On my way home from work I noticed the brakes were spongy and when stopped you had to keep applying pressure to keep the truck stopped. Then brake light came on also. After I got home the brake fluid was really low so I topped it off. No change in performance, still spongy. The level dropped a bit also.

It's been raining so it's hard to tell if I have any leaks. On other vehicles it's been the master cylinder going bad causing you to have to keep applying pressure to keep the vehicle stopped. This seems to have a leak somewhere else also. Any way to verify it's a bad master cylinder? It may be next week before I have time to look at it due to work and Christmas weekend. I need someone to pump the brakes while I check for leaks. Any tips are appreciated.

 

Bad master won't loose fluid, you have a leak.

I use a parking garage, like at a mall, covered and dry

Have a can of brake fluid, start engine to get power boost, and apply brakes, move vehicle look for the Brake fluid.

Spongy means it most likely is sucking air back in when you let off the brakes
Check inside of rear tires, rear shoes could be thin and you blew out a slave

I have had 2 1990's Rangers get a brake line crack on rear line inside frame rail next to gas tank, you just need to push a new line in thru the frame opening and hook up the ends, it's that or drop the gas tank and do the same thing

 

Rear pads were changed 2yrs ago for the first time and they still had some of left. I'm thinking it could be one of the rear wheel cylinders. If so, I'll replace both and throw in some new pads.

 

I got brake fluid coming out of the drum on he drivers side rear. Is it safe to say I got a busted wheel cylinder or do I need to pull the hub to verify? I might as well replace both cylinders and throw on some new brake pads.

 

Do I have 9" or 10" rear brakes?

RockAuto Mobile Catalog

 

Supercab 4x4 should have 10", but..........................

Look at the outside of the drum, if it has fins it is 9", if smooth it is 10"

Read here, has pictures: https://www.ranger-forums.com/drivet...m-size-135609/

 

My money is on the wheel cylinder.

pic host

 

You will probably win that bet

 

REC. Replacing the hardware too while you're in there.