I was driving my 97 Dodge 1500 4x4 on a highway when someone cut me off. I slammed on the brakes and had to put the pedal to floor. After I started to drive again the brake light and abs light came on and stayed on. I still have some brake power but it seems as though the hydraulics are shot. I'm sure there are other threads on this but want to be sure when I fix this because these are the brakes.

 

check your rear steel lines near the gas tank, they rust out and you might have blown that line out.
the combination valve is still giving your fronts a little bit of pressure, but at this stage to be safe, I would also check your master cyl, and all your lines.

 

Is there fluid in the resivor, if so monitor it and make sure it stays, before the incident were your brakes at full power.

Assuming I am able to take the knowledge I have from the brake system on my JEEP and apply it here, I would Check for leaks, around the rotor or drum area for a bad wheel cylinder, and check the Master Cylinder, but assuming you have power brakes you may find that you are losing fluid but with no visible leaks, it is probally leaking into you power booster.


The fact that you were able to take it to the floor you must have REALLY stood on it, so you may have ruptured something. I would not play around and milk this as like you said they are the brakes I did this and ended up blowing the *** en out of a MC and almost rear ending a 240sx.

 

the brakes were at full power before the incident. the only problem is that i'm working withe one hand thanks to a fractured bone. i'm gonna run to an auto zone and see if they can't help me pinpoint the problem but may be forced to take it into a shop if its a bigger problem.

 

When you say you get some brake power, does it get more power if you stomp on it agan and then gradually lose power, or is the pedal really soft, check the rear drums, near the top of them where the line goes in, and see if it looks wet, if so it is a wheel cylinder.

Brakes are easy if you are patient with them, and have a friend to help. Just trace the system back to find the problem. They are also VERY expensive to get done at a shop and a quite usually a farily simple solution.

 

i had brake power in the second half of the motion when i press the brakes. i looked underneath today and the only wet spot i found was near the back of the gas tank but i couldnt find any leaks in the line.

 

the brake line to the back near the gas take goes in to the frame. you might not be able to see it. do a forum seach, you might find more on this common brake line issue.

 

that rear main brake line is in a bad spot wear salt and moisture build up and can't leave and eventually rust out if that line breaks u want have pedal . mine blew out last year and i had no pedal at all had to drive slow and throw to neutral and e-brake stop it back home if your not loosing fluid could be master cylinder hope you find the problem

 

If the pedal goes to the floor its a hydrolic type issue, like the master cyl, collapsed line, blown out seal/line.
If the pedal is hard to push, its the booster.