Pulsing brake pedal

[cooljerki]

I am having a problem with the brakes on my 2000 Ranger 4x4. The brakes are powerful and smooth until just before I come to a complete stop. Right then, the brake pedal pulses and the brakes feel like they let go. I do always manage to come to a complete stop, but it's not a comfortable feeling, and I'm afraid I'm going to rear-end someone. It feels like the ABS is coming when it shouldn't be.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Jason

 

[AllanD]

Sounds like an ABS issue to me to.

Seek profesional Help.

Or atleast take it for a short test drive with the ABS relays PULLED fron the power distribution box (On fords with the relays pulled the system reverts to "normal" power brakes.)

AD

 

[cooljerki]

Do you know which fuses are for the ABS?

Thanks,
Jason

 

[cooljerki]

Oops, I meant relays.

 

[njshaman]

I just purchased a 97 ranger. I also have the same issue with the brakes. Any conclusion as to what the problem was?

 

[rparker]

I have same issue. 1998 Ranger. Any answers on what it could be?
TIA

 

[Carlos Murphy]

Pulsating

I'm surprised nobody said the rotors are warped

Most of the time this symptom is the result of the buildup of brake pad residue on the rotor surface.
It builds up in one spot and when that part of the rotor passes through the caliper it spreads the pads apart causing the pulse.
Clean your rotors with fine sand paper and "brake clean" and change to a performance pad.
I've had MUCH experience with this issue while turning wrenches on BMW's for 33 years.

 

[metalmacguyver]

I'm surprised nobody said the rotors are warped

Most of the time this symptom is the result of the buildup of brake pad residue on the rotor surface.
It builds up in one spot and when that part of the rotor passes through the caliper it spreads the pads apart causing the pulse.
Clean your rotors with fine sand paper and "brake clean" and change to a performance pad.
I've had MUCH experience with this issue while turning wrenches on BMW's for 33 years.

if you re-read the first post, youll notice that it only happens when the truck is almost to a stop.

if the problem was pulsing at all speeds when the brakes were applied then yeah warped rotors would be the likely culprit.

 

[Sunk]

It could be possible that the pulse can't be felt and higher speeds due to the higher revolutions, and once you slow down they become more pronounced. Mine does this slightly. I can feel it at higher speeds, but more at lower speeds.

 

[Carlos Murphy]

Pulse

What Sunk said.

The higher the road speed the higher the frequency of the pulse and it is not so evedent (if the build-up is minimum), the slower you go the more you'll feel it.
From say 20 mph to 0 you should be able to count them and the last 12 feet or so of roll out you should feel maybe 4 pulses and they'll be very pronounced.

 

[Chic N Stew]

if they are hubbed, check the wheel bearings, or it may be runout rotors, maybe need to be replaced or turned

 

[metalmacguyver]

What Sunk said.

The higher the road speed the higher the frequency of the pulse and it is not so evedent (if the build-up is minimum), the slower you go the more you'll feel it.
From say 20 mph to 0 you should be able to count them and the last 12 feet or so of roll out you should feel maybe 4 pulses and they'll be very pronounced.

ok i see what you mean. however what i gathered from the Cooljerki's post was that the brakes were fine til almost stopped and then he was experianceing a severe pulsing that started at a specific point and didnt come on gradually as you say.

it doesnt matter anyway because Cooljerki hasnt logged in since october 29th. its been a week for the other two people with only one post each. so i think they have forgotten about this thread.

 

[Chic N Stew]

true /\

 

[Earl43P]

I am having a problem with the brakes on my 2000 Ranger 4x4. The brakes are powerful and smooth until just before I come to a complete stop. Right then, the brake pedal pulses and the brakes feel like they let go. I do always manage to come to a complete stop, but it's not a comfortable feeling, and I'm afraid I'm going to rear-end someone. It feels like the ABS is coming when it shouldn't be.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Jason

Sounds like one of your FRONT ABS sensors is bad. It is NOT the rear because it isn't affecting your speedometer. It may be worth the $ to go to Ford, it takes a specialized reader to retrieve ABS codes. Front sensors run over $100 each.

YOUR ABS fuses are: under the hood, fuse 3 and 7, in the cab, fuses 9, 11, 14. I can't remember which fuse to pull to disable the ABS (14?), but I CAN tell you that when you do so, you WILL lose your speedometer and odometer and Cruise (on a 2000). Try fuse 3 first (50A abs pump motor).

Without ABS enabled, you will also lose your front/rear proportioning function, which may make a panic stop interesting if you aren't expecting the degraded handling.

There is NO ABS relay.

 

[rparker]

I don't believe that the problem is warped rotors. The problem only happens (to me) just as I am coming to a stop - barely moving. There is no other time it happens. Then the pedal drops/pulses and there is also a noise (hard to describe) that is comming from the pedal area (maybe behind the firewall). Kinda sounds like a very quick series of clicks. I thought master cylinder but there is no leakage.
Any additional info / help is appreciated.