Brake Issues

[Pirate69]

I have a 1995 Ford Ranger XL 4.0 6cyl with manual transmission.

Past few days truck has been running great and no issues.

Went out this morning and found brakes went out on it. Drove it and barely made it around block. Truck did not stop at stop sign.

If i push on brakes with engine off, there is pressure in pedal. With engine on, pedal is all way to floor and no brakes.

There is fluid in both reservoirs, but is leaking . I topped off to max line on both tanks.

With engine off, and pedal pushed in, fluid leaks / sprays below booster brake.

There is also a loud hissing noise - sounds like air leak - when step on brake pedal.

Any ideas - I am thinking booster is shot ?

Thank you

Chris

 

[Uncle Gump]

I would think a brake line ruptured. I've never seen a brake booster spray fluid.

Take a look down on the driver frame rail and follow the brake lines. If you live in the rust belt... it's pretty common to have the brake lines rust through.

 

[Dirtman]

Master cylinder piston seal can fail and force fluid into the booster. The booster itself normally has no fluid in it to leak in any other circumstance so the booster is not the source of the issue.

 

[97RangerXLT]

all of the above, also consider that since you have a leak, you might have leaked down enough that you got air into the lines and even tho you topped the fluid off, you still have an air bubble. air compressess nicely, so when you hit the brakes, you make the air bubble smaller without really activating the brakes. find and fix the leak first then trace it all back.

And yeah, booster should not have fluid in it...

AJ

 

[09fx4guy]

Sounds like a brake line went out (leak and hiss noise). I think the seal on the master would be a little less likely but still possible.

Only reason I say is that the symptoms described sound exactly like when my front left brake line went out while driving when I was in high school. I ended up on a guys lawn, fortunately didn't hit anything. Almost needed to change my shorts. When I called my grandfather, he came and told me to drive his car and follow behind him. Fortunately it was in town and he only had to pull the e-brake twice to stop. When I explained the situation to my dad when he got home, he asked me why I did not just crimp the busted end of the line, fill the master, and pump it up until it built up some pressure. Live and learn.