When I drive my 2013 f-150 down steep hills I usually brake for a few seconds release then brake again as I go down the hill so I don't over heat my brakes. I just noticed that today when I pushed on the brakes it took about an inch or so for the brakes start working but then once I released and pressed again the brakes worked as soon as I touched the pedal. The truck stops fine but it just seems weird.

Do I have air in my lines? Or maybe a leak? No codes come up on the dash

 

Maybe air. It happens even on new vehicles. Warranty will cover it. But why don't you shift to a lower gear when going down?

 

Or use tow/haul mode and tap the brakes and Trans drops a gear... So I'm told.

 

I know what he's talking about I think. I have the same situation on my property in West Virginia. My lanes that go up and down the mountain to my property average 9% and some places peak at 13-14%. Even thou It is technically on my property, the main lane going up is a common lane, and it is about 1/2 mile up and then a sharp turn to the right at a crest, and another 1/4 mile till I get to my private lane. Which I then turn right onto and start to descend back down a 9-13% decline to my trailer. They are dirt lanes and I need to travel slowly. So even when I'm in first gear I still can pick up a lot of speed. So I have to be on the brakes all the time to keep my speed at or below 10 mph..

 

I do go into manual mode but I live in the Canadian Rocky's and the hills are crazy. I can be in 2nd gear and the truck will still want to pick up speed so I'll brake because I don't want my rpms through the roof.

 

when you take your foot off the gas and coasting the engine makes more vaccum. the brakes are vaccum boosted so there is more assist.