Ping: All the regular posters who know Ford Truck Brakes

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

Stephen H - 01 Jan 2007 07:14 GMT

This is my second truck with this issue, and it's my dads truck. He is
looking forward to his annual trip to Yuma this February towing my 5th wheel
so I got to fix it right.
Doing brake work on a 1990 F-250 (the last one was a 1989 F-350) and when
all is said and done you have a pedal that is solid when engine is off, but
sinks to the floor once you start the engine. Pinching off the ft brake
hoses (this is the first time I have done this and don't like it) results in
a normal feeling pedal.
If any of you all subscribe to IATN, do a search for under Ford Trucks for
brakes and you will see this isn't a uncommon problem; many shops have seen
this problem or even taken in trucks that another shop has given up on. Many
will read along the lines "I have replaced the MC; Calipers Hoses abs valve
and booster and still can't get a good pedal under this truck."
The repair solution is to replace the MC with one from a F-450; going from a
1 1/8 bore to a 1 5/8 bore. Ford is said to has a notice on this as well as
bendix brakes tech line.
But for the life of me I can't figure out how a set of brakes that have
worked great for 130,000 miles suddenly needs a larger MC. Can anyone
enlighten me?
PS: I am still researching other solutions to this than the MC

Signature

Stephen W. Hansen
ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician
ASE Automobile Advanced Engine Performance
ASE Undercar Specialist
Currently working at a Subaru Dealership

http://autorepair.about.com/cs/troubleshooting/l/bl_obd_main.htm
http://www.troublecodes.net/technical/
http://www.familycar.com/Alignment.htm

Reply to this Message

Daryl Bryant - 01 Jan 2007 11:41 GMT

FORD = Fix Or Repair Daily or sometimes their Found On Road Dead!! <grin>
I used to own nothing but FORDs. One day I realized it's not a joke that
you're constantly under the hood!!
Not only that, FORD increases their parts prices by about 3% every 3
months..they been doing it since 1965! I used to work in parts
department -Take my word for it - Plus FORD parts are designed to fail at a
pre-prescribed length of time - dealer parts that is!!!

The issue with Bendix, their parts have been known to warp the cheap a.s
FORD drums - Hi performance parts seem to last longer!
Might try replacing the steel braided rubber lines (2) that goes to the
front and the (2) rears as well <-- that might account for the sponginess!!

I don't see the MC making a difference one way or the other - Hydraulic
Power Brakes might be an issue! Or perhaps a leaky brake booster hose and or
low engine cylinder compression!!!

Just some guesses!!

Signature

Bing Bang Boom Voila Done!

> This is my second truck with this issue, and it's my dads truck. He is
> looking forward to his annual trip to Yuma this February towing my 5th wheel
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
> enlighten me?
> PS: I am still researching other solutions to this than the MC

Reply to this Message

jim - 01 Jan 2007 15:02 GMT

> This is my second truck with this issue, and it's my dads truck. He is
> looking forward to his annual trip to Yuma this February towing my 5th wheel
> so I got to fix it right.
> Doing brake work on a 1990 F-250 (the last one was a 1989 F-350) and when
> all is said and done you have a pedal that is solid when engine is off, but
> sinks to the floor once you start the engine.

Well obviously if the problem started after you worked on it, your
problem has
to do with something you modified, replaced or damaged. Maybe a
detailed explanation of what "Doing brake work" means would help the
less
clairvoyant readers.

If the problem is that the currently available pads and shoes
are more
compliant or that the replacement calipers or cylinders have a larger
bore than
they used to, than the solution is to either find someone with a stock
of old replacement parts from 10-15 yrs ago or follow Ford's advice and
replace the master cylinder with one that has a bigger bore.

-jim

>Pinching off the ft brake
> hoses (this is the first time I have done this and don't like it) results in
[quoted text clipped - 22 lines]
> http://www.troublecodes.net/technical/
> http://www.familycar.com/Alignment.htm

Reply to this Message

Stephen H - 01 Jan 2007 17:34 GMT

I wish it was as simple as odd parts.
The first truck; 6 months ago was a 1989 F350, 4x4 dsl. He went metal to
metal so I replaced ft rotors; calipers and had the Mysterious fading pedal;
only when running. I changed out the MC twice and bypassed the rabs valve as
it can give the same feeling.
Dads truck started out as a bearing repack (he started the work) and I
looked at it and said we might as well slap some pads on it. He put the Napa
60$. pads on it and haven't had a good pedal since. We put a New Napa MC on
it and finally got the fading pedal; I'm doing some research on this fading
pedal syndrome to see if I can figure out another fix that follows along
with the theory that it's worked ok for 17 years so far.

Steve

>> This is my second truck with this issue, and it's my dads truck. He is
>> looking forward to his annual trip to Yuma this February towing my 5th
[quoted text clipped - 62 lines]
> ----= East and West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption
> =----

Reply to this Message

clifto - 01 Jan 2007 19:33 GMT

> I wish it was as simple as odd parts.
> The first truck; 6 months ago was a 1989 F350, 4x4 dsl. He went metal to
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> pedal syndrome to see if I can figure out another fix that follows along
> with the theory that it's worked ok for 17 years so far.

Can we presume you've changed the brake fluid?

Signature

Nazi: a person who is winning an argument with a liberal.

Reply to this Message

Stephen H - 01 Jan 2007 22:26 GMT

> Can we presume you've changed the brake fluid?

LOL! With the new MC I think we put 1/2 gallon through it.
Feeling the ft rubber lines, with the engine running and pedal applied you
can feel the lines ---stretch?-- So new ft lines on it tommorow; I think
they were only 3 years old or so....
Steve

Reply to this Message

scott - 01 Jan 2007 19:40 GMT

> I wish it was as simple as odd parts.
> The first truck; 6 months ago was a 1989 F350, 4x4 dsl. He went metal to
[quoted text clipped - 65 lines]
> >> ASE Undercar Specialist
> >> Currently working at a Subaru Dealership

My dad has a '89 F250 diesel I just recently drove for a few days when
my van was broken, and the brakes on it are firm and it stops well.
I'll ask him if there is a trick. Also, check to see if the rear
brakes are not adjusted to barely fit w/in the drums, you can get a
tool that measures inside/outside. If you have too much distance on
rears, it will sink the pedal before you get sufficient pressure.
Doubt your other hardware is an issue.

Scott

Reply to this Message