When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
On my 2008 F350 DRW 4X4, I had a sudden loss of both power brakes and power steering. This occurred at approximately 22,000 miles. The dealer tells me this is a failure of the hydroboost unit and a part will have to be ordered. My question is how common a problem is this? Is it a weak point of the 2008 Fords? I didn't know the PB and PS were connected.
The hydroboost brakes on a diesel truck are provided pressurized fluid from the powersteering pump - hence a failure in one will often disable both. Regular vacuum assist brakes are not available on a diesel truck.
I don't think it's a common problem at all. I'm not very familiar with the system, but I think it's about the same thing that they have been using for years and I've never experienced a failure in the slew of diesel SDs that I have driven.
It is a fairly common problem. The power steering pump on these trucks is barely adequate for steering. Throwing in the power assist for braking can cause problems, especially if the truck is powerbraked. I've seem many owners post about the steering failing after frying a set of tires in a burnout contest.
I had a chevrolet with power boost,the only way you could stop and steer at the same time was pop in into neutral and rev the engine to get the needed volume of fluid to run both,hit the brakes hard once then they got soft,as well as steering going away. a suicide machine it was a 98 3500hd at 13k gross wt.
Hydroboost has been used on every diesel engine Superduty ever made, and way before that. Diesels do not produce engine vacuum, so they can not use a typical vacuum-powered brake booster.
Yeah, they are underpowered sometimes, but I haven't heard about a large number of them failing.
If you can, post what part actually broke after you get the work order back from the dealer.