Where's a decent place around here to get my brakes checked out? I've tried getting in touch with zxappeal but he hasn't responded back. Or if you gurus wish to help me here's the issue:

I have a '94 Ford Ranger. When braking from a moderate speed, I'd say 20+ MPH or so, the ABS light comes on. Sometimes while braking hard, the parking brake lights come on until I come to a stop. The ABS light stays on until I turn the truck off, and comes on again as described above.

I'd like to keep the cost of getting this issue checked out to a minimum, because I replaced the brakes at about 10k miles ago and I'm hoping they're still under warranty.

2/4/2006 12:39:30 AM

check y0 brake floo id

2/4/2006 2:56:11 AM

Here I am...

As far as checking out ABS systems, I'm not equipped to pull Ford ABS codes or really troubleshoot any but the simplest ABS systems (read: GM passive rear only).

This issue most likely has absolutely nothing to do with your brake pads or their warranty. Do you know if your system is rear only or all four wheels?

Like baonest said, check your brake fluid first. Seems like I remember reading up on Ford active abs systems shitting the bed because of excessive particulates in the fluid (especially if the brake system isn't flushed every two or three years) which results in pump failure.

2/4/2006 3:14:22 AM

I just checked the brake fluid, all I could tell was it was a bit low though not empty and I couldn't see any solid stuff. The resoviour (I guess) is in a semi-transparent plastic where I can see the fluid level but not much else.

I already have a bottle of fluid, after I noticed I had no brake fluid one time and it drained again before the idiots who installed it found the leak, should I go ahead and top it off?

2/4/2006 2:34:14 PM

finally, someone who knows the difference between "brake" and "break".

^if you noticed it empty before, than most likely you have air in the system. if you know how to do it, then bleed the system. if not, have zxappeal do it for you since he is the authority in the garage when it comes to auto fixin'.

2/4/2006 4:16:26 PM

The emptying before came right after I had them installed which was Summer '03. I haven't had an issue with fluid dissappearing since I had the shop fix it. It took them 3 fucking times to find it and fix it. So top it off or find someone to flush it?

2/4/2006 7:37:13 PM