No brake after stall on hill!

Bronco V-8

It's normal to lose power the brakes still work you have to push hard or put on parking brake.
This is why a mechanical hand brake (on drums) is superior to an electrical knob.

Crawler Green

There should still be enough vacuum in the system for at least a couple of brake applications. I'm pretty sure mine still had power brakes (at least initially) when I stalled it once. I then was able to use the "Start in Gear" feature to get moving and restart. GEF, were you in Crawler or 1st? 4-Hi or 4-Lo?

NT AUTOMOTIVE

@GEF What engine and transmission do you have? I know 2.7's are known to stall on steep inclines if the oil shifts beyond the pump's depth. This is one reason why the 2.3 engine is nice because the oil pump is basically on the very bottom.

GEF

Thread title says it, I have what seems to be a serious issue and wonder if it's appeared before. Steps to replicate: Start up a steep hill, stall on an obstacle, and hit the brakes. Power brakes are gone, truck is too heavy to hold without them, roll back down out of control.

My neighbor's a mechanic, and he just told me that loss of vacuum pressure is normal after a stall, but that there should be enough left in the line for a couple of brake applications. I usually get zero applications but in a dozen attempts to replicate, only had power brake available in a couple of them. However, on road in normal mode, I could not replicate the issue.

This isn't normal, is it? I was just out in nearest dirt getting to know my new car with nobody else around, but as a newb, on a serious trail I'd want to be part of a convoy, and if the same thing happened, I'd crash into the guy behind me.

I created an account to ask this question of you experienced bronco drivers, so if I have left anything out, please chalk it up to naivety instead of disrespect and kindly tell me what I should have included to help you all help me.

2022 4dr Sas Badstick (is that the appropriate term?) with high package, so far still stock.

Thanks,

Geoffrey Fagan

GEF

Thanks for the replies, guys.

CG, I was in 4Lo. Initially I was in crawl on a very steep hill but I have reproduced the effect on shallower hills in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. In 4Hi, I only tried once but had braking. In 2Hi on road, I had braking.

AcesandEights

That would be dangerous, to lose power, and subsequently lose braking. That can happen with a manual or auto trans, to lose power.

Crawler Green

Just tried mine in the driveway. 4-Lo, stalled it in 2nd gear, still had power for one brake application. The anti-rollback feature held when I released. I then clutched, to turn that off and had only non-powered brakes.

JoergH

So if I'm reading you right the procedure when a manual stalls on a hill is to hit the brakes and then use the "start in gear" feature to restart your Bronco before touching your clutch. Is that correct? if so, that's gonna tale some getting used to for us old timers who automatically hit the brakes and the clutch as soon as we stall. :)

AndrewGold

So I believe that the power brakes on your vehicle are electric, not vacuum assisted. Your friend is correct about having a couple pumps of assist after a stall, but that is only on vacuum systems. Because yours is electric, when you stall there is no assist until you cycle the key. I think the non-sasquatch broncos have vacuum assist. You can tell by looking at your brake booster. If it is small and has an electric plug, it is electric. If it is big (vacuum diaphragm) with a vacuum hose from the engine then it is vacuum. If you have the vacuum system, there is an issue and you should go to the dealer.

NT AUTOMOTIVE

@CrawlerGreen Were you able to start without the clutch while the vehicle was in gear when using the "Start in Gear" feature AND did the option to use this feature stay on the gauge cluster until you used it?

GEF

Sorry folks, had a bigger problem today. Drove 200 miles from home, lost drive (not power - engine runs just doesn't spin wheels). Dealer here can't look at my car until Tuesday, so I'm gonna tow it back home which I think Ford is going to cover. I'll let you know how that goes. I live in the sticks, so no, I hadn't taken it to my dealer to check out the brakes before posting here, but it looks like I'll have the chance.

Andrew, thanks for your comments. My engine has a prominent hose running across the front and left side of the engine compartment which my mechanic friend says is responsible for the power brakes. I'm handy in other contexts but clueless about engines, having a feeling I'll be learning a lot in the school of hard knocks.

Crawler Green

That sucks, sounds like a clutch problem. Don’t know if that’s related to the brakes, but you definitely need to have the dealer look at it. Don’t do anything on your own until they see it.