The brake pedal on my 2000 ram 1500 is very hard when you apply the brakes. The front brake pads and calipers are new and the truck stops just fine, its just that the pedal is hard like the brake booster vacuum hose is disconnected. As far as I know there are no vacuum leaks, but I will be checking it again to be sure.

My truck has 168.000 miles on it, could it just be worn out and need replacing ?. How hard is it to replace the brake booster if needed ?, is it just a matter of removing the old booster and installing a new one ?.

 

So it feels like the brake booster is not working? It is possible for the booster diaphragm to fail internally.
Shouldn't be too hard to replace the booster.

 

Is there a way to verify if the booster is bad ?.

 

I found out the hard way that when the booster fails it causes a vacuum leak.

Incidentally, after my booster was replaced and my plenum done, my brakes were great.

Go figure.

 

Taken from the 96 FSM page 195

POWER BOOSTER VACUUM TEST
(1) Connect vacuum gauge to booster check valve
with short length of hose and T-fitting (Fig. 10).
(2) Start and run engine at curb idle speed for one
minute.
(3) Observe the vacuum supply. I f vacuum supply
is not adequate, repair vacuum supply.
(4) Clamp hose shut between vacuum source and
check valve.
(5) Stop engine and observe vacuum gauge.
(6) If vacuum drops more than one inch HG (33
millibars) within 15 seconds, booster diaphragm or
check valve Is faulty.

POWER BOOSTER CHECK VALVE TEST
(1) Disconnect vacuum hose from check valve.
(2) Remove check valve and valve seal from
booster.
(3) Use a hand operated vacuum pump for test.
(4) Apply 15-20 inches vacuum at large end of
check valve (Fig. 11).
(5) Vacuum should hold steady. If gauge on pump
Indicates vacuum loss, check valve is faulty and
should be replaced.