Help! Abs issue

[Trump8MyKids]

I have a 1998 ranger (single cab step side 3.0 manual 2wd with no power options and rear abs) that as of yesterday has been confusing everybody. Long story short every time I hit the brake (going 10+ mph) the abs kicks in. Doesn’t matter if I’m on the highway or in the city it does it. I thought it maybe was a sensor but I didn’t want to get too deep into this without some help. Any ideas on the culprit? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[adsm08]

The issue is clearly that you have left the RABS fuse installed.

Rear axle speed sensor is also a good bet. Got codes?

 

[Trump8MyKids]

The issue is clearly that you have left the RABS fuse installed.

Rear axle speed sensor is also a good bet. Got codes?

No codes. Wouldn’t pulling the RABS fuse disable the system completely?

 

[Trump8MyKids]

This is the sensor after I wiped it off. What could that dent be from?

 

[SenorNoob]

Gravel?

 

[Trump8MyKids]

Gravel?

The dented side goes inside the diff. Just to be safe I’ll open it up come morning. Last thing I need is my diff to nuke if a chunk is floating around in there. Also cleaning it off didn’t fix it. When I first got going the abs was very sporadic so it was working for a second then quit. I’ll have to buy one come morning and see if that fixes it. Thank you guys for all the help.

 

[SenorNoob]

Looks just like the ones in the front. I was confused. Sorry.

 

[Trump8MyKids]

Looks just like the ones in the front. I was confused. Sorry.

No need to be sorry. All is good

 

[Uncle Gump]

That pictures tells me something is jumping around inside the rear differential.

I would certainly be pulling the cover to have a good look at things.

 

[adsm08]

Wouldn’t pulling the RABS fuse disable the system completely?

Well yes, that's roughly the idea. I don't like ABS in general, but I refuse to have a functioning RABS system at all. Four wheel ABS or no ABS.

That pictures tells me something is jumping around inside the rear differential.

I would certainly be pulling the cover to have a good look at things.

^That^.

 

[Trump8MyKids]

Well yes, that's roughly the idea. I don't like ABS in general, but I refuse to have a functioning RABS system at all. Four wheel ABS or no ABS.



^That^.

I live in Wisconsin and today on my drive home from work I found the hard way I’d much rather have 2 wheel than no wheel abs. A family of deer jumped out in front of the Mercedes e-class wagon in front of me and they slammed the brakes, as did I. However, they stopped and I went into a 45 degree skid as all 4 wheels locked on dry pavement. I really don’t want to find out how it would react to snow without rear abs.

 

[Trump8MyKids]

That pictures tells me something is jumping around inside the rear differential.

I would certainly be pulling the cover to have a good look at things.

that was my plan. What’s the easiest and most economical way of going about that? Like what’s the best bang for the buck for oil and how do I pump it in there?

 

[Trump8MyKids]

UPDATE: I replaced the rear abs sensor an hour ago. It worked for a good minute and then my speedometer went to 0 as we were driving along so I figured the plug came off or something so I pulled over and pulled it out and found this. Something in there shattered the brand new senser so that’s fantastic and now I have that plastic piece in there as well. Looks like tomorrow I’m opening up my diff instead of going to Wisconsin dells

 

[adsm08]

I live in Wisconsin and today on my drive home from work I found the hard way I’d much rather have 2 wheel than no wheel abs. A family of deer jumped out in front of the Mercedes e-class wagon in front of me and they slammed the brakes, as did I. However, they stopped and I went into a 45 degree skid as all 4 wheels locked on dry pavement. I really don’t want to find out how it would react to snow without rear abs.

If you are able to lock all four tires on dry pavement in that situation at least one, more of the following was true:

1) You need new/better tires.
2) You were going too fast for conditions.
3) You were following too close.

I've been driving nearly 20 years in PA weather, hot, cold, snow, ice, monsoon, deer. I have never needed ABS to stay out of an accident, and I have only ever activated ABS one or two times, and I could have handled those situations without it.

that was my plan. What’s the easiest and most economical way of going about that? Like what’s the best bang for the buck for oil and how do I pump it in there?

I'd find out what is broken inside first. You might find the most economical fix is getting a whole axle from the yard.

As for fluid and getting it in, most of the gear oils are pretty much the same quality. Valvoline is really good, so is Mobile1, but the cheaper store brands do the job just as well. Most axles, including both axles available for the Rangers, you get just stick the little cone tip of the bottle can in the hole and squeeze. I usually have to end up combining the bottoms of three bottles to be able to use most of it, just because the stuff is really thick.

I also highly recommend replacing the filler plug. The drive boss collects all the road salt and other things, gets packed, starts to rot out, makes things interesting. They also have thread sealer to prevent leaks. Plus they are only like $5, so cheap insurance for down the road.

UPDATE: I replaced the rear abs sensor an hour ago. It worked for a good minute and then my speedometer went to 0 as we were driving along so I figured the plug came off or something so I pulled over and pulled it out and found this. Something in there shattered the brand new sensor so that’s fantastic and now I have that plastic piece in there as well. Looks like tomorrow I’m opening up my diff instead of going to Wisconsin dells

@Uncle Gump basically predicted that outcome. If one sensor got damaged by being hit by something in the diff, and you replace only the damaged sensor, without fixing whatever is loose that hit it, it's a good bet it will happen again.

 

[Uncle Gump]

I think @adsm08 pretty much summed up anything I could add to this.

Time to pull the differential cover and see what happened.