I have a dodge ram 250 van 1987, front brakes are locking up by themselves , not touching the pedal,, when moving until the van stops completely ,, not able to move because front wheel are locked or when braking a little hard,, I have to lose the bleeders at the calipers to lose the pressure to move again until they lock again for same reason

1 Determine which type of emergency brakes your Dodge Ram will need. Emergency brakes typically function by activating the regular braking system on the driving wheels. The emergency brakes for the Dodge Ram have used rear disc brakes since 2001.

2 Release the parking brake pedal completely and raise your vehicle. Remove the tire and wheel with a socket wrench and disconnect the brake caliper from the caliper adapter. Slide the rotor from the axle shaft.

3 Install the new brake rotor onto the axle shaft and complete the installation by reversing the removal steps.

4 Tighten the wheel mounting nuts in the proper sequence with a torque wrench until the nuts are torqued to 47.5 foot/pounds Repeat the tightening sequence to torque the nuts to 95 foot/pounds.

5 Apply and release the park brake pedal to seat and adjust the parking brake cables. Road test the vehicle to ensure the vehicle's brake system is functioning.

6 Place tool C-3919 or the equivalent over the park brake shoes and use the star wheel adjuster to lower the park brake shoes until the lining just touches the jaws on the tool.

Read more : http://www.ehow.com/how_4521030_replace-emergency-brakes-dodge-ram.html

Plugs are located on the side not on front, tray and check water pump seal.

You may have a short in an Interlock switch at the top of your brake pedal lever. It is under the dash. Or you could have a bad brake booster for the power brakes. When the brake pedal is used it lets out too much Vacuum and kills the engine.

The switch may be seen by looking under the drivers side of the dash. It is a common problem with many Ford products, but many manufacturers use this simple system. This switch was installed to make sure your foot is on the brake before you shift into gear.

Best option is to get a manual from Advance auto and look at the wiring schematic for the lighting system. Then check for 12v at the fuse, and proceed to the output side of each component in the ckt to see where you lost the 12v. Could be the switch on the pedal, or you might have a control module inline somewhere.

Try connecting plastic tubing to drivers side bleeder valve. Place end of tube into a half full can of brake fluid. Press the brake repeatedly with the engine running so your power braking system is working. Watch the tubing until all bubbles have been pushed through the tubing. Repeat for the passenger side. The plastic tubing needs to be submerged in the fluid in the can to keep it from letting air back into the system through the bleeder valve.

Hi - Here is instruction how to do.

From N to 4H

Stop the vehicle completely, place the

transmission in "N" (Neutral) and depress

the brake pedal and the clutch pedal fully

(if equipped), then push in and turn the

switch to shift into "4H".

From 4H to 4H LOCK

You can operate the transfer switch either

when the vehicle is stopped or while the

vehicle is moving.

Position the front wheels straight ahead

and turn the switch to shift into "4H LOCK".

If the vehicle is moving, we recommend

that the speed be less than 100 km/h (60

mph) during this operation.

NOTE:

• When shifting between the transfer

switch position and the transfer gear

position is unmatched, all 4WD indicators

will blink and the buzzer will sound.

• If it is difficult to shift between "4H" and

"4H LOCK" while the vehicle is moving,

try accelerating and decelerating your

vehicle several times after turning the

transfer switch. Be sure to wait until traffic

conditions allow you to accelerate and

decelerate safety before using this procedure.

From 4H LOCK to 4L LOCK

Stop the vehicle completely, place the

transmission in "N" (Neutral) and depress

the brake pedal and the clutch pedal fully

(if equipped), then push in and turn the

switch to shift into "4L LOCK".

From 4L LOCK to 4H LOCK

Stop the vehicle completely, place the

transmission in "N" (Neutral) and depress

the brake pedal and the clutch pedal fully

(if equipped), then push in and turn the

switch to shift into "4H LOCK".

From 4H LOCK to 4H

You can operate the transfer switch either

when the vehicle is stopped or while the

vehicle is moving.

Position the front wheels straight ahead

and turn the switch to shift into "4H". If the

vehicle is moving, we recommend that the

speed be less than 100 km/h (60 mph) during

this operation.

NOTE:

• When shifting between the transfer

switch position and the transfer gear

position is unmatched, all 4WD indicators

will blink and the buzzer will sound.

• If it is difficult to shift between "4H" and

"4H LOCK" while the vehicle is moving,

try accelerating and decelerating your

vehicle several times after turning the

transfer switch. Be sure to wait until traffic

conditions allow you to accelerate and

decelerate safety before using this procedure.

From 4H to N

64J209

Stop the vehicle completely, place the

transmission in "N" (Neutral) and depress

the brake pedal and the clutch pedal fully

(if equipped), then push in and turn the

switch to the mark (1) at the left of the "N"
position, and hold the switch in this posi-

tion for 5 seconds until the "N" indicator

blinks, then turn the switch to the "N" position.

When you turn the transfer switch to the

"N" position, "N" indicator will come on with

the buzzer sound.

CAUTION

• Be sure to stop the vehicle completely

before operating the transfer

switch to shift between "N" and

"4H", or between "4H LOCK" and

"4L LOCK".

• Do not shift between "4H" and "4H

LOCK" unless the front wheels are

in the straight-ahead position and

we recommend that the vehicle

speed be less than 100 km/h (60

mph).

Do not operate the transfer switch

while tires are racing.

• Do not operate your vehicle in "4H

LOCK" or "4L LOCK" on dry, hard

surfaces.

(Continued)

CAUTION

(Continued)

• Do not operate the vehicle while a

4WD mode indicator is blinking

except when shifting between "4H"

and "4L LOCK".

If you operate the vehicle while a

4WD mode indicator is blinking, a

buzzer will sound and the transfer

will shift to "N" (Neutral) to prevent

transfer case damage.

In this case, use the following procedure.

1) Depress the clutch pedal fully (if

equipped) or shift the automatic

transmission gearshift lever to the

"N" position.

2) Turn the transfer switch to the

position previously selected.
3) Operate the transfer switch again.

sticking caliper pistons

sounds like master cylinder is shot and not moving properly causeing sticking and pedal fade

Are the brake shoes on right, there are two size shoes, One shoe has a longer brake lining then the other. The short brake lining is towards the front of the van and the longer brake lining is towards the rear. The rear brakes also may need to be adjusted, you can do that by going in revers in a empty parking lot and push the brakes as hard as you can to stop the van. Don't give your self a whip lash, just push down gradually and as far to the floor you can about 7 to 10 times. The self adjusters should adjust the brake on both sides, try this first before you take the brakes apart again. It may just need a adjustment and after that check the brake fluid in the master cylinder. Good luck and hope this helps. Keep me posted, be glad to help

Park van so that you can safely access the starter. I use ramps under front wheels and put it in park and set the parking brakes. Disconnect positive battery cable at battery, disconnect starter battery cable and ignition wires from starter solenoid (remember terminal locations as these will attach to new starter solenoid). Remove old starter. Replace with new starter. Re-attach wiring in reverse order.