NHTSA Complaint #716907 — 1997 FORD F SUPER DUTY CHASSIS

WHILE TRAVELING SOUTH ON US RTE 220 ON A CLEAR DRY FALL DAY, I APPLIED THE BRAKES LIGHTLY IN PREPARATION FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT CONTROLLED INTERSECTION. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT RIGHT TO THE FLOOR, PROVIDING NO STOPPING ACTION. I PUMPED THE PEDAL AND BUILT UP SOME PEDAL PRESSURE AND FELT SOME BRAKING ACTION ALTHOUGH NOT NEARLY ENOUGH. I DOWN SHIFTED THE TRANSMISSION AND CONTINUED TO HOLD PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE TIRES WERE SQUEALING BUT WE WER0E NOT SLOWING DOWN AS QUICKLY AS WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN. AS IT TURNS OUT THE FRONT WHEELS AND THE TAG AXLE WHEELS WERE THE ONLY ONES DOING ANY BRAKING. THE REAR DUAL AXLE HAD NO BRAKING DUE TO THE BRAKE LINE AT THE RIGHT REAR DUAL WHEELS HAD RUBBED THROUGH WHILE WE WERE TRAVELING. IT WAS RUBBING ON THE AIR SUSPENSION AIR BAG. WE VERY NARROWLY ESCAPED SERIOUS INJURY. WE STOPPED ABOUT 8FT BEHIND THE SEMI TRAILER THAT WE'D BEEN FOLLOWING. THANKFULLY, WE HAD BEEN STAYING FARTHER BEHIND THAN NORMAL AND KNEW WE HAD TO STOP OR AT LEAST SLOW DOWN TO TURN AT THE INTERSECTION AHEAD. *AK