1993 Ford F-150 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

STEEL FIXED BRAKE LINES RUPTURED AS A RESULT OF CORROSION DAMAGE, CAUSING PARTIAL BRAKE FAILURE. THIS IS THE SECOND INCIDENT WITH THIS TRUCK. THE FIRST TIME, THE LINE RUNNING FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER TO THE FITTING NEAR THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL FAILED AT THE FITTING WHERE IT ATTACHED TO THE BRAKE HOSE GOING TO THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL. I HAD AN MY NEIGHBOR WHO WORKS AS A GENERAL MECHANIC REPLACE THAT LINE, AND THE LINE RUNNING TO THE OTHER FRONT WHEEL. FORTUNATELY I WAS ON A PRIVATE ROAD ON MY PROPERTY DRIVING LESS THAN 10 MPH, AND WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE SAFELY WITH THE PARKING BRAKE. A SECOND INCIDENT HAPPENED OCTOBER 18 WHILE DOWN IN GREENBELT, MD WHICH IS ABOUT 50 MILES FROM HOME. THIS TIME I WAS IN A NEARLY EMPTY PARKING LOT WHEN I NOTICED PROBLEMS. I LIMPED TO A NEARBY GAS STATION WHERE I MORE CLOSELY INSPECTED THE BRAKES FOR THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. THIS TIME, THE FAILURE WAS NEAR A FITTING WHERE THE STEEL LINE ATTACHES TO A FITTING WHERE FLEXIBLE HOSE WHICH RUNS TO THE LINES ON THE REAR AXLE ATTACHES TO THE FIXED LINE IN THE BODY OF THE TRUCK. SAME FAILURE DIFFERENT PLACE. THE GAS STATION'S SERVICE BAYS WERE CLOSED, SO I DECIDED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO MY NEIGHBOR'S GARAGE AGAIN, WHERE WE WILL REPLACE THE REST OF THE LINES. THE ISSSUE ISN'T SO MUCH THE COST OF REPAIRING THE RUSTY BRAKE LINES, WHICH SHOULD NOT BE MORE THAN 100 DOLLARS IN PARTS AND SEVERAL HOURS OF LABOR ON THE PART OF MY NEIGHBOR AND MYSELF, BUT THE POTENTIAL THAT THE FAILURE COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A SERIOUS, IF NOT DEADLY ACCIDENT HAD THE CIRCUMSTANCES BEEN SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT. I REALIZE THIS IS AN OLDER VEHICLE NOW, BUT I HAVE NOT HEARD OF OTHER VEHICLES OF SIMILAR AGE HAVING THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM. I PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE DONE A MORE THOROUGH INSPECTION OF THE ENTIRE BRAKING SYSTEM AFTER THE FIRST RUPTURED LINE, BUT NEVERTHELESS THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT FORD NEEDS TO BRING TO THE ATTENTION OF ITS OWNERS BEFORE SERIOUS ACCIDENTS DO OCCUR.

WAS DRIVING 35-40MPH DOWNHILL WHEN A DEER STEPPED OUT ON ROAD, CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES, AND THEY FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE. PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. HAD DOWNSHIFTED, AND ALSO USED EMERGENCY BRAKES. WENT THROUGH STOP SIGNS. FINALLY ,VEHICLE STOPPED. CHECKED VEHICLE OUT, AND NOTICED BRAKE LINE JUNCTION HAD CORRODED AND WAS RUSTY, AND BRAKE FLUID HAD LEAKED OUT. *AK *JB

WHEN DRIVING UNDER WET CONDTIONS REAR BRAKES GRABBED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SLIDE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK *ML

FIRE DEPT THINKS THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER BROKE, SPILLING FLUID ON TO THE HOT ENGINE, CAUSING THE TRUCK TO CATCH ON FIRE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT A MILE AND ABOUT TO APPLY THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE WILL GO TO THE RIGHT AND HAS EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE , WHICH MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. ALSO, DEALER REPLACED CALIPERS/ROTORS, ETC. BEEN TO DEALER 7 TIMES. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK

BRAKES FAILED SEVERAL TIMES.

