Brake problem

[mike367]

Hi all, been having an issue with my brakes. 1998 4x4 sc, does not happen all the time. I start to brake the pedal starts the proper downward travel and when I increase the pressure to make the stop the pedal comes up and will not go back down. Will not brake. Had to take the ditch the other day. After turning the truck off and cleaning the crap out of my pants the brakes came back to life. I cant drive this thing until I get it fixed. Thanks, Mike

 

[ForOffRoadDriving]

is it like an abs thing happening or is it like something is forcing the pistons and wheel cylinders back in?

 

[Guilius]

if the petal will not go down at all and is that hard....it almost sounds like a booster issue.

something similar happened to me, but i also had steering problems and.....oddly.....engine issues where it acted like a misfire.

all because the hose came off the air intake to the booster.

 

[martin]

does the truck have 4 wheel abs?

 

[mike367]

Thanks guys, not sure if its an abs issue or not. Im not a great mechanic, how do I check and see if it the hose at the air intake booster? I live on a dirt road so decided to take it for a slow test. The brakes worked fine. Is there a list of things I can check before going to the shop? Mike

 

[shane96ranger]

X2 on the brake booster. That's what it sounds like to me as well. I had one go out on my Mustang and I had one put in it that lasted a week. What a scary ride home those two occasions were. Pulling up on my emergency brake proved to be the best option, but I don't think that would work too hot on a Ranger.

Thanks guys, not sure if its an abs issue or not. Im not a great mechanic, how do I check and see if it the hose at the air intake booster? I live on a dirt road so decided to take it for a slow test. The brakes worked fine. Is there a list of things I can check before going to the shop? Mike

To check the booster you need a vacuum pump, which I believe you can rent from Autozone. Basically you pull the line coming off the intake that goes to the booster and hook a vacuum pump up to it. If the vacuum you created holds steady, your booster is good. If you lose the vacuum, your booster is bad.

It sounds like maybe you aren't familiar with where the booster is. It is the black metal casing that your brake fluid reservoir/master cylinder bolts to. On the top of the booster is a large vacuum line coming out of it...... does that make sense?

 

[mike367]

Looks like Im gonna be in over my head, so will have to take it to the shop I have noticed though that it tends to happen when the truck is hot and fully warmed up. Thanks all, Mike