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boomer
Dodge Dakota
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2/18/2007
09:13:18
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 Subject: BRAKE QUESTION
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Kinda a dumb question but I have to ask.. A couple days ago I was driving and I had to stop for a traffic light. While I was stopping the brake pedal was fine initially, but all of a sudden it was like there was air in the line or something. I checked the brake fluid, it was kinda low so I filled it back to the full mark. Well, it's happened a couple more times since then and the fluid level is low again.
Do I just have a leak somewhere? Or is there air in the line or something like that? I still get good pedal resistance, it doesn't go to the floor every time I push on it, but sometimes when I'm slowing down, like push on the brakes then release then push on them again, it goes to the floor, then its fine again a second later. I'm very confused. I checked all the lines under the hood. Like off the reservoir and off the ABS system. I even had my buddy look at the fittings on all 4 wheels to see if I had a loose fitting or something. no leaks we can see. granted its winter and its always wet outside and the underside of the truck is wet because of it, it does make it harder to see stuff like that. hopefully I find out what it is soon. Thanks in advance for any help.
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little jer
Dodge Dakota
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2/18/2007
12:44:12
|  RE: BRAKE QUESTION
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If the resevoir is low you could be losing fluid through leaky wheel cylinders or somewhere else in the grsake lines. If wheel cylinders are leaky you may notice it on your wheels. Check the lines going from frame to wheels, especially if u have had a lift kit installed. You will usually get the pedal to the floor when the fluid is low. I think when I had that problem with my jeep it was a bad master cylinder. Safety is involved so get it checked double pronto.
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Pacrat
Dodge Dakota
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2/18/2007
21:39:00
| RE: BRAKE QUESTION
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Sounds like a bad master cylinder to me. Could have a internal leak. I have had two like that in the last 40 years.
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boomer
Dodge Dakota
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2/19/2007
06:48:24
| RE: BRAKE QUESTION
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thanks guys. I'll check my wheels after work, hopefully it's not the master cylinder. wouldn't surprise me if it was. I've noticed compared to all the other trucks i've driven, the brakes in my 98 suck. my buddy has an 2000 f150 and the second I put any pressure on the pedal there's instant grab. but in my truck i push the pedal in about a 1/4 the way before any brakes are applied. maybe the master cylinder has been bad for a long time. anybody else have that in there truck?
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little jer
Dodge Dakota
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2/19/2007
13:55:34
| RE: BRAKE QUESTION
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have that in my 99' Dak. The brakes suck compared to my 01' Durango. Took it to the dealer and they said they were working to specs. Ha! that's reassuring. Next time i have my brakes checked I'll see if the fronts are worn more than the back or vice versa. Could be a proportioning valve out. I can swear they were't that way when I first got it. But then it could have been a cheap Meineke brake job too. I think George personally did mine lol.
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boomer
Dodge Dakota
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2/20/2007
06:24:49
|  RE: BRAKE QUESTION
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Well, I found the leak. It's comming from the right rear wheel. I didn't have access to my tools yesterday so I couldn't even take my tire off. I'm assuming it's the wheel cylinder. I've never replaced one before, anyone know how difficult it can be? Scary thing is, it lost so much fluid yesterday I got air in my lines. I have to use my emergency brake and pump my other brake so I can stop. I've been downshifting to slow down and rolling in neutral when its time to stop. wish I had a manual trans! driving to my cousins house should be fun later. I couldn't afford to call off work so I had to drive it today. I dont recommend it at all.
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Bob Lincoln
Dodge Dakota
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2/20/2007
08:22:00
| RE: BRAKE QUESTION
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Hope you don't kill anyone. It's stupid to drive with known bad brakes. Nothing is that important that you have to risk everyone else's lives.
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boomer
Dodge Dakota
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2/21/2007
12:45:25
| RE: BRAKE QUESTION
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thanks bob
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boomer
Dodge Dakota
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2/25/2007
09:17:24
| RE: BRAKE QUESTION
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well, replaces both wheel cylinders. had to replace some brake line too because it wouldn't unscrew from the wheel cylinder without bending and breaking. Replaced the brake shoes too. drum brakes suck, why don't these trucks just come with 4 wheel disc?
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GRETCH
Dodge Dakota
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2/26/2007
06:33:18
| RE: BRAKE QUESTION
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Boomer, some of the dakotas do come with disc brakes all around, you just gotta look for them. I have them on my 2003 slt quad cab. I think for 2005 and newer they dropped the option of discs all around, not sure though.
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boomer
Dodge Dakota
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2/27/2007
06:27:09
| RE: BRAKE QUESTION
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thats cool. I have a 98, I don't think they had the option then either. What is the difference from the 97-98 and 99-up? I know my fog light switch is different, it's not 1 switch for headlights and foglights, its a pull knob for headlights and pushbutton for fog lights, that I dont have and cant find the switch for it anywhere. other then that the only thing I've noticed is the o-sh*t handles on the A-piller that arent on mine. I think there's a kit to convert drum to disc but don't know if it's worth it.
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GRETCH
Dodge Dakota
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2/27/2007
07:10:28
| RE: BRAKE QUESTION
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I had a 99 previous to my 03. The 99 had more gauges and a better defrost. The vents on the 99 were placed in scattered spots under the windshield, where as the vent for the 03 is placed in the middle which I think is poor design. Other than that, there was not much changes besides the update on the interior. I think they might have dropped one of the engines or added a new one somewhere in that era, not sure though.
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