ABS light/returning pedal

[learningcircles]

Hi,

I have a 96 4.0 4x4 5 spd ranger that set up for about 3 months.

I just had new wheel bearings installed (that's why it was sitting up) and when I went to test drive it, it had no brakes!!

After I pumped the pedal furiously, some resistance came up, but it was very spongy.

When I took it around the block for a test drive and tried to slam on the brakes, it made a bad grinding sound and the pedal pushed back on my foot, hard.

The ABS light is also on in the dash now

What could the problem be? As simple as a little air I need to bleed out? Or is the slave/master cylinder dead? Is there any kind of ABS sensor that might be acting up?

 

[kryptonitecb]

Did you take it somewhere to have the bearings installed or you did it? Sounds like you need to bleed the brakes or you forgot to put the pads back in the calipers when you put it together.

Sent from the road while ignoring traffic

 

[learningcircles]

Did you take it somewhere to have the bearings installed or you did it? Sounds like you need to bleed the brakes or you forgot to put the pads back in the calipers when you put it together.

Sent from the road while ignoring traffic

I lul'd at that signature

I had a mechanic come over and do it, as it wasn't road-worthy with the old bearings. I'm pretty sure that he put the pads back into the caliper, he knew what he was doing, and one of us would have noticed if the pads were on the ground.

If it's as simple as bleeding the brakes, where do I do that on a Ranger? Is there a bleed valve on the rear drums? If so, would that bleed the entire system?

 

[kryptonitecb]

You start on the passenger rear, then driver rear, then passenger front, then driver front. The bleed screw should be next to the line going into the back of the drum. I thought you were changing the front bearings, most people never have a need to change the rear.

Sent from the road while ignoring traffic

 

[learningcircles]

You start on the passenger rear, then driver rear, then passenger front, then driver front. The bleed screw should be next to the line going into the back of the drum. I thought you were changing the front bearings, most people never have a need to change the rear.

Sent from the road while ignoring traffic

I'm changing all 4. The truck got in some water and all the grease got washed out.

Where is the bleed valve on the front? They are disc

 

[adsm08]

What you described was ABS activation. You may have air the the system, you may have hose issues. Were the calipers left to hang?

You probably have a bad ABS sensor. If you had the rear end apart I'd look into the rear sensor first. But get the codes pulled and see what they say.

 

[learningcircles]

yes, the calipers were left hanging for some time. Did this break anything? Or just get air in there?

 

[kryptonitecb]

If the calipers weren't opened or disconnected then in theory you shouldn't have had any problem. I would say that if you have no leaks, proper fluid, pads and shoes are good, then it may be an abs issue.

Sent from the road while ignoring traffic

 

[adsm08]

You aren't supposed to leave the calipers to just hang by the hoses, it's not good for the hoses and can compromise the rubber. It is rare, but I have seen compromised hoses cause some screwy ABS issues by letting one wheel slow down faster.

Given how rare it is, unless you have a hose bulged or fluid seeping through the hoses (seen it) I would guess that you have an actual ABS issue. My money is still on a bad sensor/broken tone ring.