Strange breaking problem

["N8"]

Hey guys. Ive been putting off a bunch of work on my truck for a while, one of which has been the breaks. For a long time it has felt like I don't get any sort of vacuum assist out of the booster. When I depress the pedal it sinks far to the floor before I feel the breaks engage, and then I will have to apply an unreasonable amount of pressure to keep it stopped while on a steep incline.

This has been fine till recently, I was on the highway and without even touching the breaks something started slamming at about what sounded like once per rotation of the wheel. It was a loud metal on metal sound and I could feel it very easily through the body and steering wheel. When I depressed the pedal even just a little bit the noise would increase in volume, and rate of fire.

The fix for the problem was to engine break to a stop and put the pedal to the floor hard. After that maneuver I got about another 30 miles till it happened again. I repeated this process a couple times and it went away.

I figure I just need to go through the entire system and maybe I need a new booster. But I had hoped someone might have insight as to what may have caused the problem so I could focus my attention on that issue.

Thanks guys.

 

[Family 40's]

It sounds like you have a few issues but I would guess one of them be the brake booster. I know mine is going out, though my booster only acts up in cold weather, well then again 20 to 30 below does wierd things to any vehicle. I have flushed the brakes, bled them but still acted up when it was cold. My pedal sounds like it was having the same issues as yours Don't have any problem during temperatures above zero, so I'm not too worried about it now. Not sure about the slamming though?... Let us know what you find, will be interesting to see what problems you may be having...

Good luck

-Kyle

 

[Bogo]

Sounds like something is loose. Front? Rear? Can't tell?

Have you checked you lug nuts and bolts?

Brake mounting bolts loose or broken so it flops around?

I'd check the wheel bearings and wheel nut too.

A general suspension check should also be done.

 

["N8"]

Ive done all the simple checks. breaks are all mounted, bearings are good nothin really movin around wot shouldn't be.

seems like it the noise may be front passenger side but its possible its driver side also.

Just about to take her for a few hundred miles to go visit my grandmother. Hopefully i wont be engine breaking every 30 miles. =)

 

[Bogo]

Engine or transmission mount broken or worn out?

Could something be worn internal to the axle? Is this with hubs locked or unlocked?

 

["N8"]

The hubs are unlocked. I doubt the tranny mount is busted as I just swapped a new one in. Did I mention that with the slamming noise I feel a coinciding pressure through the pedal?

I figure because of this its gotta be something break related, but im not 100% on that one.

 

[Family 40's]

Do you feel the slamming noise when you are stopped and depress the pedal or just while you are moving?

 

["N8"]

only while moving...

 

[Bogo]

I feel it almost has to be something like a wheel bearing or loose suspension part.

 

[raydouble]

x2 on the brake booster,
Also look around for bloated rubber brake lines.

I had similar issues with a early nineties Celica.

 

[Family 40's]

Is the brake fluid clean? You could try and flush then refill the brake fluid first see if that helps with the problem, then open all your bleeders let them drip for until it comes out clean, just make sure the reservoir doesn't go empty.

When I did this this past winter it helped with my problem. Its a cheap start. And if that doesn't fix the problem then try the booster. Doesn't hurt to try something cheap before you dig deeper into your pocket.