Hard brake pedal

PSD ADAM · Feb 28, 2016

Hey everyone.
Need some help here. Today I drove my 97 f250 and parked it. I went to move it 10 min later and my brake pedal was hard as a rock and truck had no assisted brakes. I shut it down and did what I needed to to do. I then started assessing the issue, hard brake pedal. I took the hose off the booster and there is vacume, it pulsates and sucked my thumb in to the end of the hose. Now I took it for a drive and noticed I would have assisted brakes for a one time use, if I let off and push again it's hard as a rock and then a couple more pumps and I have assist then hard pedal again. I do not hear the hissing from the booster when the pedal is pressed. If I stop at a stop light with the assist and slowly let up to creep forward and try to push the pedal back down its hard again. Also the e brake light came on but went off after a while. Brake fluid level is good.

Bugman · Feb 28, 2016

Using your thumb isn't the proper way to see if you have enough vacuum. You need a gauge to to it.

I'm not sure just what it is suppose to pull but I am sure that it is posted somewhere here on the forums.

PSD ADAM · Feb 28, 2016

Yeah i know a gauge is what I'll need to narrow it down. But I also just noticed that the vac pump is all shiny compared to the rest of the engine, so I believe it has been changed at some point. I have read the after market ones tend to go bad fast than the originals.

cpdad93 · Feb 28, 2016

I am on my third or fourth vac pump. The Ford one didn't last any longer than the nampa one.

PSD ADAM · Feb 28, 2016

Third or fourth in how long? How many miles?

cpdad93 · Feb 28, 2016

330,000

PSD ADAM · Feb 29, 2016

I only have 147k on my clock and this looks like it will be the 3rd one!
The previous owner had it replaced at 119k. Only 27k on it and went bad, hopefully this is not a on going issue every 30k miles.

cpdad93 · Feb 29, 2016

I had one last about two weeks but don't count that one in my 3 or 4...

Thatchevyguy · Feb 29, 2016

I've just started having the same problem of the brake pedal being super hard to press down. It just started this. Is the vaccum pump the only thing this could be? or is there something else that could be causing this? Just dont want to replace it and not have that be the problem. Thanks

PSD ADAM · Mar 1, 2016

It's most likely vac pump from all the threads I have read, but possibly the booster. From what I've read you need a vac gauge to be certain
I'm 99% sure mine is the pump

Thatchevyguy · Mar 1, 2016

Im having the exact same symptoms that you are so I guess ill start by looking in to finding a gauge and checking the pump.

Thatchevyguy · Mar 2, 2016

I pulled the old one off tonight. And am going to get a new one tommorow. I'll keep ya posted as to if that was the problem .

PSD ADAM · Mar 2, 2016

Cool thanks. I'm going to be doing mine Friday

Thatchevyguy · Mar 3, 2016

Sorry I'm a day late but I just didn't have time yesterday. But it was the vacuum pump that was shot. Was really easy to replace. I got a napa one so we'll see how long it lasts.

cpdad93 · Mar 4, 2016

if you are unsure if its bad, take the belt off and turn it by hand. if you can, its most likely bad.

PSD ADAM · Mar 4, 2016

Thanks for the update. I'll be doing mine this evening

PSD ADAM · Mar 5, 2016

Yup vac pump was bad. Only pulling 8 on the gauge not even close to 20. Took it off and the pully just spins like a idler pully would.

Hard brake pedal

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