1998 Ford Expedition Brakes hard to push

SUSANCAROL

MEMBER
1998 FORD EXPEDITION
6 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
189,000 MILES

Lately when I push my brakes, it seems as though there is something keeping me from pushing them down. Not always, though. I'm thinking it happens more when I am turning to the left and pushing the brakes, or right after turning left. It makes a "crunching" kind of sound, but not a grinding sound. Sometimes I'm afraid it might not stop. Every now and then the ABS light comes on, but not regularly. Someone at my work said it is probably an ABS sensor and only a dealership can diagnose/fix it.

Tuesday, February 10th, 2009 AT 11:03 AM

1 Reply

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
110,176 POSTS

Start by having the computer scanned at a nationally recognized parts store. Many do it for free, and it will point us in the right direction as far as the ABS. Next, there is a vacuum operated brake booster behind the master cylender. There will be an aprox. 3/4 inch vacuum hose running from the motor to the round black booster. Make sure it isn's dry rotted, damaged, or disconnected. That is the item that makes the pedal easy to push and if you don't have the vacuum, you have standard NOT power brakes and the pedal becomes very hard to push. If you find no problem, have it vacuum tested to see if it holds vacuum.

Let me know what you find.

Joe

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Friday, February 13th, 2009 AT 7:41 PM