brake failure -
 

a couple days ago when I went to a fast food place I was slowing down to enter the parking lot and hit the brake and it went way further than it had in the morning. As I sat in the drive through I kept pumping the brakes and it was clearly going way too far and then I happened to notice the abs and brake light in the dash lit up. I came home and pulled up to the spot I drove away from. I checked the brake fluid level and it was empty. I then looked under the truck and saw a big wet spot next to the rear wheel. But this could have been the spot of the left front wheel when I drove off. Now I just get a big wooosh (I think air) sound when I push the brake. I had to move the truck about ten yards today and it goes all the way to the bottom. The thing I want to do first is just a simple test. Do I need to put brake fluid back in and see what wheel it is coming from or is another liquid okay. My nephew said to put water in it but I'm not sure if that is a good thought to try. Any help would be appreciated. The truck is a 96 kingcab with a v6. thanks in advance for your help

Re: brake failure -
 

NOOOOO DONT PUT WATER IN!!!!! go to wal mart and grab a bottle of dot 3 or what ever it says on the reservoir cap for 2 bucks. water is bad news in a hydraulic system.

Re: brake failure -
 

sounds like a wheel cylender. Cheap easy fix...probably 20 bucks with the fluid.

Re: brake failure -
 

thanks for the responses -I now see the brake fluid on inside of the left rear wheel so that's where it looks like there is a leak or something.

Re: brake failure -
 

you put water in that tank and i can kiss your entire brake system GOOD BYE! brake fluid is cheap. just make sure to wipe of any of it if it gets on the paint or it will eat off the paint by the next morning

Re: brake failure -
 

def is a brake cylinder inside your drum brake.. did that a while back to my ranger.. easy cheap fix...