FordExcursions.com Forums
absolutezero273c
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• Toledo, OH, USA |
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• Registered on 4/9/2004 |
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• 81 posts |
• 1 Vehicle
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 Posted:4/13/2008 11:23 |
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I've seen a number of posts regarding soft brakes but only stumbled upon one http://www.thedieselstop.com/forums/f27/soft-brakes-169144/ that really seems to fit my scenario. The only problem is I've changed my brake fluid.
I bought my truck with 92K miles and brakes appeared to be fine. Somewhere after 1 year I changed the front and rear pads, replaced the front calipers, turned the front and rear rotors and flushed the old fluid and replaced with ATE Blue synthetichttp://www.tirerack.com/brakes/ate/ate_superblue_fluid.jsp.
Ever since then the peddle seems to be "soft" sometimes. "Soft" meaning I need to pump the brakes to firm the peddle and achieve better stopping power.
I would have thought that meant I had air in the lines. But I have bled the brakes 2 more times and that has not helped.
I've also confirmed that I don't have any fluid leaks.
I'm at a loss now thinking it might be my master cylinder. But I see that the cause of some "soft" peddle issues might be related to old/dirty/contaminated fluid in the hydro-boost http://www.babcox.com/editorial/bf/bf030542.htm system or maybe an issue with the abs valving system. Yet another thought entered my mind that the synthetic brake fluid might be causing issues. I see that it was mentioned in this post http://www.thedieselstop.com/forums/f27/soft-brakes-169144/ that it could be the brake hoses between the steel lines and the calipers.
My truck has 145,000 miles on it now. I can see where flushing the fluid from the power steering might be beneficial as I did drain and replace a portion of that with clean and it seemed to help the power steering, since it appears those systems are tied together.
Is there a "normal" life expectancy of brake hoses to the calipers?
Has anyone else replaced their brake fluid with synthetic and experienced this, or any other issues?
2001 Excursion XLT 7.3L 2x4 145K
2001 Flagstaff 829-BHS |
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Lance19555
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• Indianapolis, IN, USA |
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• Registered on 8/2/2005 |
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• 21 posts |
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Posted:4/13/2008 12:04 |
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when you bled the brakes,and changed the calipers you may have to do bleed the brakes several times. Best to use a power brake bleeder. I like the one by motive products. Works well and wont break the bank.
Not to sound silly, but, ifthe order in which you started will also affect pedal responce. Meaning when you bleed them the order should be this Right rear, left rear, Right Front, Then last Left Front (driver side).
In additoin, I have found that the stupid caliper pins if you use the recommed caliper grease ford says to use is junk. I have been using mobil one syn grease, red. You can get tube at auto zone. I have found that in 150K + miles that I have had no problems with sticking caliper pins. Trust me I smoked three sets of rotors under the 36K mile warnty. I got fed up and tried this. No problems since.
Also, remember that while this is a hydro boost brake system, you have to run tranny fluid in the power steering pump. You can switch it over to mobil 1 Atf synethic no problem.
I really think you have air still in the system, and two, it could be the fuild. Id lean more toward the air though in the system. Im no expert here, but I dont see how one could bleed the brakes with out a power bleeder. Only by the design nature of the system.
Hope this helps
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absolutezero273c
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• Toledo, OH, USA |
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• Registered on 4/9/2004 |
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• 81 posts |
• 1 Vehicle
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Posted:4/13/2008 12:35 |
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Thanks, Lance19555. I wasn't aware that they needed to be bled in a specific order.
I've always used that red syn grease on the caliper pins, too. And the qt of fluid I put in the power steering was Mobil 1 Syn ATF, too. I've actually got 3-4 quarts of Mobil 1Syn ATF so I can flush the system soon.
The bleeder I used is one of those tubes with the check ball at the end so it doesn't let air back into the system.
2001 Excursion XLT 7.3L 2x4 145K
2001 Flagstaff 829-BHS |
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aklim
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• Hartford, WI, USA |
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• Registered on 2/20/2006 |
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• 133 posts |
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Posted:4/13/2008 16:55 |
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My lines were weak so the SS braided hoses did help quite a bit
01 Excursion. Gauges with AIH Delete, AIS Air Filter system, CCV Mod, 4' MBRP, BTS Trans, 6.0L Trans Cooler and Intercooler, DP-Tuner F6 chip, ITP In Tank Mod and Boost Annihilator, Diesel Innovation's Regulated Fuel kit, BTS Big Oil system, GTP38R Turbo with 1.15 A/R housing and BDP Stage II AC injectors. Bilstein Shocks with U code front and A code Rear. Billet thermostat housing |
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