Hello to all,

Our 98 Windstar has had most of the problems just like everyone else. The newest is the "hard brake pedal". We had a brake job done last Nov. and up to about a month ago all was fine. Now it seems that the you have to really push hard on the brake pedal to stop and I hear a squeaking ? noise when we press the pedal, more when we have driven it for some time. The garage I go to says I may have a "Brake Booster Vacumn Pump" problem??? Anyone else experience the same problem??? Talking about $1,000.00 !!!! Any help would be appreciated, as I am concerned if my wife drives it and has to panic stop!

Yes, this sounds like a brake booster issue.

But wait! It can be caused by nothing more than a vacuum hose leak (i.e., the booster itself may be fine - but the vacuum it needs to operate may be inconsistent).

Look for vacuum leaks (and listen - when the engine is running, they can whistle). Some Windstar models are noted for vacuum leaks; this isn't a rare problem. Someone more familiar with the '98 layout should chime in soon with likely culprits.

Phil-l Thank you for your reply and I am hoping it is only a vacumn leak. I cannot at this time go for a big expense and we ony have 32k on it. Last Nov. the $500.00 brake job took a big part of our budget, and when informed it could be another $1,000, I really blew my stack! Here is hoping for the vacumn leak.

Only 32K miles on a '98?

I have a hard time believing a bad brake booster at only 32K miles. Yes, I suspect a vacuum leak.

Please let us know what you find out.

Forgive me, but I suspect a poor service job ... your problems are coming too quickly after the service was provided (sold).

Several poor auto service experiences caused me to become a DIY'r .. but not everyone has the time (and temperament, tools, etc, etc) needed for yet another pursuit of modern life's "needs".

I would be more inclined to have you go to another competing brake shop for a system inspection ... they may find something (such as rear brake wear adjustors installed on wrong side, ineffective hand brake cable releases, etc, etc), or they may not. This will cost you a bit, but it may be better than travelling down the lane you are currently in.

Yes 32K on a WS98 --Great shape, real clean, keep in garage, and now sorry we really bought it. Got tired of writing to Ford and getting as I call them "The Ford apeasment scripts" as they would call and then you can actually hear them read from a script! My 87 Mazda pick up I sold in 1998(to buy the WS) had 90k on it and it is still on the road. So here is hoping it is a vacuum leak problem!

It sounds like this guy could use a helping hand from one of the AF DIY'ers. Anyone live around NJ that could spare some time?

Regards

Dan

Thanks to all who have replied to my problem. If I was to try and check myself for a loose brake booster vacuum hose where is that located in the engine compartment or under the engine? Is it easy to find and check?

Thanks to all who have replied to my problem. If I was to try and check myself for a loose brake booster vacuum hose where is that located in the engine compartment or under the engine? Is it easy to find and check?

Hello

Your brake booster is located on the firewall, just behind you brake master cylinder. (where you check and add brake fluid) There should be a 1/2 - 5/8" vacuum hose coming off of it going to the intake manifold.

Lift your hood and start up the engine. Listen...look...feel. You're listening for a sucking noise...you're looking for a hose that is disconected...you're feeling for a loose hose. There may be an other hose off in a different location causing the booster not to get enough vacuum to function.

Regards

Dan

Thanks Dan, I will look at it and see it anything is loose and will check all other hoses also.

Here is a stupid questions also: No chance that anything near the alternator may be causing this loss of booster vacuum? The alternator seems to whine quite loud and changes whine pitch when I press down hard on the brake pedal....did this with the hood up for a test. Just curious if this has any bearing on the problem, probally not.

Certainly adds credence to the leaking booster theory.

I would expect that the booster line is connected, although it could be leaking.
It is a big enough hose, that, if completely disconnected, your engine would stall......or at the very least......not run well at all. (I have had mine off while the engine is running, and have to have a finger over the end to keep the engine running).
My brake booster hose is very spongy.......
If yours is spongy enough....maybe it could collapse when under the vaccum (engine running)....or maybe not seat well at the ends (although the clamps should hold it).
I am not familiar enough with the brake booster.....and have not looked up the inner workings of it.....but.....is there a filter on there that could be clogged? I thought I read a post someplace about a filter that can get clogged....but don't know if it was accurate or not.

I have had experience with vacuum hoses leaking and popping off in Fords. I use zip ties now as hose clamps on all the vacuum lines. Even though your vehicle is not high mileage it does have a few years on it. Over time rubber hoses will become hard and not seal as well as they use to. They may even crack from being exposed from the heat of the engine compartment after a few years. You can spray carb cleaner around the vacuum hoses while the vehicle is running and see if there is a change in the idle. If there is, then you have a vacuum leak. If you are not comfortable doing the diagnostics yourself, then take it to a couple of garages for estimates/opinions.

I looked at the vacuum hoses this morning and found that the hose coming off the intake manifold was very loose and had no clamp on it all, I installed one and the hose is very secure now. I was going to check more but it started to rain so will see what else I find later. Until it is 100% corect I won't let any one drive it but myself. I am just wondering if when they did the brake job they may have caused this and since I never had to "panic stop" since the brake job I never knew. If I get it on a lift maybe they can recheck for me, in the meantime I will pick up some carb cleaner and try the test that was suggested by KimMG
Again Thank you to all that have helped so far!!!

I don't know if this would have a bearing on the booster vacuum problem but not long ago I also had the belt replaced and the trans serviced ie. flushed and new fluid added. Going back to the garage on Monday and will ask them to put van on the lift and recheck everything they had done!

Once again Thank You to ALL that have responded to this problem.

Update: Talked to the owner at the garage we go to and this Wed. at 8AM he will recheck the work that was done, they will put van on the lift and check it all at no charge. He said it may be a booster check valve?????? He also will check all the vacuum hoses to be sure.

Went to the garage today and they did recheck everything - what they found was " Low vacumm suction" so they say. They did install a new " Check Valve" on the Brake Booster. We did a test ride and it does seem to be much better as far as stopping and that squishing noise I would hear when you hit the brake pedal seems to be gone ( for now? ) Only time will tell if this was it, they did say after this if I feel it has the same problem then it would be the Brake Booster and cost $$$$$$$$$$$

On another note, I did take it for the NJ inspection that was due and it PASSED even the brakes! Hmmm time to sell???

Well all that other work did not help at all as I had the same problem as far as stopping! Finally yesterday the WS was at another garage and they checked all the work that was done after test driving the van and felt the same problem I have complaing about. They also said it was NOT the booster at all! They found that the front pads and rotors were new and okay, BUT they found a leaky Brake Master Cylinder switch. They took the rear wheel drum off ( what a job they had - but said that was normal because of a lip on the wheel drum) the rear brakes were uneven but had at least 20% of life yet. So I had them replace the brake switch, rear brakes, flush the brake lines and add new brake fluid and while it was on the lift I had the LOF done. The work is guranteed for 12K or 1 year, I picked up the van and what a difference in stopping! This garage has all my work for now on to say the least. The service are was CLEAN and they also had a clean waiting area with plenty to read and free coffee, and they showed me everything that they found BEFORE I gave the okay to replace the parts.

I just wanted to pass this on and let all now how my brake problem was finallyfixed.