I've been a looker to this site for sometime and just joined. The wisdom on here has been extremely helpful.
My question is, When I apply the brakes, I get a squeaking noise from the peddle area. This is not the "hissing" sound associated with the booster. The squeaking occurs on depression and release. Any Ideas? My Escape is an 03 V6.

 

Squeaking usually indicates friction. First thing I would do is lube the pivot point on the break pedal. Worth a try anyway.

Welcome aboard.

 

When the vehicle is parked and off is the squeaking there......welcome also

you have a safety switch on the pedal maybe that is a little lose and is rubbing

 

I think the advice is wise to see if it's squeaking when the vehicle is turned off, if so you may be able to pin point it at the source.

There is a small plastic insert that goes over the small rod from the brake pedal to where it connects to the rod from the brake booster. It's there to keep the brake pedal rod (male end) from being in metal to metal contact with the connection point with the brake booster (female end). If the plastic insert broke off or came apart then you could have a metal to metal contact with the two parts. There is a cotter pin right at this connection point, you should be able to see this black (I believe that's the color of it) plastic insert, if need be you can remove the cotter pin with a pair of needle nose pliers, and with a little pressure pull the two parts apart. If you don't feel comfortable with that just take a good look with a flash light and see if you can tell if this plastic insert that goes around the brake pedal rod is still there. If you look at the link of a picture of the brake booster below, on the first picture on the right you will see the rod with the circled end (female end), that plastic insert fits inside this ring so to speak and the rod that comes from the brake pedal itself goes through this ring, and the cotter pin holds the two parts together.

Sometimes this link to Napa doesn't show the booster the first time, if it doesn't close it and try it a 2nd time.

NAPA Online

Also has Powerstroked stated you have actually two switches just above that connection point on the brake pedal, they are both made of plastic. The top one is the cruise control cut off switch (it's blue and gray), the bottom one is the brake light switch (it's just gray). They both just twist into the metal holder, because they are plastic I don't think that they are going to be your problem, both those switches have plastic rods that only move about a 1/4 an inch out when you push down on the brake pedal.

Depending on your size, it's not easy to get contorted and squeeze under the dash, and look up to see these parts, they are easy to spot, it's just sort of hard to maneuver under there, just remember to put your drivers seat all the way back, have a good flashlight on hand. Take a good look on your floorboard and carpet see if you have any broken plastic pieces, or possibility any metal shavings or metal pieces when you first start looking under there.

If you find the cause please be sure to let us know, this may help someone else in the future.

Take Care!

Scott

 

Well guys I' ve had a chance to take a look under the dash. Everything seems to be in perfect condition. Both switches look good and the "grommett" inside the "o" of the push rod is still good and tight. The rod has a rubber boot that covers from the peddle shaft to the firewall. I sprayed some Jig-A-Loo into all the pivot points but still have the squeaking. I'm thinking that maybe the boot has hardened some and maybe IT needs to be soaked with lube. What do you guys think would be best(lube type)and procedure or do you have any other thoughts? BTW, the squeaking occurs while the vehicle is on or off. I also tested the power booster for airtightness and all is good.

 

I see your screen name is cavs fan and you are from SC. Let me assume you are actually from Cleveland, Ohio and that you are so bummed out that my Celtics kicked your teams butt, that you forget to tell us what happens when you press on the pedal with the vehicle off..............or maybe I am so happy with the Celtics victory that i did not see it.

*maybe you are a UVA fan. I just reread the post and see that it happens all the time....

 

You could spray it first with maf cleaner or Electrical cleaner and if that does not work try wd-40............ I use wd-40 on everything....

 

I'm no Virginia or Cleveland fan. I do like the Celtics though. I saw Kevin Garnet play High School B-Ball against my high school alma mater in the 90's. I work in the Athletic Dept. of Dorman High School and we are the Cavaliers. I graduated from Dorman in 1987. Back on topic. I thinking about getting some spray graphite-Liquid Wrench-and soaking the peddle area. I don't think that will hurt anything.

 

You could try Water Displacement formula #40 (WD40) Water Displacement formula's #1 through 39 kind of sucked, but number 40 is the good one. Maybe the squeak is coming from inside the brake booster itself. there's I believe 2 diaphragms and some springs, plus that brake booster rod goes though some sort of seal. I've never taken a booster apart, so I'm just kind of guessing on that. Someone else may have more experience with those.

If you by chance do decide to change out your power booster, make sure that you take the two switches the cruise control cut off and the brake light switch out of the metal holder. One good pop with the brake pedal into those rods and it could break them. They just twist out, I believe counter clockwise. Other than that and carefully pulling the master cylinder forward, then you have to work the brake booster out carefully, it's really pretty easy.

But unless anyone thinks of any reason not to, Powersmoked's idea sound good, just realize worse case, that the rubber on the power booster might have a bad reaction to the sprays, then you would be forced to get a new power booster, but I think those odds are very low.

By the way my team the Dallas Mavericks need a new IAC Valve (idle air control valve) because they CHOKED!!!! ARRGH.......

 

I'm going to try graphite dry lubricant. Mechanic friend says that it shouldn't hurt anything inside the boot. I'll update as soon as I get some results. Thanks for all the help. I wonder how much better the new and improved WD41 is. I bet you could spray it in rocket boosters and fly to the moon.

 

Here's the result of my little lubricant experiment. I sprayed the rubber boot and whatever "packing" is inside the boot with Liquid Wrench Dry Lubricant. It sat overnight and yesterday morning it seemed somewhat quieter but was back to the same after sitting out in the parking lot all day. Last night I resprayed the boot with Silicone spray and this morning it is quiet again. So, after today and tomorrow, I'll get some more info as to how the latest lube job does.