Hi all, I have a 2001 Ram 1500 5.2L 4x4 5 speed. The brakes were great minus one sticky caliper. Just replaced the front calipers because of the sticky one. I successfully bled both, getting solid flow with zero bubbles using the manual method with someone on the brake pedal. However the pedal is still very soft and the truck doesn’t stop well at all. Went to do the rears because google said there could be air back there after doing the fronts. Upon first trying they were bone dry even after several cycles. I ended up opening both rears and pressing the brakes a few times and squirted fluid out of both. Closed both and tried to bleed again. Got next to nothing, but some. Mind you I had the parking brake engaged for all of this, not sure if that affected. I disengaged it after I realized and still got very very little fluid at the rears. Still spongy pedal. I read somewhere that it could be rear ABS module or the proportioning valve, so I cracked the outgoing line on the prop valve and it was dry. Didn’t press the brakes with it open tho. What I don’t understand (among many other things) is how I squirted fluid out the rears and am no longer getting that. I am at a loss currently, I don’t have much luck with brakes. Unless I get some good ideas here I will probably take to to a shop. Thanks guys

 

Given the ago of these trucks, please make sure that one of the metal brake lines hasn't developed a leak from rust, especially the rear metal brake line that snakes down the frame rail by the fuel tank. The rear metal brake line tends to be one that develops a leak from water/mud being kicked up from the rear tire.

If the metal brake lines aren't leaking, you likely just have a good bit of air in the brake system. Once I got a truck brake system bled by using a jug with brake fluid in the bottom of it to cover up a clear 3/16" PVC hose and bleed each wheel (parking brake off) with the bleeder screw opened and attached to the clear PVC hose to get the air out of the brake system. Once that wheel is fully bled, tighten the bleeder screw, remove the PVC hose and move to the next wheel farthest away from the master cylinder.

 

First and foremost, release the parking brake. Otherwise you can't get any movement to track down the problem. I'd also check the rear wheel cylinders. I've noticed over the years many times when sticking wheel cylinders will give a little causing a spongy brake feel but not work. Since you've had one sticky caliper, you might have one or both wheel cylinder sticking. I can think of other things but this is the most common.

 

If you still have your second warm body..... Remove the rear bleeder valves comeplete, clean the threads up nice, put a couple wraps of teflon tape around then, reinstall. Then, starting with the passenger rear, crack the bleeder open a bit, have your helper PUMP the brakes, while you have your finger over the end of the bleeder valve, to keep it from sucking in air. It shouldn't take real long to get fluid back there. Once you have it, if you don't mind the mess, keep pumping till you don't get any more air.