Gas 2500 spongy brakes and other issues

[Rodehawg97]

My 2012 1500 Laramie had excellent brakes, firm, not spongy and so long as the ABS didn't interfere could stop in very short distances on dry pavement without excessive pressure on the brake pedal. I always felt that truck's brakes could save me from getting in a wreck if something went South in front of me. Now I own a 2022 Power wagon that I bought used with only 17,000 miles on it. The brakes are very spongy and it takes an inordinate amount of brake pressure to get my PW to stop and I'm not a little man, I'm 6'2" 275 lbs and I push with nearly all my might to get the same braking effect that I could get with my big toe on the Laramie. I know the 37's on the PW will affect braking but this is ridiculous. I took the Power Wagon in to the dealership a couple of months ago complaining about the "spongy" brakes only to be told there was lots of wear left on the pads. Well, yes. Thank you very much but what about the spongy brakes? Did the mechanic bleed the system? Judging by the look on the DEI hire they had no idea what I was talking about. I'm taking the truck back to the dealership in two days and hopefully I'll get a service person who understands braking systems. Does anyone else have this problem with their late model 2500's? If the brakes take this much effort just to stop the truck, I'm concerned what happens when I tow my 7,500 lb. trailer.

 

[Rockcrawlindude]

If the brakes get firm when you pump the pedal with the truck off then you don’t have air in the system. If you don’t have air in the system, then you don’t have spongy brakes.

I agree the pedal feel isn’t the most confidence inspiring but the brakes work just fine.

 

[pizzatots]

The pedal sucks but the brakes work.

 

[JoeCoz]

I read this whole thread. I opened up a case with Dodge. I've had my truck to the shop 3 times now. System has been bled, inspected for leaks, master cylinder checked and confirmed to be good, no ABS codes to be cleared or remedied. I had a pedal with GREAT engagement and feel until the battery died on my truck and needed to be replaced. I own a 2021 RAM 2500 Tradesman, heavy duty electrical & snow plow package. Never had a single issue with the brakes, truck has just under 40K miles. Pads in good shape. No other change in the environment except the new battery. I don't know what system rebooted or other hi tech BS happened, but I've been driving for 40 years and I know how a brake pedal is supposed to feel. I will update the post if I get ANY positive feedback from the case I opened up at FCA.

 

[oldgeezer]

The truck stops and the feel is probably exactly the same way as all the other new gas 2500's on the dealer lot. I guess I'll have to live with it, but I've owned 6 new Super Duty trucks and 3 new RAM HD trucks since 2012. Right away driving it off the lot my thought was "wow the brakes are spongy." It's my first vacuum-assist RAM HD though, so maybe that's the difference.

I have a 2024 3/4ton ram..6.4l,my first ram,new.Been to dealers 4times(still at dealer)a month now.soft pedal, but mine goes to floor.They are leaning towards saying it is normal.they tested other new rams as a comparison. dealer is waiting on some company to solve issue.This my first soft pedal issue on all the trucks I've owned.

 

[Pete300]

I have a 2024 3/4ton ram..6.4l,my first ram,new.Been to dealers 4times(still at dealer)a month now.soft pedal, but mine goes to floor.They are leaning towards saying it is normal.they tested other new rams as a comparison. dealer is waiting on some company to solve issue.This my first soft pedal issue on all the trucks I've owned.

I now have 12k miles on my gas 2500 and the brake pedal is spongy. Dealer says it's normal. I believe it is not. I towed my boat on a tandem axle trailer and pedal is very low and ineffective with alot of fade. It's scary that dealer says it's normal. I have a couple of theories. I see rubber hoses from master cyl to the ABS unit I think that those hoses are the cause of the spongy pedal. If you pump the pedal once or twice pedal gets nice n firm. Shouldn't have to on an 80k vehicle. Im still dealing with it and not satisfied with it's lack of confidence in a panic stop. Keep us posted. Pedro

 

[RamCares]

I have a 2024 3/4ton ram..6.4l,my first ram,new.Been to dealers 4times(still at dealer)a month now.soft pedal, but mine goes to floor.They are leaning towards saying it is normal.they tested other new rams as a comparison. dealer is waiting on some company to solve issue.This my first soft pedal issue on all the trucks I've owned.

We're sorry to hear of this. If you would like an extra layer of assistance, alongside the dealer feel free to send our team a private message.

Diamond
Ram Cares

 

[Crispycc]

I have a 24 2500 tradesman, the brakes are pathetic. The first dealership said they were normal, the second dealership admitted there is a problem. After 3 weeks at the dealership the brakes are as soft as they were when I dropped it off. They supposedly replaced everything brake related. I was told there is nothing else they can do.

 

[whitexc]

Yeah, lots of user info on how soft the pedal is in these trucks. You learn to deal. I know that it isn’t the answer we want to hear.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[JoeCoz]

First off…I bought a 2019 RAM 3500 crew cab Tradesman Level 2 4x4 Cummins HO new in 2019. Two weeks ago I bought a 2022 RAM 2500 crew cab Tradesman Level 2 4x4 Hemi and the biggest thing I noticed was the super spongy brakes on the Hemi. They do stop the truck, but it feels like air in the system and lots of pedal travel. The Cummins truck isn’t like this. Heck, my 2005 Ford F-350 Powerstroke has a vastly more confidence inspiring pedal. What I notice is that the diesel trucks use a hydro boost system and this truck uses a vacuum booster. Any thoughts on this?

Otherwise, besides the squeaky / squealy cold start sound of the Hemi, I’m very impressed with the powertrain. Excellent smooth transmission (which I could say that about the Aisin) and powerful responsive gas engine. Won’t tow as well, but empty around town it’s great.

I have posted about this issue a couple of times, here and on Facebook and other forums. My truck, a 2021 2500 Tradesman, 6.4 HEMI, had this same issue. Took it to 2 dealers, first one said the brakes were fine. The second dealer took me seriously. They had the truck for a couple of weeks. Opened up a STAR case with MOPAR Engineering. Replaced a BUNCH of stuff, and then the light came from above. Keep an eye out for a recall on the Hydraulic Control Unit. The dealership said they caught wind of it because of my STAR case. Don't know when it will be official. They replaced my HCU and now my truck stops right as rain. My firm pedal feel has been restored. Don't lose hope.

 

[RamCares]

Hi there, @JoeCoz! If you have any further questions or concerns this is just our invitation to reach out. We're always here!

Hannah
Ram Cares

 

[motorhead426]

I find a much better feeling pedal if I only push the brake pedal about half way, then quickly "pump it" a second time. The motion is so quick that I doubt the brake lights even turn off between the 2 pumps. I know that's not a fix, but it does improve the feel.