VEHICLE PARKED IN PARKING LOT. GOT IN & STARTED TO LEAVE PARKING LOT. HAD APPLIED BRAKES TO SLOW UP & HAD NO BRAKES. TURNED OFF VEHICLE & WAITED AWHILE. THEN RESTARTED VEHICLE & HAD BRAKES. TOOK TO DEALER & MECHANIC SAID NOTHING WRONG. HAPPENED AGAIN ON HIGHWAY. REPEATED TURNING OFF/ON & THEN BRAKES. BACK TO MECHANIC & TEST DRIVEN, STILL NOTHING FOUND. *AK

REAR ABS BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING PREMATURE FAILURE OF PADS AND ROTORS.

REPLACED BRAKE PADS.

BRAKE ROTORS WARP AND WEAR THE PADS OUT.

THE BRAKE FLUID LEAKED THROUGH RUBBER HOSE AND DRIPPED DOWN ON FLOOR. BOTH BRAKE HOSES HAS BEEN REPLACED BECAUSE OF LEAKAGE. ONE IN NOVEMBER OF 96, AND THE OTHER IN JANUARY OF 97 AT 36,000 MILES. *AK

FRONT END ROTORS FAILED FOUR TIMES.

OWNER HAS ABS BRAKES. WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AND USING BRAKES THE BRAKE FLUID GETS HOT. OWNER LOST BRAKE PEDAL BECAUSE OF THIS. DEALER CANNOT FIND A PROBLEM. *AK

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE, VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT, TOOK TO DEALER AND HE REPLACED ROTOR/CALIPER . *AK

WHEN DRVING WITHIN THE FIRST (2) OR (3) MILES, IN WET/DAMP WEATHER APPLYING THE BRAKES, THEY LOCK UP AND THE VEHCLE WILL SKID. DEALER CANNOT STATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

CALIPER ON FRONT WHEEL DISK BRAKE FAILED TO RELEASE.

EXPERIENCING BRAKE FAILURE ON COLD MORINGS WHILE THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE IS BELOW 25 DEGREES, WHEN ENGINE COMPARTMENT COOL OFF THE BRAKES DIMINISHES.

WAS DRIVING APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THERE WERE NO BRAKES; FELT FUNNY, COULDN'T STOP, HIT A DITCH AND HIT MOUTH ON THE STEERING WHEEL THIS WAS ON DRY ROAD . *AK

FRONT DISK BRAKES LOCK UP.

ON NORMAL ROAD CONDTIONS WHEN HITTING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE GOES TO LEFT AND THE FRONT END SHIMMIES. TAKEN TO THE SHOP (7) TIMES FOR BRAKES PROBLEMS SINCE OWNING THE VEHICLE IN 1993.. THE SYSTEM HAS ABS. *AK

WHEN DRIVING THE ABS ANTI-LOCK BRAKE AND EMERGENCY LIGHT CAME ON. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ATTEMPED TO STEP ON THE BRAKES AND THE LEFT FRONT WHEELS LOCKED UP. *AK

ABS BRAKE FAILURE, WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, VEHICLE PULLS VERY HARD TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT, WHEN VEHICLE IS EQUIPMENT WITH HEAVY LOAD BRAKES BECOME VERY UNSTABLE. *AK

WITH ABS EQUIPPED ON REAR , UPON APPLICATION FRONT BRAKES WILL LOCK UP, PULLS SEVERELY TO RIGHT AND LOSES CONTROL IMMEDIATELY. TRUCK IN DEALERSHIP 4 TO 5 TIMES WITH NO CHANGE IN CONDITION. *AK

FRONT BRAKE PAD WAS SHATTERED WHEN GETTING WHEEL BEARINGS REPACKED. *AK