During the winter my brakes light would come on and the brake pedal was hard to push. Once the engine warmed up it worked normal.

Once the weather warmed up it operated as it should. Now when I push the brakes the pedal goes almost all the way to the floor and the brakes seem less efficient. It gets to the end and then I really have to press hard to get it to slow down.

Just doesnt seems right. I have plenty of fluid and plenty of brake pads left. I did notice that the front rotors seemed lightly cracked perpendicular to the rotating motion.


any thoughts?

Thad
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i would say bleed the brakes and swap the rotors asap if they are cracked at all

 

Cracked rotors is bad news, you likely overheated them at then hit some cold water from a puddle or something, like Josh said replace ASAP. For the sinking pedal check this thread:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...-problems.html

Your winter issue seems vacuum-pump related, but it could very well be the booster as well - pull the vacuum pump main line off the vacuum tree on the firewall and stick a vacuum gauge in it (the line), see what readings it gives you - you want at least 20" Hg, but you also want it to jump from zero to that number almost immediately upon engine start. Do this test and report back to us.

 

I've had many brake issues with my 85 F250. Replaced just about everything now... Started with the master cylinder, vacuum pump, booster... Things were a little better. Then I cleaned out the calipers new pads, also changed rear shoes, a little better, still not great.. Then my brake line gave out, replaced all of the lines which brought the brakes back, but still no better.

Failed inspection a month ago, they told me front rotor was too thin and my drums were also too thin.... Replaced the drums, shoes, rotor and pads again... also replaced rear cables which were sticking and they caused the rear shoes to crack...

Anyway, I think that the new rear drums really did the trick. I believe they were so worn that only the center of the shoe was grabbing... I could see that part of the ends of the shoes were not even worn.. So, the wear specifications on the rotors and drums really do mean something. My grandfather had a taxi company from the 20's to the 70's. My father used to repair brakes on the taxi's and as the drums would increase in diameter he would shim the ends of the shoes when gluing on new pads to shoes... The diameter of the drum does not match the shoe as it gets worn...

Oh well, sorry for droning, now I finally have good brakes.