• Welcome Visitor! Please take a few seconds and Register for our forum. Even if you don't want to post, you can still 'Like' and react to posts.

89 ranger rear brake bleed problem


greenstranger89

New Member
Joined
Sep 11, 2010
Messages
56
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Vehicle Year
1989
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
5.0
Transmission
Manual
i just recently did an explorer 8.8 swap on my 89 ranger and now i can get fluid to the wheel cylinder does anyone know whats wrong and how to fix it. thanks
 


Sasquatch_Ryda

Well-Known Member
Ford Technician
OTOTM Winner
Solid Axle Swap
Forum Staff - Retired
TRS Banner 2012-2015
Joined
Aug 8, 2007
Messages
7,916
Reaction score
108
Points
63
Age
36
Location
Terrace, BC, Canada
Vehicle Year
1991
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Engine Size
4.0L
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
Solid Axle Swap 4x4
Tire Size
40s
RABS valve is probably plugged up with gunk.
 

greenstranger89

New Member
Joined
Sep 11, 2010
Messages
56
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Vehicle Year
1989
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
5.0
Transmission
Manual
can i bleed the proportioning valve or is that nowt the problem and where is the rabs module
 

escort_gts

02/2012 04/2013 04/2014 OTOTM Winner
OTOTM Winner
Solid Axle Swap
Joined
Oct 27, 2007
Messages
3,387
Reaction score
16
Points
38
Location
Fort Wayne, IN
Vehicle Year
1993, 2001
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
4.0, 5.0
Transmission
Manual
My 89 had brake problems and the rear brakes never worked unfilled I bypassed the ABS unit. The ABS is in the frame rail under driver side before the fuel filter.

Sent from my HTC using Tapatalk
 

greenstranger89

New Member
Joined
Sep 11, 2010
Messages
56
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Vehicle Year
1989
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
5.0
Transmission
Manual
how did you bypass it is a proportioning valve needed or can you just route a line around it?
 

escort_gts

02/2012 04/2013 04/2014 OTOTM Winner
OTOTM Winner
Solid Axle Swap
Joined
Oct 27, 2007
Messages
3,387
Reaction score
16
Points
38
Location
Fort Wayne, IN
Vehicle Year
1993, 2001
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
4.0, 5.0
Transmission
Manual
Just cut the line before and after.the.module and splice in a line. Fairly easy to do except there isn't much room under there to work on it.

Sent from my HTC using Tapatalk
 

greenstranger89

New Member
Joined
Sep 11, 2010
Messages
56
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Vehicle Year
1989
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
5.0
Transmission
Manual
so there is no need for a proportioning valve even if the rears are drums?
 

escort_gts

02/2012 04/2013 04/2014 OTOTM Winner
OTOTM Winner
Solid Axle Swap
Joined
Oct 27, 2007
Messages
3,387
Reaction score
16
Points
38
Location
Fort Wayne, IN
Vehicle Year
1993, 2001
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
4.0, 5.0
Transmission
Manual
I don't think it has a proportion valve. At least mine didn't. The ABS module has two lines for an in and out and has a small motor on the side. If the module is bad it will cost you some big bucks, $75 or more.
If that does not fix it, then there might be a plugged or crimped line.
When I bypassed mine, it sprung 3 leaks from the module to the axle. The rear brakes never worked for years untill I noticed a bad wheel cylinder and tried to bleed them.

Sent from my HTC using Tapatalk
 

Sasquatch_Ryda

Well-Known Member
Ford Technician
OTOTM Winner
Solid Axle Swap
Forum Staff - Retired
TRS Banner 2012-2015
Joined
Aug 8, 2007
Messages
7,916
Reaction score
108
Points
63
Age
36
Location
Terrace, BC, Canada
Vehicle Year
1991
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Engine Size
4.0L
Transmission
Automatic
2WD / 4WD
Solid Axle Swap 4x4
Tire Size
40s
It is not a proportioning valve, it is the RABS valve.

Mine is bypassed also with a short piece of brake line because it was plugged up as well.
 

greenstranger89

New Member
Joined
Sep 11, 2010
Messages
56
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Vehicle Year
1989
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
5.0
Transmission
Manual
there is only one line going in and one going out i can just bypass it and i thought all cars needed a proportioning valve if the fronts were disc and the rears were drums?
 

sbsrlewis

Member
U.S. Military - Veteran
TRS Banner 2010-2011
Joined
Aug 8, 2007
Messages
362
Reaction score
4
Points
18
Age
58
Location
Shawnee, Oklahoma
Vehicle Year
1989
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
4.0
Transmission
Manual
Does bypassing it cause the idiot light to come on?


Steve
 

escort_gts

02/2012 04/2013 04/2014 OTOTM Winner
OTOTM Winner
Solid Axle Swap
Joined
Oct 27, 2007
Messages
3,387
Reaction score
16
Points
38
Location
Fort Wayne, IN
Vehicle Year
1993, 2001
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
4.0, 5.0
Transmission
Manual
there is only one line going in and one going out i can just bypass it and i thought all cars needed a proportioning valve if the fronts were disc and the rears were drums?
maybe back in the day.
 

escort_gts

02/2012 04/2013 04/2014 OTOTM Winner
OTOTM Winner
Solid Axle Swap
Joined
Oct 27, 2007
Messages
3,387
Reaction score
16
Points
38
Location
Fort Wayne, IN
Vehicle Year
1993, 2001
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
4.0, 5.0
Transmission
Manual

tx3nc

New Member
Joined
Jul 31, 2011
Messages
115
Reaction score
1
Points
0
Vehicle Year
1993
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Size
3.0L V6
Transmission
Manual
there is only one line going in and one going out i can just bypass it and i thought all cars needed a proportioning valve if the fronts were disc and the rears were drums?
All cars do need proportioning valves with a disk/drum combo. The RABS valve in our Ranger trucks performs this function as the system has no proportioning or "combination valve" (as Ford calls it). Bypassing this RABS valve takes out any proportioning in the system. Several people say they have not experienced problems doing this. I would caution against it, especially in low traction panic stop situations. I've spun more than once when the rear brakes locked up before the front did.

It's up to you. Weigh the cost of a new RABS valve (estimated to be ($75 here) vs the cost of an accident -- lost truck, repairs, liability (how would you do in court if it was found that you knowingly tampered with and disabled safety equipment?), injury to others.
 
Last edited:

Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Staff online

Member & Vendor Upgrades

For a small yearly donation, you can support this forum and receive a 'Supporting Member' banner, or become a 'Supporting Vendor' and promote your products here. Click the banner to find out how.

Truck of The Month


Kirby N.
March Truck of The Month

Recently Featured

Want to see your truck here? Share your photos and details in the forum.

Follow TRS On Instagram

TRS Events

25th Anniversary Sponsors

Check Out The TRS Store


Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

Sponsored Ad


Amazon Deals

Top