Vehicle: 2019 Dodge Ram 1500, 4WD, V8-5.7L, Automatic Transmission/Transaxle

Mileage: 160,205 Miles

Problem: The Ram owner had both front calipers replaced after they seized and the pistons cracked. Before the calipers were replaced, the brake pedal firmness and height appeared normal.

Another shop replaced front pads, rotors, and calipers. After the repairs, the brake pedal went to the floor but only while driving. Pedal firmness seemed normal when the engine was off. The owner mentioned that the technician had clamped off the brake lines and drove it down the street. The pedal was still low.

Editor’s Note: It’s extremely unsafe to drive a vehicle with any brake lines pinched off. You can pinch off lines to see if the brake pedal firms up in the shop. It’s best to use purpose-built pinch off pliers so you don’t damage the rubber brake lines. Do not pinch off wire braided lines.

Case Details: The first thing the technician noticed during the brake inspection was that the calipers were installed with the bleeder screws positioned on the bottom of the calipers instead of the top. He thought there still may be air in the system and wondered why the pedal was firm with the engine off. A quick call to ALLDATA Tech-Assist confirmed his suspicions and answered his question.

Confirmed Repair: The first technician had mistakenly installed the brake calipers upside down. Following the consultants advice, the technician removed and reinstalled the brake calipers correctly and bled the brake system. Once this work was performed, normal brake pedal pressure was restored. By the way, the pedal firmness the technician was feeling with the engine off was due to the lack of brake booster assist, which was normal. Fixed!