My 04.5 ( actual wife drives it mostly) Is getting difficult to stop,. The brake pedal is good and hard, but it seems that more effort is required to stop. Approx 27,000KM on it. Had my Lance on it a few times, towed reasonably heavy 3-4 times. Brake pads are 60-80% Power steering resevoir is full. What's up?

 

I would have to say that your pads are probably getting glazed. I would take a few hard stops to get them warm and shave the glazed part off. other wise you could try to use a scotch brite pad on the brake pad to try to remove the glaze or last but not least replace the pads. Sounds like your wife is riding the brakes a little.

 

What he said.

 

Generally mild braking will cause glazing. I usually do half dozen rapid brake applications and its fine. Try to not smoke them real bad, that causes chrystalizing and then you replace the pads.

 

caliper service would help too, at very least will keep the pads from wear to one side.

 

I don't think my wife rides the brakes, but she does drive it soft....taking kids to school etc. Whenever I drive it I hammer the throttle once or twice, but have not stabbed the brakes.. will try. If that doesn't work I pull the pads and rough them up a bit.

 

Out of curiousity, what does the Power Steering resevoir have to do with it? Isn't the level of the Master Cylinder what's important?

 

On diesels the power in power breaks comes from the power stering. We have no vacume like a gasser to assist in breaking. So if the power stearing is low our breaks wont have as much assist as they should.

Pop your hood and have a look at the master cylinder. You will see high presure ruber lines coming from it going to the power stering pump. Gassers have a vacume operated break booster we have a hydra boost.

 

SteelyDan, you may have a hydroboost problem. Are you getting a pressure build up in the power steering resevoir?

 

I was fueling up at the cardlock yesterday and checked the PS fluid.
I had a hard time getting the lid off, and yes there was pressure there. Not much
but enough for me to notice. I recently rebuilt the hydrobooster on my '95 GMC 6.5 TD,
so I am reasonably familar with them. What would the pressure in the pump be caused by?

 

Sounds like hydroboost problems to me. Get it checked!

 

I'd say glazing of the pads as I noticed it on mine and i'm not one for last minute braking. Mine probably have a good amount of dount glazing on them!
I fine that when I get on her I can't stop all too fast!