it now but this quick fix sounds pretty intriguing might give it a go if I have nothing else to do today.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 1997
Posts: 23,165
Likes: 18
From: Enjoying the real world.
All done and the results are great. Took much longer than 15 minutes on mine because the Roush air filter box is very large and needs to be removed to pull out the master cylinder. Took a couple of adjustments before it felt right.
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 819
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From: Denver USA
Hmm. My brakes just started getting spongy since 5/30, so I may have to look into this. The truck is at the dealer right now looking at the brakes, an rpm/tach/performance issue and an oil change/tire rotation. So if they don't fix the brake issue, I'll have to try this. Wanted to make sure my brake issue wasn't due to the recall either.