Does your front end lock up in the rain?

[mrboyle]

Originally posted by Mike 97
I am taking it to the dealer - I think it may have somthing to do with the proportioning valve

Save yourself the money, don't take it to the dealer yet. I had the exact same problem with my '92. It is the Rear ABS (RABS) valve is rusted shut. This causes the valve to block the flow of brake fluid to the rear wheels, eliminating their efetiveness. You are now relying on the front brakes to do 100% of the braking. It seems like the brakes are working fine because the rusted valve becomes a solid stop in the brake line, creating the sensation of a good solid pedal, but in essence there is no fluid to the rear brakes.
To test my theroy, try bleeding the rear brakes. If here is no or very little fluid the problem is the RABS valve.

 

[Alec]

Mike is Da Man!

(I was on the right track that the front was getting too much braking force)

 

[Mike 97]

Can the RABS valve be repaired or does it need to be replaced?

 

[xxblackxx]

Originally posted by Mike 97
Can the RABS valve be repaired or does it need to be replaced?

Before you go replacing things... did you try to bleed the rear brakes? Like mrboyle said, if nothing comes out, that is your problem. Next question- do you have 4wabs or just RABS? That would make a big difference.

Im still thinking proportioning valve, but what do I know? Im just a ford asset student

 

[Alec]

He just has rear ABS.

 

[Mike 97]

OK - thanks for the ideas so far. I am going to bleed the rears (if I can) tomorrow at my folks house. Does anybody have an idea how much either a RABS valve or a proportioning valve costs? Oh yea - what are your feelings on braided PTFE brake lines? Good / bad - no different than stock rubber hoses?

Thanx again

 

[Mike 97]

OK - Bled the rears today - plenty of fluid comes out. Any ideas?

 

[Mike 97]

Anybody....Bueller...Bueller????