I just replaced the front and rear brakes and now when I pump them up the pedal gets hard but barely stops the truck. Just hitting them normal the truck stops fine. I don't think I have a vacuum leak, maybe the vacuum pump is weak?

 

Did your bleed your lines out? Could have air in them if your disconnected the lines.

 

Didn't disconnected the lines. I'm starting to think that there might be trash in the lines. I'll probably try to flush all the old fluid out of the brake system while adding fresh fluid in the reservoir.

 

Yea that might work, did that on an old p/u I had, worked like a charm. Clean out the reservoir first with a clean shop rag or something though, get all the dirt an crap outta there.

 

It wouldn't be a vacuum leak these diesel trucks use the power steering pump for the brake booster.

 

Negative. 96's have vacuum operated power brake booster. 97s up have hydroboost.

ask how i know.

 

My bad, sorry about that had no idea they were different I retract my previous statement.

 

LOL..its all good. caught me by surprise too.

pretty much, from what i can tell. is if you have a 2nd gen ctd, and a 47rh trans it got vacuum brakes.

if you have the 47re, it has hydroboost.

lots of mix matching went on in those first few transitional years.

 

I have a 47RE with vacuum brakes. Still not sure whether I like the vacuum or hydro better.

The brakes have gotten a LOT better now but I'm still going to bleed them out good this weekend. They are still a little too soft so hopefully that will fix them.