Need expert help with brakes!

[ked]

Here is my problem. I have a 1999 Ford Ranger 4x4 and when I brake the pressure and pedal feels fine up until I am about to come to a complete stop ( less than 10mph ), then I get this crunchy feel and the pedal goes down and grabs softly again with the wheel pulling slightly to the right. After reading here I felt it was the ABS system compensating for an uneven breaking pressure. Upon inspection the calipers were very rusted( along with a lot of other stuff). I replaced the calipers and rotors (front) and brakes on all four but the problem is still there thou not as bad. I have bled the lines a couple of times and got clean fluid out.

My question is where to look next or what to try? Also what can I do about the rust?

 

[410Fortune]

surface rust is normal on calipers, outside of rotors, etc, dont worry about that.
Its possible you got air in the RABS system, which requires a special bleed process.

Also your master cylinder may have been bottomed out and needs to be replaced.
A good brake shop can test the line pressures for you and should be able to help further.

 

[ked]

Ok, will have ford check the line and master. Anything else to check?

 

[410Fortune]

Any ABS light?

 

[ked]

No ABS light. I did pull the fuse to the ABS system and test drove it. the brakes worked fine with no mushing? or pulling. Came back when I put the fuse back in. It did shift very hard and no speedometer when I pulled the fuse but other than that it ran fine.

Could it be the rubber brake hoses bulging or ????

Unfortunately I wont get a chance to take it into Ford for two weeks so they can bleed the ABS system.

 

[Michael Percibal]

I have excatly the same problem. Keep me updated should you fix it...
mmjp382@verizon.net

 

[Blacksheep Josh]

Try going to another shop if Ford can't do it. Ford would be more expensive anyways I'd imagine. I'm not sure about your area, but if you go to another shop, and they don't fix that specific problem I'd imagine it'd have a warranty.

Good Luck

 

[Cobraguy]

For this problem, I think I would stick with the Ford dealer...or at least an independent who is well equipped with a great reputation. I would run and hide from these brake (quick lube) type shops. i.e. BrakeMasters, etc.

One reason a dealership is so expensive is every single year, Ford sends them a mandatory tool inventory that costs them tens of thousands of dollars. They also have hundreds of thousands of dollars in tools and equipment that allow them to even be in business with Ford. The service manuals are very expensive and they may have hundreds of them. They are required to send their techs to Ford schools at a very expensive price. All this adds up to an investment that almost no independent shop can possibly compare to. (Some can and do...but not very many...and they are usually specialized) Tell me how much you would charge if you had a million dollars in your shop?

 

[mauzer76]

had a similar issue in my '93 w/ 4 wheel ABS (my 91 only has rear ABS) and after much poking around and consulting a friend who's a master mechanic, we concluded it was the ABS motor. Replaced it, and no more problem. we only came to this decision after checking ALL of the brake system for problems. This may not necessarily be your issue, but that is what my experience was.

 

[magic_merlin1965]

I had the same problem with my 2000 Explorer 4x4. It was the abs sensor on the drivers side front that was causing the problem. Replaced the hub and the problem was solved.