Strange brake issue.

[TnRanger]

I have a strange issue. My brake pedal goes soft when I turn hard left like into a parking spot and I lose brake strength. Only left and only in tight to moderately tight turns. The brake booster also seems to make a noise like it shudders. Does not happen in park. Any ideas? Could it be an abs sensor or wheel hub? I'm ruling a ballooning line out bc it doesn't happen in park. I'm stumped on this one guys, any insight would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Uncle Gump]

worn out wheel bearing... LF wheel.

 

[TnRanger]

Thats kinda the conclusion I was coming to. Ugh. Thanks!

 

[Uncle Gump]

Well lets conclude with checking it... easy peasy.

Jack up the left front and give it a shake... if wheel moves... put a bearing in it. the rotor rocking would push the caliper piston in and make more travel to apply the brakes. Makes sense to me...

Edit... One would think you should have heard the bearing all pissed off way before it affected braking.

 

[TnRanger]

OK guys, so I have ZERO play in my wheel after jacking it up. Any other ideas? After trying to replicate it multiple times I have found it sometimes does the same thing if I am slowly rolling forward straight, without turning the wheel. This is driving me nuts and it feels unsafe.

 

[Uncle Gump]

You did check both front wheels... right?

Any ABS light?

Hear the ABS pump turn on when it happens?

Describe again the feel of the brake pedal when it happens.

 

[TnRanger]

Yes I checked both. No ABS light. I'm not sure if what I'm hearing is the abs pump. It sounds like "errrrrrr" and my pedal kinda vibrates and sinks with loss of stopping power. It doesn't really pulse like I've felt ABS do on other vehicles. Sorry for my horrible sound effects lol.

 

[TnRanger]

could I swap abs sensors from right to left and see if my issue changes to the right side?

 

[Uncle Gump]

ok… now we're getting somewhere.

Sounds like you are loosing a wheel speed sensor at low speed. Best way to see it is with a scan tool. If you don't have a scan tool... this is how I attempt to diagnose it. When you hear the pump come on going straight while braking... does the vehicle pull in a certain direction? If it pulls left... it would be the right front sensor. If it pulls right... the left front sensor. If it continues straight...the rear speed sensor. Not a fool proof method I suppose... but I have fixed a couple this way.

 

[TnRanger]

well when I said i was going straight i think in all reality I had barely turned the wheel to the left, and it happens every time going slow turning to the left. BTW thank you very much for all your help. I have no experience with ABS related equipment.

 

[09fx4guy]

I think I already replied to a previous post of this (you can look back and see). Long story short. I had the same problem, its a wheel speed sensor dropping out