Soft brakes

[Drew60diesel]

I have a 2005 F250 6.0 4x4 and my brake pedal is really soft. seems like i have to stand on it to make a quick stop while empty. makes a creeking noise sometimes from the pedal when i push it. i have bleed the lines but it did not help. it has been like this since i can remember but i dont think it was like that when our company bought it new. any ideas??

[TooManyToys]

With those size tires in your signature?

A couple things could be happening. You very well could have a piston or two on either the front or rear calipers hanging up and not providing full clamping pressure. Sliding pins that are frozen can also impede full braking, so that needs to be checked, too.

Air that has migrated into the ABS controller will not be bleed out just by bleeding. You either need to use a scanner that can activate the ABS circuitry, or go out on a slippery surface and activate the ABS a few time just before bleeding.

Over time, friction material that has not been "worked" tends to have more organics on it's rubbing surface, so three or four 50 to 20 mph stops in a row tends to wear this off and develop the higher temperatures to regain a good carbon surface.

[scott52575]

did you use a power bleeder if not your wasting time too......25.00 at harbor freight

[Drew60diesel]

Originally Posted by TooManyToys

With those size tires in your signature?

A couple things could be happening. You very well could have a piston or two on either the front or rear calipers hanging up and not providing full clamping pressure. Sliding pins that are frozen can also impede full braking, so that needs to be checked, too.

Air that has migrated into the ABS controller will not be bleed out just by bleeding. You either need to use a scanner that can activate the ABS circuitry, or go out on a slippery surface and activate the ABS a few time just before bleeding.

Over time, friction material that has not been "worked" tends to have more organics on it's rubbing surface, so three or four 50 to 20 mph stops in a row tends to wear this off and develop the higher temperatures to regain a good carbon surface.

well like i said it has been that way since i can remember. long before the new lift and 37's. does that matter?

[Drew60diesel]

anyone else have any ideas?

[summitrider]

Here's one you'll need a buddy for...
check to see if the flex lines going to the calipers are bulging. takes the wheels off... or one at a time. Start the engine and have someone press the brakes. look and feel the flex line to see if it bulges out. if it does replace it. all the pressure could be going int a bulge instead of to the brakes.

[Drew60diesel]

Originally Posted by summitrider

Here's one you'll need a buddy for...
check to see if the flex lines going to the calipers are bulging. takes the wheels off... or one at a time. Start the engine and have someone press the brakes. look and feel the flex line to see if it bulges out. if it does replace it. all the pressure could be going int a bulge instead of to the brakes.

i had a buddy suggest steel braided brake lines. is this the same deal with the bulging line?

[summitrider]

Ya in a nutshell if you have that problem the will fix it... won't hurt even if that's not the problem

[Drew60diesel]

ok cool thanks!

[mmccraney]

I have noticed this recently on my truck too - that noise from the brake pedal. My dads 00 doesn't do it so I know its not something inherent to hydraboost. My pedal seems to be slightly soft as of late as well. I was going to get some pads, have the rotors cut and service the calipers and see what happened...