Too much brake...

[Von Baron]

I own a 2006 Sport and I believe the last owner altered the braking, as it seems they did more off road than highway. Everytime I brake, I have to be very careful and not apply to hard, or the truck will lock up and send myself and any passenger through the windshield... This is very annoying and dangerous... Not a normal situation. The truck has front disc and rear drum. I have never had any vehicle that braked like this. Any ideas???

 

[srteach]

Bleed the brakes. Start with the brake farthest from the brake reservoir. It sounds like you may have water or other contamination in the system.

 

[fastpakr]

Eh? How would water/contamination cause an issue like that?

 

[Earl43P]

EVERY time I have encountered grabby front brakes.....the root of the problem has been that the rear shoes are out of adjustment and doing none of the work.

An easy way to tell if that is the case, push the parking brake several clicks and try the pedal brake. This will spread the rear shoes outward and give them some stopping power. If you find that corrects the issue, you need to figure out why the rears aren't self-adjusting.

Most times, you'll find that the self-adjuster star wheel is corroded frozen. Replace them if that is the case. I found the best deal in the world is the brake kit at AutoZone. Something like $6 for new springs, mounts and adjuster.

Another tip is to regularly use the parking brake, since that actuates the self-adjusters. Another tip is to drive in reverse and apply the pedal brake vigorously, several times. That will also keep them adjusted.

Note that the star adjusters are side-specific. Putting a Left on the Right wheel will cause it to loosen instead of tighten. You would not be the first person to find that "problem".

 

[Von Baron]

Thanks Earl...
My E brake does not "click" persay, it just pushes down, so I pushed the E brake down a bit and hit the brakes. I felt as if some play went away. I drove the truck and noticed a big difference. It brakes normally... I guess I have to rebuild the rear brakes with new parts. The underside looks as if the preowner did alot of off roading and how he put an 8 inch gash through the bed I dont know... looks as if someone slammed a shovel through the metal box!!
Thanks for the help!!