I have an 05 Dodge Dakota SLT, 4x4, V8 with 65K. Ever since I bought it new, the brakes feel weak. I had a nearly complete brake rebuild (master cylinder, brake booster, front rotors, calipers, pads, rear pads) at 40ish K with no fix. I have brought it to 2 different dealers and they do not feel the weakness. As long as the truck stops, it's good for them. As for me, it seems to take me pushing nearly half way down before I feel the brakes grabbing, slightly. Any ideas? Is this a common concern on these trucks?

 

does she stop when you want her to?

 

does the pedal pulse or anything? or is it like nothing til about half way.

 

I used to think my brakes were weak, fadey, and generally crap. Then I found an easy solution which seem to magically fix them overnight (literally). I've been helping a buddy of mine plow snow and he's been putting me in either his F-550 util body or F-350 QC dually to push all this white terror we've been getting. After a night of plowing with the mushy brakes in either one of those trucks, when I jump back in mine to drive home my brakes feel like Brembos! Brake problem solved. Haha

Seriously though, the brakes on the Gen III's are mediocre, at best. I owned 2 Gen II's with 4 wheel discs and they both stopped tremendously better than either of my Gen III's.

 

My '05 had what I considered weak brakes also. My solution was EBC rotors and Hawk pads on the front. I probably should have gone with the EBC pads but the Hawk pads are certainly better than stock. I will eventually replace them with EBC pads.

 

My 07 hasnt made me feel that way...

 

My 07' stop on a dime!!!

 

My truck has a problem like that. It feals like the rear brakes arent even grabbing. At high speeds the pedal pulses. I always replace the rotors whenever I have the brakes done. I also use creamic pads which dramaticy helped my brake dust problem.

Im looking into the rear disk brake conversion kit that blown found a little while back.

As soon as I see a good review on it I will most likley install it.

 

Mine were perfect and grabbed right at the top of the pedal for the first 3 years I had it. Now its a tiny bit softer but will need pads soon.

Perhaps there is air in the line, causing the mushy feeling. When its time for pads, have the shop use the pressure system to bleed and refill the fluid, and it should be nice and tight again.

 

Is this a new problem? Has it come about suddenly? Gradually? Have you changed the pads out recently?

It could be that you need new pads.
It could be that you changed the pads, but there is a bubble in the line.
It could be you're out of fluid.
It could be that your master cylinder is bad (I just changed mine... not as bad as you might think).
It could be that one of your lines has a leak - watch your fluid levels and check for oil anywhere. I replaced two lines while i was doing the master cylinder because the design with plastic clips looked like it was wearing into the line, AND the line was getting rusty pretty bad right there, so check it out!