Breaking problem. Need help!

[bwinterroth]

So I have had a problem with breaking for the past couple days. The initial breaking is fine but in the last few feet of stopping, the ABS goes crazy and I have to push on the breaks extra hard to stop the car. There is a weird whirring noise in front of the steering wheel in conjuction with the breaking problem. The guys at the shop said that I need to change the hub and bearings on both sides of the front axle and that this might fix the ABS problem. IS there any truth to that? Anyone have ideas about what else it can be? Please help - Thanks

 

[Donner]

Hi there... It's my understanding the depressing the brake pedal with force triggers the ABS because it senses an emergency stop. I'm not a tech, but I'm a little confused by the vehicle not stopping in the last few feet. Are you saying normal braking fails and ABS kicks in without reason?

And the guys at the shop that said this "might fix" the problem, I'd just drive away from there. Either they can fix it or they can't, and it sounds like they can't.

 

[bwinterroth]

Thanks for the input donner.

I am going to take it to a Ford dealer instead. At least they will know exactly what the problem is even though it may be more expensive. The car breaks normally for 90% of the stop; in the final 10% of the breaking, the car shudders to a stop, and the pedal sort of drops out for a second until I really depress it.

 

[Donner]

Excellent decision. Your insurance company thanks you! I was wondering how you avoided rear enders and pedestrians...

 

[hunterdan]

You could try unplugging one of the front ABS sensors and see if that helps. If it does, it could be the sensors in the hub have deteriorated and are no longer functioning properly. Your abs light will come on, but it will function normally, minus the ABS function.

Dan

 

[LeKid302]

bwinterroth , how did you solve your problem . I have the same braking problem as you .

 

[Donner]

What happens?

Do you feel ABS kicking in, or does it seem the brakes are just failing? How do you time your stops?

 

[bwinterroth]

They isolated the problem to the left side and found out that the hub and bearing assembly was old and loose. When stopping, the hubs and bearings would shake, causing the ABS to misfire, which caused the breaking problem. After they replaced the front left hub and bearing assembly, the problem was gone. I would say that there is a 90% chance that this is the problem.

 

[MountaineerGreen]

Most of the time, its just the sensor that is bad, not the hub. I had this very same problem, replaced the sensor and the problem was gone. The sensors are hard to find without a hub though.

 

[Donner]

So...

All is good now... but the sensor wasn't the issue in this case. The sensor actually worked (for a change)... it set off abs. Would you recommend replacing the sensor as well due to the worn out parts?

 

[Donner]

No rough idle either, right?

So I have had a problem with breaking for the past couple days. The initial breaking is fine but in the last few feet of stopping, the ABS goes crazy and I have to push on the breaks extra hard to stop the car. There is a weird whirring noise in front of the steering wheel in conjuction with the breaking problem. The guys at the shop said that I need to change the hub and bearings on both sides of the front axle and that this might fix the ABS problem. IS there any truth to that? Anyone have ideas about what else it can be? Please help - Thanks

How's the vehicle idle?

 

[MountaineerGreen]

All is good now... but the sensor wasn't the issue in this case. The sensor actually worked (for a change)... it set off abs. Would you recommend replacing the sensor as well due to the worn out parts?

I am guessing the sensor was changed with the hub as new hubs come with new sensors. When the sensor goes bad, you get false activation of the ABS as described above, but still no ABS light.

 

[Donner]

Got it...

I am guessing the sensor was changed with the hub as new hubs come with new sensors. When the sensor goes bad, you get false activation of the ABS as described above, but still no ABS light.

Thank you, I will keep this in mind. I didn't know that sensors and affected parts are packaged. See, when you don't know these things, you can get double billed - (Yes, I was doubled billed for not knowing about things like this, no details, legal action pending

 

[Donner]

Did we lose a posting here?