98 Dodge 2500 Brake Problem

Soft peddle would mean--nothing good, remote possibility would be really old brake fluid with possible condensation acts just like a brake system with air in it (not bled out). You can check the brake booster easily by simply pushing the brake down with the engine off, turn the engine on and it should make the pedal depress much quicker. I guess if you were going down a steep hill for 20 minutes the whole system would have been very hot especially if you were not able to gear down very well where the rotors/pads would be smoking and possibly not as effective, which heat would transfer to the fluid in the calipers and possibly making the fluid boil. That is one reason to change the fluid as it gets older the specific heat drops meaning that it boils at lower heat than it should. Along these lines http://www.stoptech.com/tech_info/wp_brakefluid_1a.shtml Hope that helps!

BINGO!

Its called fade. Here are some ways to combat it.
When you turn the rotors they get thin, causing them to heat quicker and get hotter. Never turn your rotors, always buy new ones.
Stay away from ceramic pads on your trucks, they take the heat off of the rotor but in turn give it to the caliper.
Flush your system, change the fluid. I do it every five years.


Another problem that is specific to Dodge 2500 and 3500 trucks is their proportioning front to rear. i've seen them wear out set after set of front pads without even touching the rear shoes. You can install smaller wheel cylinders to provide more travel and pressure to make the rear brakes work more and take some of the heat off the front.


It's a scary feeling when you cant stop, it happened to me driving from soldier creek damn down to the river on that switchback. I thought i was gonna die!!!!!! :not-worthy [-o< [-o< [-o< :not-worthy

Awesome link Huge!!!! thanks alot! I'll be using that one often. =D>

Huge29 good info and awesome link thanks for posting it.