The aluminum master cylinder was the problem, my fix was a direct ford replacement master cylinder.

 

How exactly do you adjust the rear brakes? I've tried the stop and go in reverse. The pedal feels great when I slam on it in reverse, but after that it goes back to mush. I put it in reverse and slammed on the brake, and again, and again. Anything else I can do?

 

'99 model has rear disc brakes, ain't no adjusting to do.

 

CORRECTION: 1999 Model has drum rear brakes
2000 Model has disc rear brakes

 

Yup. I'm going to install some speed bleeders sometime today so I'll let ya'll know if there is any improvement.

 

Looking at the '99 workshop manual, that was a crossover year where trucks could have had either. Heavy duty models had drum rears regardless.

 

Three words
Adjust
Rear
Brakes

 

i've given up. I've replaced brake hoses, the master cylinder and bled the crap out of the lines. The brakes will be firm without the engine running but pretty much go to the floor when I crank the engine. there is enough stopping power to get me to the shop but thats about it.

 

I've tried adjusting the rear drums and it ISN'T HELPING!!!!!!!!!!! What exactly is the proper sequence to adjust the rear drums? I've tried going fast (20 or so) and slamming on the brakes, driving forwards, and repeating. I've tried doing several short stops (10 mph or so) in a row. The brake pedal feels great while doing this, but then it goes back to mush. It feels maybe a little better, but still, waaaaaaaaaay to soft. The truck stops fine, but the pedal goes on the floor in a panic stop. And I'm sure that it has more braking power. The truck just passed it's saftey inspection, so front and rear brakes were inspected, so they are ok.

 

Last thought, maybe an air pocket in the ABS hydraulic control unit. I haven't seen this with very many F-Series trucks, but I've seen it a lot on cars and minivans. Does your truck have two or four wheel ABS?

 

I pull the drums and adjust the shoes manually until there's a slight drag on them when reinstalling the drums...it's difficult to describe, it's a "feel" sorta thing. They make a guage, sometimes called a Safetyset that looks like a big pair of two sided calipers. One side is used to measure the internal diameter of the drum, and the other side is used to compare that in relation to where the shoes should be. I've found that the Safetyset favors a little too tight, so I usually go about 1 to 1-1/2 turns looser than what the Safetyset shows.

 

How do we check for 2 wheel or 4 ABS?

 

See if there's tone rings and sensors on the front wheels. There'll be a sensor bolted onto the back of the spindle that has a wire leading up and towards the engine compartment, it's a black two pin connector.

 

Thanks... and how do we adjust the rear drums? I've been doing it as I've heard, but whats the "proper" way?

 

It's a feel sorta thing, at least that's how I do 'em. Run the star adjusters on the rear shoes out, keep reinstalling the drum until you've got a slight drag installing and removing the drum. I dunno if you've tinkered with drums brakes or are familiar with what I'm talking...I'll try to drum (ha) up some pictures tomorrow and shoot 'em to you in an E-mail.

ETA - and spray004, I saw in your profile that you listed your occupation as "Hoover, AL," I dunno if you meant that as location...if so, I'm like three hours away, I could probably drive up this weekend and take a looksee. Aside from you getting a defective master cylinder, and if your truck has ABS, an air pocket in the HCU is the only thing I can think of that'd be left, and that'll require a scan tool to bleed out.