Soft brakes - no brake lights
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Tuned
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 287
Likes: 1
Soft brakes - no brake lights
1988 F250
I restored my truck last year. During the process the rusted brake lines broke and I lost all the fluid. I replaced all lines and brake components. What I did not do was bench bleed the master cylinder.I just added brake fluid to the master and bled the system at the the 4 wheels Fast forward 9 months. Restoration is done. I drove a few places and noticed low and soft brake pedal but was able to stop. Seemed wierd. Heard air leaking from the brake booster and replaced it. The air leak sound is gone but the brakes are still soft and the brake stop switch is not being activated. Functionality of the switch is good in a vice with a tester. Seems like the soft brakes/long travel are producing very little resistance from the brake booster rod to actuate the switch. So maybe the master cylinder needs to be bench bled? What is the consensus Ford forum world? Thank you so much in advance!
I restored my truck last year. During the process the rusted brake lines broke and I lost all the fluid. I replaced all lines and brake components. What I did not do was bench bleed the master cylinder.I just added brake fluid to the master and bled the system at the the 4 wheels Fast forward 9 months. Restoration is done. I drove a few places and noticed low and soft brake pedal but was able to stop. Seemed wierd. Heard air leaking from the brake booster and replaced it. The air leak sound is gone but the brakes are still soft and the brake stop switch is not being activated. Functionality of the switch is good in a vice with a tester. Seems like the soft brakes/long travel are producing very little resistance from the brake booster rod to actuate the switch. So maybe the master cylinder needs to be bench bled? What is the consensus Ford forum world? Thank you so much in advance!
FTE Legend
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 30,915
Likes: 4,123
From: Angier, NC
Is this a new master or the old one?
if me and the rest of the brake system is new I would replace the master and bench bleed it before you install it.
Why I say replace if old you ask? If the pistons move farther in the boar where there is rust you can hurt the piston seals and it will fail.
Any way you can try and bench bleed it then blwe'd the full system again.
Drum brakes out back are they adjusted right?
Dave - - - -
if me and the rest of the brake system is new I would replace the master and bench bleed it before you install it.
Why I say replace if old you ask? If the pistons move farther in the boar where there is rust you can hurt the piston seals and it will fail.
Any way you can try and bench bleed it then blwe'd the full system again.
Drum brakes out back are they adjusted right?
Dave - - - -
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 354
Likes: 1
From: Ar
This is what I would do. First pull rear drums and adjust rear brakes , bleed master cyl, it can be done on the truck. Then bleed brakes starting with the farthest from master cyl first till you get clear clean fluid,
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