Very Soft Break Pedal

[BryanG]

Just picked up a 2000 4.0 Ranger for my son with 117k miles. Only major concern I have so far is the break pedal is very soft and you have to push it pretty far down for it to apply the brakes. Anyone have an idea to help correct this? Do the lines need bled, could they have air in the lines? Bad master cylinder? Just looking for ideas where to start. Thanks!!!

 

[mooty]

Just picked up a 2000 4.0 Ranger for my son with 117k miles. Only major concern I have so far is the break pedal is very soft and you have to push it pretty far down for it to apply the brakes. Anyone have an idea to help correct this? Do the lines need bled, could they have air in the lines? Bad master cylinder? Just looking for ideas where to start. Thanks!!!

I would start by inspecting your brakes. Jack it up and have a look at the internals of your drums and calipers. While you've got access to each brake, and assuming no brake fluid leaks or other issues, bleed em.

 

[BryanG]

Found the cause. No fluid in the resivor = broken rear drivers side great line. Now for the fun of replacing it.

 

[RonD]

That would do it

Another thing that can happen is that people often don't use the emergency brake(parking brake), especially in automatics.

There are only two ways rear brake shoes can be adjusted, outside of pulling out the rubber plug on the backing plate and doing it manually.
1. use Parking brake often, this rotates the Star wheel and keeps rear shoes close to drums
2. back up and stop using the regular brakes, this also rotates the Star wheel.

In regular driving the rear shoes just wear down and more and more fluid is needed to push them out enough to hit the drums, soft pedal.

If brake pedal feels soft hold out the Park Brake release handle and pump the Parking brake pedal, you should feel it tighten up, and the regular brake pedal along with it.