Right now I am 15 and for years now there has been a 1996 dodge ram 1500 v8 4wd with a lift kit and all sitting on my parents property apparently they stopped driving it regularly sometime around 2005 and it has sat until I recently took an interest in it. I have changed the oil new plugs new battery and fresh gas and it runs just fine but the brakes are horrible when I push on the brake pedal its like standing on sponge cake the brake fluid was topped off and the system bled. I don't really know much about breaks so that's why I am here asking if anyone has any suggestions on what might be wrong with them and approximately how much it would cot to have them fixed?
Also when the truck is warmed up the transmission has a hard time changing gears is this a sign it needs a rebuild or is it something simpleish?

 

If it sat for that long, the pads and shoes are probably shot and/or the calipers/drum mechanisms are seized/rusted. I would pull the wheels off and inspect the brakes. Make sure in the front that the calipers still slide on the pins and in the back check all the linkages and springs, lube them up. You dont want to mess around with potentially faulty brakes. Check the fluid level in the trans. Welcome to DF. Check out the DIY/FAQ's section, in there you will find answers to most all your questions and read the plenum sticky for important info.

 

If the shoes in the rear drums aren't adjusted up right, it will give you a soft pedal also, even on a truck that hasn't been sitting. They are supposed to be self adjusting, but may need manual adjustment. Do a thorough inspection as already mentioned.

 

soft or spongy brakes might indicate air or water in the brake lines.

bleed the brakes repeatedly to achieve a complete flush of all the lines and master cylinder. refill the master cylinder after every few cycles and don't let it run dry or you have to start over. it'll take a couple of quarts to get a full flush. put a small hose over the end of the bleeder and dump the fluid into a bucket or jar. use a small wrench to open/close the bleeder. dump the fluid regularly so you can tell when it begins to flush clean instead of dirty. do rears first, then front.

if that doesn't do it, then you have leaking seals at master cylinder or wheels. if you pump the brakes up and then the pedal sort of s-l-o-w-l-y sinks, its master cylinder. start there next.

transmission: search and read on governor pressure sensor and solenoid. get the borg warner. lots on info on here.