Brake pedal extremely stiff

Brake pedal extremely stiff

as soon as i saw that i knew it was about freightliner

every freightliner i've ever driven including my own (2000 classic) is like that

 

Is this truck new too you, or did this problem develop all of a sudden? Pretty much the main valve for how much air pressure gets to the chambers is the treadle valve, or foot valve. I have had some where they are very touchy. It was like you just had to "rest" your foot on it and the brakes would come on. With air brakes there is always a slight time delay. Make sure you aren't making a small brake application and expecting to feel the braking action at the same time which isn't there because of the timing delay. Then you end up pressing harder until you do feel it and by then you are actually making almost a full brake application. To see what is going on you would have to connect an air pressure gauge to one the brake chambers and make a brake application and see how quickly the air pressure increase as you press on the pedal. Some trucks already have a brake application gauge. Does yours?

 

I forget what year FLD I had, maybe a '98, but there was a recall about the cylinder for the brakes at the firewall getting moisture in them. I got the notice about the recall about 2 weeks after one winter day, I got the truck washed and went up the interstate a few hours. When I got to an off ramp the pedal was like standing on a cement block, frozen in postion! Between the jakes and the trailer arm I got stopped.
Your's might have gotten enough moisture in it to corrode some and be very stiff acting.

 

the pulling to the right would indicate an issue with the braking system,,,,if all were adjusted properly

 

posibilitys , moisture, treadle valve, but i would have the relay valves checked also on the firewall you will see the brake valve it attatches to the foot valve one with all the lines in it that valve is two staged and it sounds like the valve inside is colapsed not allowing smooth braking that is what was wrong with mine