Soft brakes

[keller_32]

I was doing my typical service today and I noticed a leak coming from my axle. I only noticed this because I pulled the rotor seeing as the leak was coming off my dust cover. I put back on my right rear rotor, I put on the caliper etc. And finished up. As I am pulling my explorer out of the shop, my braking power has significantly decreased. What once was a sudden stop is now a gradual slowing down. What could have happened in this process to give me my soft brakes? Its a 95 Ex

 

[rb142]

What is leaking? Is it brake fluid or gear oil from the axle?

If it is gear oil from the axle seal, you probably have the brake pads contaminated with gear oil. In that case, you need to fix your axle seal, then replace the brake pads.

If it is brake fluid leaking from somewhere, you need to first fix that leak. Then you probably have air in the lines, so they need to be bled out. And again, you probably have brake fluid contaminating the brake pads, so they need to be replaced (or thoroughly cleaned).