I was on my way to pick up a pizza, so I stopped to get some gas. Up until then everything was working wonderfully. As soon as I went to pull out of the station I noticed something was wrong. The brake pedal now goes all the way to the floor, and the brakes are not nearly as strong. So I picked up my food and got home quickly. And I come to find brake fluid leaking out drip by drip over near the driver side rear tire. What might be my problem?

 

pull the wheels asap !sounds like a wheel cylinder, follow your brake lines while your there, get back to us and good luck, just look for the wet spots lol

 

I'm having a brain fart right now, can't think of the correct name of it. But it's the brake piston thingy inside the drum, that pushes the shoes out. it's leaking. you can buy a rebuild kit for it, but it's easier to just onstall a new one.

 

Is it alright for me to drive the truck at all? If so, I can drive it to school and we can get it up on a lift to fix it.

 

I do not know how bad it is.. or even what it is.
You say it is near your tire, so it may be the rear brake cylinder or it may be a rotted line. Either way, if your pedal goes to the floor, it is not good. I also don't know how much pressure you have to apply to get it to go to the floor, but I suspect it pretty much just drops.
I would not recommend driving it, as it is very dangerous. If a kid runs out in front of your truck and you hit him...you could kill someone and you will be charged. If you rear end another car...you will be charged. I don't know where you are, but cops everywhere, pretty much frown upon this.
Accidents can happen in the blink of an eye and then it's too late.

Brake cylinders are cheap and easy to replace, but you may also have to replace the last section of line as the fitting may be so corroded that it will break when you try to undo it from the cylinder.
So..I would get a ride to school and to the parts store and do the repairs when you get home.
I realize you will have a small amount of braking, but you cannot rely upon this and once your master cylinder runs out of fluid, what little brakes you had will now be gone. Try to avoid draining your master cylinder as then you will have to bleed all the brake lines. If that has happened, bleed them starting with the farthest...closest one last
edit: Also if you have to bleed all your brake lines, other bleeders screws may be seized and that will not be fun..

 

Is it really that big of a problem? I live on the same street as the school. Less then 4 minutes away. And I would be going in really early, before most people are even up. My main concern is if it would hurt the truck at all.

 

If school is that close then just walk. Your main concern should be for the safety of the children in your neighborhood.. As a dad it pisses me off you say your main concern would be to hurt your truck. you come to a stop sign and cannot stop and end up in some kids bedroom what you gonna say then? If you don't know somebody that can fix it post an ad on Craigslist asking a mechanic for some help times are tough ,someone will get you going for cheap. I just replaced all my front brakes/lines/hoses in my driveway with no lift I wish it had been something in the rear it's so easy to get to.

 

im not too familiar with power brakes on these trucks yet, but if all the fluid leaks out then you will be screwed. im surprised the brakes are even building enough pressure to work at all. if you think the truck will make it to your school, then i guess go for it. good luck.

 

i wouldn't drive it to school if it was me even if you live that close you won't hurt the truck but what could happen is the master cylinder will leak all of it's fluid out and then you will have NO brakes if you have a jack at your house just jack up on the axle pull the wheel and drum replace it bleed the brakes and go takes maybe 45mins total