I have a 2000 4,2 5-speed 2WD. Recently the brake pedal has felt rather soft and has a lot of travel. I thought maybe it was just low on fluid so I topped it up. I noticed that I can press the pedal all the way to the floor and when I let go I can hear a sucking sound like air rushing through a small hole somewhere. My dad had a 97 Grand Am that made the same sound and it was the brake booster that failed in it, thus we think its probably the brake booster in this truck, too.

I'm wondering if I need to get a booster from a truck with the same configuration or will any booster do? My truck seems to only have rear ABS (no sensors in the front that I could find) if that matters.

 

119 views and no one can confirm/deny this? Wow.

 

seem like your on the right path...make sure the hoses going to the booster are in good shape.
I'd stick with parts that are made for your truck and its options

 

You might want to put a new master cylinder on there while you're at it. Mine just went bad not long ago.

 

I am starting to think the same thing on my 97 4.6. In the morning it catches real bad until pumped a couple times and then fine. Maybe you have air in your lines? Didnt make a difference when I bled mine out but I dont have that "sucking sound" either. I had an '87 E150 and the booster went out at 150K so maybe its just time .

 

If it was the booster, your pedal would be so hard you would have trouble mashing it hard enough to stop. Since it is muschy, nearly has to be the master cylinder.

 

Had a brake booster go out on an olds once, if it wasn't at idle or close to it,you couldn't
mash the brake pedal down with both feet.

 

thats what i think to. i had a 2004 mustang that made that same sucking noise when it was new. dont know if my f150 does it or not.

 

Master cylinder is toast. Replace the booster while your at it and save yourself the heartburn of screwing with it twice in a short period of time.

 

And if yours does like my 98 after replacing the master cylinder, you'll need new brake hoses. My front left hose collapsed. Replaced it and the right one collapsed imediately. Was a long day!

 

Guess I have some parts shopping to do!