Hello,I'm new to the forums but I have a question to ask you all. So I have a 97 dodge ram 1500 5.2l on a little bit off a lift. I recently bought it, but when I bought it the abs light and parking brake light were on. I've done a lot of fixing up to the truck and replaced the front brake pads, rotors, and sailors but the brakes are still just terrible. It's really difficult to stop the truck and the bakes don't seem to work at all till the pedal is down to the floor, but it still hardly wants to brake and feels like my brakes are going to just lock up. I don't know if this is due to the abs and brake light so I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions. I've already changed the rear speed/abs sensor and it didn't change anything. Also how do I check what abs light I am getting if I don't have a scan tool. Thank you for any and all suggestions

 

Sounds like you either have air in the system or a failed brake booster.

 

How would I go about checking those? 'Ive never had brake troubles like this, so I've never really gotten too involved in brake booster issues

 

OK, is your truck an automatic?

Did you bleed the brakes when you did the work?

Have you inspected your rear drums?

Is your brake fluid Full?

 

Yea my truck is an automatic, I bled the brakes when I changed the pads and I've made sure the reservoir stays full. There doesn't seem to be a leak in any of the lines because I'm not losing any fluid from the reservoir either. I haven't checked the rear drums yet, but hopefully I'll get to them sometime soon

 

Are the rears adjusted up? Did you bleed the rears as well?

And, what are "sailors"? (in reference to brakes.....)

 

Stupid auto correct put sailors instead of callipers.. but I haven't gotten around to checking the rears to see if they need replacing or adjusting, I need to do that and I might try just replacing all the rear brake components and bleeding the whole system. I just wasn't sure if the rears would cause such a substantial difference in braking performance, or if the fact my abs is acting up would cause it too

 

Rear brake adjustment determines pedal height where brakes actually start doing something.

The brake line running along the frame to the rear likes to rust out and break. The leak isn't always immediately noticeable, till the fluid actually starts running down where you can see it.

Need to take a good look at the rear brakes, see what things look like, and fix any deficiencies. Get the mechanical part of the brake system working as it should, and see if the ABS lite is even still on.

 

https://dodgeforum.com/forum/2nd-gen...lowed-128.html i got the same issue. dont forget to take pics of the repair to help us out.

 

Yea I'm just gonna change everything on the rear brakes even if some pieces look reusable, and I bought a set of heavy duty wagner shoes for extra stopping power. I have to wait for the shoes to come in before I can change anything but ill be sure to take plenty of pictures to help anyone else out, might take a week to get it all done though with all the stuff I have to do other than that. Ill also let you know if it en ds up solving the issue (hopefully it does!)