someone please help!!! question!

[aaronparrish]

hey, i just got a 1993 ford explorer all stock. and i have driven it for a while well the brakes just recently started going out and then as they progressed getting softer and softer then the transmission wouldnt go into gear so easy it took a few trys, so my question is does the brakes being out cause the transmission to not be able to get into gear?, is that how it even works? because i just figured since you need pressure to put the transmission into drive that would be connected to the brakes, and since they are almost completely gone there is not enough pressure to make it go into drive. once it is in drive though it runs ok. please email me with your ideas or reply i really need help on this one.

 

[Blacksheep Josh]

If the brakes are going out stop driving it until you figure out the problem.

As for the brakes being connected to the transmission, unless they share a vacuum source for some reason, I doubt it. The transmission problems are common with Explorers so it's most likely a coincidence it's happening at the same time.

You might try doing a vacuum check, and making sure the vacuum lines don't have any leaks/cracks in them. Also might want to check your brake fluid level, and try bleeding the brakes, you may have air in the lines.

 

[boggs1227]

idk but maybe if the modulator was leaking casueing a vac leak maybe that would have a little play with the brake vac line( i think maybe it's either the cruise control or the break vac lines have a inline check valve installed) ...becasue they all go to the same spot on the engine..... but like josh said most likelly 2 separate problems rearing their ugly heads right now.

 

[Blacksheep Josh]

You really just need Derocha in here, he seems to be the suspension/braking guru around here. He might have some threads up you can use to diagnose your braking problem.

 

[DeRocha]

If the vacuum modulator (on the transmission) has a tear in its diaphragm it will will begin drawing transmission fluid into the intake manifold. As the tear gets bad it will prevent the transmission from shifting.. All these vacuum hoses connect at the same octopus. The brake vacuum line is one of these.. If enough ATF finds its way into the brake booster it can ruin it..

Check the vacuum lines on the manifold for any looseness or swelling.. The rubber lines are not compatible with ATF and will become loose and may even blow off.. If any lines are oily it is a telltale sign ATF is being sucked in..

 

[smbracing]

do you mean a hard time shifting from park to drive? If your brakes aren't functioning properly then you might have a hard time shifting out of park, or do you mean the truck won't change gears? Does your '93 have the 4 wheel ABS?

 

[aaronparrish]

yes correct

yea it will go to the selection of Drive but like it just doesnt get into it that easy like i have to stomp down on the brake because there is nothing left and then it will go into drive. so yea to answer your question it does have a hard time going from park to drive.

 

[aaronparrish]

do you mean a hard time shifting from park to drive? If your brakes aren't functioning properly then you might have a hard time shifting out of park, or do you mean the truck won't change gears? Does your '93 have the 4 wheel ABS?

once i get it finally into drive then it works fairly ok, but otherwise it is hard getting it from park to drive. it switches gears just fine its a 1993 Ford explorer and i believe it has 4 wheel ABS. dont take my word for it though.

 

[boggs1227]

ok.... when you say you have a hard time going from park to drive ....is what your trying to say is that you have to put more pressure on the shifter on the steering wheel going from park to drive while holding down on the break peddle? if so then i bet this is more a shift linkage problem more so than a break problem . because these trucks do not have a lock out solinoid that makes you have to put the breaks on before shifting out of park .

or when you go from park to drive the steering wheel shifter works like it should ( freelly) and it's just the actual engagement from park to drive your speaking off being delayed and your haveing to put more pressure on the peddle before the transmission actually puts itself into gear /drive?

 

[aaronparrish]

well the brakes are completely gone, and yea there is something wrong with my truck before the brakes went bad. because it would shift into gear without puttin pressure on the brakes. but otherwise right now to get it into gear i have to put a lot of pressure on the brakes just to keep it from rolling so that i can get it into drive. or if its already in park i have to put it into drive and either hope it just goes or i have to wiggle it a little or just wait until it clicks in.

 

[aaronparrish]

or when you go from park to drive the steering wheel shifter works like it should ( freelly) and it's just the actual engagement from park to drive your speaking off being delayed and your haveing to put more pressure on the peddle before the transmission actually puts itself into gear /drive?[/QUOTE]

^^^^^^^^^^^that is exactly what is going on and i have to either just wait and hope it goes in. or i rev it a little or mess around with the shifter until finally it works

 

[boggs1227]

ok..... do what derocha said and check your vac lines on the vac tree.if any of those vac lines ( this includes the break booster vac line) have atf fluid in them ....even if you don't see any major dripping of red fluid still there should not be any in the vac lines at all ...get a q-tip and put it in to the lines and see if it shows red ...if it does then your modulator has crapped out .