ABS kicks in early does yours??

[timn8er]

For many years my 95 explorer would take a long distance to stop in rain and snow. I learned just to brake early. We just had our first snow fall last nights. Roads went into freeze and cars were all over the place. I didnt have much time to react and almost hit the rear of another car yet it was over 40-50 feet away before i hit the brakes. i was only going abou 40 km an hour before i hit the brake and i only appllied little preasure and the freakin abs just helped me roll along. ARGH..

is this common with the explorer or could ther be something wrong with the system.

This truck did this before i replaced my front wheel bearings and even after the new ones were installed. I say this knowing that they come with ABS sensors.

 

[N1265]

I have the same problem, No way to stop..... I even have dreams of
"rolling " for great distances ( about 100 yards ) then slamming into a vehicle ahead of me.

Its a PITA...

 

[BrooklynBay]

Did you bleed the brakes? You might have air in the line or a defective master cylinder.

 

[timn8er]

Did you bleed the brakes? You might have air in the line or a defective master cylinder.

\Well If I turn the key off and hit the brakes. the truck stops like any other vehicle would. No soft peddle "spungy" if it were, I would think that there was air in the line or a bad master cylinder.

But its like the truck thinks its slipping, even if you hit the brakes very hard on a warm dry day, the abs will kick in still. and help you roll a few extra feet. thats only when you hit em harder that you would to come to a normal stop..

 

[idontknow82]

excellent creation huh?...They are useless in snow and ice, all they do is keep the vehicle straight. Otherwise brace yourself. I disconnected mine and I have no problem stopping now.

 

[Brandons]

I had issues similar to that with my abs, randomly in the summer it would kick in braking. One of the wires to the front wheels got cut, and therefore was giving the abs system improper readings for the front right.

Not that its the same model but maybe something funky is going on there? If you want to disable ABS cant you just pop out the fuse?

 

[96eb96]

For many years my 95 explorer would take a long distance to stop in rain and snow. I learned just to brake early. We just had our first snow fall last nights. Roads went into freeze and cars were all over the place. I didnt have much time to react and almost hit the rear of another car yet it was over 40-50 feet away before i hit the brakes. i was only going abou 40 km an hour before i hit the brake and i only appllied little preasure and the freakin abs just helped me roll along. ARGH..

is this common with the explorer or could ther be something wrong with the system.

This truck did this before i replaced my front wheel bearings and even after the new ones were installed. I say this knowing that they come with ABS sensors.

if there is snow and ice, do you think a non abs car is going to stop any faster by locking up?

 

[idontknow82]

I would say yes, a non abs car will stop faster, i know when it locks up...just let off and apply lightly. I did it many years with non abs in the worst crap storms never failed me yet. I have tryed locking it up and yes locking your tires gives a "ABS" effect. The thing that ABS does is keep the car straight.

 

[timn8er]

if there is snow and ice, do you think a non abs car is going to stop any faster by locking up?

Hmm ya! but only a dumb ass would hit the brakes and hold it there in bad weather. the reason why ABS was created, any one with a good brain would know to pump the breaks and controll the vehicle. My truck stops better with out the abs.

 

[Hitchhikingmike]

Yeah, sometimes I feel my ABS kicks in too early too. And most of the time when I feel it kick in, my stopping power is decreased and I don't stop as fast as before the ABS kicked in. My ex is an '02, the brakes have never been bled before, I thought I would do it some time after I get through finals at school.

 

[timn8er]

Yeah, sometimes I feel my ABS kicks in too early too. And most of the time when I feel it kick in, my stopping power is decreased and I don't stop as fast as before the ABS kicked in. My ex is an '02, the brakes have never been bled before, I thought I would do it some time after I get through finals at school.

I feel your pain, thats my exact problem. so it looks as thou other years are effected aswell.

My friends winter beater "pontiac sunbird" has better abs and his Blazer.

 

[Hitchhikingmike]

yeah some times when I am too liberal on the brakes, I'll be okay when pulling up to a stop quickly and then all of a sudden at the last minute, the ABS kicks in and I'm thinking OH GOD I'M going to go out into the middle of a moving intersection. It seems like when the abs kicks in, I lose almost all braking power, and some times it feels like I'm just coasting with no breaks while I'm breaking while the ABS is going off.. But I've been able to recover and get use to it.

 

[Hitchhikingmike]

I find that ABS is crap in any street slightly wet. But ABS always works wonderfully like it should on DRY pavement when I have plenty of friction on the road.

 

[jls1znv9999]

Well start by bleeding brakes, then check your master cylinder. Most brake shops will diagnose this for free. If neither is the issue sounds like the ABS sensor is fouled. If that is the case if your lucky you will be able to change the sensor, however if your unlucky like my sister, you will have to replace the hub assembly!

 

[idontknow82]

I can stop just fine with ABS disconnected. ABS is garbage and has yet to be proven useful. Change the hub just because of abs? Its Far cheaper to disconnect it.

 

[96eb96]

Hmm ya! but only a dumb ass would hit the brakes and hold it there in bad weather. the reason why ABS was created, any one with a good brain would know to pump the breaks and controll the vehicle. My truck stops better with out the abs.

Well, I meant the average soccer mom that buys an explorer may not know how to handle a truck on a slippery stop at high speed.

Going sideways on these trucks is a recipe for a rollover, so ABS is a tradeoff. Ford usually makes ABS optional on cars to this day, I was at the dealer and saw an 08 V6 mustang with regular non abs brakes. Makes you wonder why ABS was included on EVERY explorer, even the lowest trim models.

 

[plsaik]

Brakes slip

Brakes slip when approaching red light or stop sign. Feels like I'm rolling a stop sign. I just keep praying there are no police around. Changed rotors and pads and calipers on front end. Also changed shoes on rear brakes, but to no avail, problem persists. Two mechanics from two independent garages say this is normal for Ford trucks. I am starting to think its the ABS control module or the ABS sensors at the tires. Any ideas?

 

[BrooklynBay]

You might have a bad master cylinder or air in the brake lines.

 

[plsaik]

I have bled the brake lines. When I prepare to stop the truck i'm applying the brake depressing it slowly, as I continue to depress it , I suspect the ABS module releases the pressure on the brake pedal forcing me to depress the brake pedal a second type to bring the truck to a halt. BTW the roads are dry, no rain or snow.

Is there a way to check the master cylinder for faults before replacing?

Thanks for replying BrooklynBay

Perry in Ottawa

 

[plsaik]

Disconnected ABS fuse just the one, a 5A fuse

The brakes acted even worse with the fuse pulled last night. There was slight to continuous vibration when braking. So I put the fuse back.

Just as Hitchhikingmike said
" I'll be okay when pulling up to a stop quickly and then all of a sudden at the last minute, the ABS kicks in and I'm thinking OH GOD I'M going to go out into the middle of a moving intersection. It seems like when the abs kicks in, I lose almost all braking power, and some times it feels like I'm just coasting with no breaks while I'm breaking while the ABS is going off.. But I've been able to recover and get use to it. "