1998 Explorer brake trouble

Tiny
NICCROWE
  • MEMBER
  • 1998 FORD EXPLORER
1998 Ford Explorer XLT 4x4, 61900 miles. When I step on the brake it feels as if the petal is going to go to the floor & not stop, but all of the sudden the brake "grabs" and the car stops (no jerking or anything). It feels & sounds like there is air in the line. The master cylinder has been replaced & the line has been bled. It does not do this every time I stop, only about every second or third stop. Any ideas? Thanks so much.
Monday, August 13th, 2007 AT 10:13 PM

4 Replies

Tiny
POET042005
  • MECHANIC
  • 134 POSTS
In your note you said the brake line was blead. Was all four wheels blead. There could still be air in the system. If all four were not blead do this procedure.

Right rear cylider, left rear cylinder, right caliper, left front caliper. But before you do this check all the brake lines for leakage. Also check to see if the rubber flex lines are wet which is in indication of a leak. A leak in the system could cause this.

You could possibly have an internal leak inside the master cylinder but you said you replaced it so don't worry about the master cylinder for now.

Let me know.

Richard
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Monday, August 13th, 2007 AT 10:53 PM
Tiny
NICCROWE
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Richard,
Thanks for the quick reply, sorry it has taken so long for me to get back to you, but I have been very busy. My husband said that all those things you have mentioned were done. Now I am noticing there is a lot more brake dust on the right front tire than any of the other tires. Also, there is rust on that tire. When braking the steering wheel pulls to the right also. Hubby says that rotors & brakes are new (his grandfather gave us the car & he had them put on right before we got it).

Thanks again,
Nicole
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Tuesday, September 11th, 2007 AT 9:11 PM
Tiny
POET042005
  • MECHANIC
  • 134 POSTS
Hello nicc

Sounds like the rotor on that side (right Side) is going bad. It may not be releasing as quickly as the rest of the braking system. Which would explain the dust.

One other question dose the truck have ABS if so then the problem could be a out of fluid pressure balance issue, were the system has to be bled from a certain wheel and possibly the ABS hydraulic unit it self.

Even though I thought I would just add that I believe your problem is a bad right front caliper. One other thing A bad caliper could cause the pull to one side but this could also be a wheel alignment issue whereas the front wheels could be out of alignment. But again caliper sounds bad so focus there for know.

I thank you for getting back with me on this. Let me no what happens with it.

Richard
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Wednesday, September 12th, 2007 AT 6:32 AM
Tiny
NICCROWE
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Well, my husband took it to another garage. I now have new brakes, a new rotor & caliper. Also a new line to my emergency brake. The mechanic turned off the ABS because he said it was the root of my problem, because the were not functioning properly.

Thanks for all of your input. I really appreciate your help.

Thanks,
Nicole
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Sunday, September 16th, 2007 AT 8:22 PM

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