I'm seeing if anyone has encountered this yet? I noticed a few little oil leaks in my driveway. All the same size and all about 5"-6" in diameter. Once I realized that they were fresh (there's alot of leaks on my drive!!!), I looked to see where they came from.Bolted to theback of the master brake cylinder is a high pressure vacum unit. Appearantly this supplies the vacum for both the brakes and the power steering. If you look you will see 2 lines going from it to the steering pump. This thing was gushing oil from the under side of the unit!!!! Upon further messing around I put a bit of pressure on the brake and the pedal went to the floor... repeatedly. I don't live far from the dealer, so 1st gear and a foot on the e-brake I rolled on in. Turns out it's about $750 in parts and $250 in labour. My truck is an 04 1/2 (604 engine) and 60,800 miles. Seems way to suspect for a mass failure like this with no recource on the warrany.

Thanks,

swede

 

WOW that SUCKS !!

Not under warranty anymore or what?

 

I would poke around a bit on the warranty. some times the car makers have hidden warranties the dealers choose to ignore. I found that chevby does for some vehicles and problems. contact dodge, another dealer, etc.

good luck.

 

Or take it somewhere other than the dealer if the warranty is expired, if its out of warranty it is YOUR truck and YOUR money, or do it yourself...a vaccuum booster is not all that difficult to replace from what I remember, but it has been a while since I did one, and it was not on a Dodge.

 

Nope, not under warranty! Right now I just have to bite the bullet, not enough time to fix myself.

What is the best service manual for the Ram right now? I have to get one (or two or three???)

Thanks

 

This is really starting to bug me now! How is the main brake system designed on this crap when it can spring a leak and disable the truck? I live in the rockies and road trip extensively. I've done about 20,000 miles / year so far. I have never heard of something like this ever happening. I would like to believe that in 100+ years of automotive engineering the brakes would be foolproof by now!!! WTF!

Scenario: Rolling down Vail pass, mile after mile and the brake pedal is nicely tucked up on the firewall???

 

did you try to put a wrench on it to see if something under there was loose? what about a rebuilt unit from Napa?

www.hemitruckclub.com, left side of the page has your manual... free

 

Do it yourself or take it to a local mechanic shop. If it is $750 at the dealer, subtract their markup, you are going to pay probably $9.95 elsewhere.

 

Dealer or No Dealer?



No Dealer! Take it to a local diesel shop the dealer is ripping you off. A steering gear from the dealer is $750, but you can go to a local parts house and get one with a lifetime warranty for $189. I'm sure that the hydro-boost is about the same price range.

 

Steve,

Thanks for the link to the manual.

I'd put a wrench on it if I had one that fit!!! It's mounted up with something I don't have, a 8 sided star looking socket.

Swede