River1

It's late so I'm gonna be short with more later.

First you need to turn the ABS off and see what happens yourself. You'll be fine. You'll be driving the way everybody did for fifty years with power brakes and no ABS. Hold the button down for more then 5 seconds and it's off for speeds up to 35 mph. Over 35 and it turns itself back on. More then enough speed for this.

About the service departments, I think you have just witnessed the pride of a couple mechanics in action. They won't and maybe they can't tell you they don't know what's going on. And if I had to bet, I would bet they don't know. I don't think they are intentionally keeping you from a pedal that has a relationship to a pedal feeling like what you're use to. There really aren't many good diagnostic mechanics around. Most mechanics today work from a flow chart process. Example, Do this. If (a) happens go to the next step. If (b) happens go to paragraph X, page XX and continue. Flow chart standardization. I do believe there are people that know what is going on.

The suggested problems and solutions you were given are nonsense and more about that pride with some desperation spaghetti throwing added in.

What you are going to do is something you need to come to terms with yourself. From the old man in me, talk it over with people you know. They know you better then anyone here does and you've already brought up losing sleep and your tone in your last has changed. It lacks your usual spunk. Then again, that may have nothing to do with this. I don't know.

Good luck and relax for a bit. In good weather, 95% of the time ABS isn't doing anything but adding to your monthly payment.

F150Grrl

Hey, River1. I'm going to make time to day to experiment.
Yes, I'm not as enthusiastic as I was a week ago, in my pursuit of the truth.
I have spoken to my mechanically inclined, and gearhead pals.
They shake their heads. Doesn't make sense to them either. One just recently purchase a 2014 F150 STX.
His truck's brakes behave the same way. I feel like I must continue to press for information for his benefit as well as mine.
I am going to make a list for the last tech I met with. Have to make time for that too.
I think you're right. Maybe it's a bit of pride, mixed with a bit of "I dunno".
I am very grateful that it's not caused any near misses like I've read about in posts elsewhere.
Talk to you guys later. Hopefully, in a shorter time than longer, I'll go from this to this .

(boy this forum's got a fab assortment of emoticons!)

River1

I spent some time today visiting with a retired Ford Engineer and Program Director. If you decide to pursue this further and think I can help, I think I'd prefer PM's rather then an open forum. I have to admit to you that I made some erroneous assumptions about the ability of your trucks ability to monitor and store historical data and some other things. There are simple solutions but I'll make another assumption with this, it might require some ongoing help from one, or more of your gearhead friends.

jdinner

Can you do this simple test F150Grrl?

With the transmission in drive on a slight downhill, push the brake pedal down slowly until the truck stops.
Now slowly raise the pedal until the truck just starts to move.
Reapply the brake until you find the magic point where the truck is stopped and the slightest movement upward will let it roll.
Now, wait. Give it 2 minutes with your foot at that spot.

Please report your findings here.

River1

jdinner,

She had said she was going to post her results. Maybe she changed her mind. She said it had gotten fixed albeit, she was still skeptical. Her words, some more bleeding was done, and the trucks HCU was in need of a program update that hadn't been done. When she left the dealer it was working.

With IDS available why do apparently so many dealerships ignore it? Seems it never touched her truck until her last visit which included a test drive with the laptop connected..

F150Grrl

Hey, jdinner. Hi, River1. And the rest of those who are curious about the end of this tale. At least I hope it's the end.
At least it's not this anymore.

I do have good news. I stopped by the second dealership on Thursday. The Service Manager(Master Tech) drove my truck.
Hmmmmm. Yesssss. Not the master cylinder.
Not the booster. Not a sensor.
Air.
It was air. Still, after all that bleeding, there was air in the HCU. He got the laptop, and the cable, and plugged Dragon into Ford's system.

The chip in the HCU needed to be updated, and he did a second, and then a third, Service Bleed. This is exactly what I was going to ask about.
Brake sensor readings and a Service Bleed!

We then went for a short spin with Dragon still plugged in, and I saw first hand, the real time pressure readings. Darn cool.
200 to 250 PSI to come to a quick stop, with pedal travel to about 1/4 of its arc. Firm and positive.

The pedal used to, with just the weight of my foot on it, sink to the floor. It holds pretty well now. It takes actual pressing down gently to get to sink.

I was told again, that there is a relief valve, and the pedal has to go down some, or the aluminum lines would split.
This is still a weird idea to me, but I could see it in real time on the screen.
I watched the graph line rise and fall with the application/letting up, on the brake.
When fully depressed, the pressure went up to 3000 psi, and the brakes held.

I found it enlightening. I was thrilled that someone took the time to not only explain, but then show me what was going on behind their explanation. Very refreshing.

Before Thursday, I felt I wouldn't be able to trust anything anyone from Ford told me. But the Service manager didn't just talk the talk.

I'm still wary of the feel, and will be keeping close attention to any changes.

I work with computers for a living. Sometimes when I get home, I don't want to look at another screen.
Especially on Fridays.
Hence the delay in my posting. Sorry to keep you guys waiting.

Thanks to all who posted in reply to my plight. May the rest of you weekend be enjoyable. I'm gonna give my Dragon a bath tomorrow.

Now I can get on with other important matters.
Bull bar, or not.
Shock upgrade?
Possibly some auxiliary lighting. I'll have to check out some member's builds. See y'all 'roun the forum.

FredK

Sorry not to get back sooner on this. They replaced the ABS module on mine.

I would stop with the brakes feeling mushy before, then after stopping the pedal would still go down another inch or so. In between the time I waited for the unit to come in and getting it fixed last week It seemed to work better (I suspect they bleed the brakes) but still the pedal would go down some. Then I got it in for the ABS module replacement. What a difference. Barely touch the brakes and the thing stops and there is no pedal going going down after stopping.

Can't give a price as it was done under the extended warranty so I was out the $100.00 for the work. They did bleed the brakes also. ( I suspect more than once).