So I just got done installing new tie rods and ball joints on my 98 sr5 2wd with 118k. When I went for a test drive after installing the new lbjs I noticed my brakes felt a little soft. So I pumped the pedal a few times and the brakes became extremely firm its very slow to release pressure. I didnt remove the calipers when installing the ball joints and it was on jack stands for 2 days. Did my brake booster crap out on me? Could I have damaged a brake line? I dont have any leaks and nothing is binding the lines. If I pump the pedal till its firm with the engine off then i start the truck, the pedal continues to stay firm. I had a issue similar to this a few months ago, I was driving in some bad weather and had to make a fast stop.. I heard a weird thumping noise and the brakes became very firm like they are now, but it went away after a few pumps. so I figured maybe it was wet pads and rotors since I had installed them not long before.. Any help is appreciated.. Thanks.

How long the pedal stays firm after starting the engine?

normally, if the brake booster craps out, the brake pedal becomes harder to push when the engine is running.

Mine went out on me a few months back. Brake pedal got hard as a rock out of the blue and took every ounce of energy to get the truck to stop. Scary shit.

It would brake for the first few seconds normally and then get rock hard until I let off for a few seconds. It was similar to letting your car roll in neutral with the truck off and trying to brake. It made a hissing sound from loss of vacuum too. I could start the car up with some pressure on the pedal and the brake would stay firm after startup. No sinking in like it should. Replaced with a junkyard booster from a Tacoma.

As stated above, a bad booster will require you to push much harder on the pedal to brake.
Typically you'd hear the vacuum leak too.

well ding ding ding!!!

this is the same exact issue i am having right now. FML

$320 for new one from napa or drive 2.5 hours and hope to find one at the Junk Yard

PM me, I have several low mile units I can sell you and the OP

I ship all over the country, so getting it to you won't be a problem.

pm'd

PM's replied