My bake pedal is very hard to push. Feels like it used to, when the engine wasn't running. At first, my brakes would work, and then not work. My a/c would blow outta the defrost and floor, until the truck was revved a bit. Now...my a/c only blows outta the floor and defrost, and my pedal is always very hard. How can I figure whether it may be the vaccume pump, or the break booster? At least ive got a manual tranny, huh? Thanks in advance, for any input you may have, for me.

 

Most likely it's just a disconnected or cracked vacuum line somewhere.

What year truck are we talking?

 

'96 Ram 3500 dully. 6 speed manual tranny.

 

Follow the vacuum lines up from the pump. There's one on the side of the engine that always like to come disconnected.

 

Rite on. I'll check that out. Thank you. I'll let you know, what I come up with.

Shawn

 

So...if the a/c is acting up, as well, can we pretty much rule out the brake booster? I checked the vaccum lines all the way from the pump, and theyre in pretty good shape. Theres 1 with some cracks, up behind the intake. When I pulled the line outta the booster, and put my finger on the end, there seems to be plenty of vacuum.

 

Fix the cracked line before you condemn anything, it's probably the cause of your trouble.

A vacuum leak anywhere (including in the booster) will cause all these symptoms. The system needs to be leak free.

 

I agree and don't rule out a leak even if you can't find one. The vacuum actuators in the HVAC system can also leak. You can isolate the HVAC system by plugging the little black vacuum line that goes through the fire wall by the AC fittings.