1996 2.3 w/ 4 wheel ABS- strange abs sounds and hard pedal feel, need advice

[cstarbard]

Hey guys,

Just got a 1996 2.3 4x4 Ranger with 4 wheel ABS. I noticed a bunch of fuses for ABS had been removed, ABS light on on the dash, so I replaced the fuses and the light went off.

Went out in my snowy backyard to test the ABS. I'm very confused by how the ABS sound and feel. If you stomp on the brakes I feel a faint pumping action in the pedal, but the pedal also gets very stiff (feels locked?) unlike it did before I put the fuses in. The weirdest thing is that the pedal makes a very odd noise that sounds like an electric motor (whirring sound).

I will say that the ABS seem to work well in terms of stopping, I didn't notice any skids or lock up, and the stopping distance was very good. During light braking, brakes act totally normal.

Are the odd pedal feel and the "whirring" sound normal? I have never had ABS on any ranger I had previously.

I could take a video tomorrow and post it if that helps. The sound is pretty audible.

 

[Yettiyell]

ABS stands for anti-brake-system. It actually releases your brakes. It depends on what surface you were driving on and the circumstances and alot of other variables but in its most basic description if the ecm senses a wheel turning a different speed than another it knows that wheel is spinning and will release the brake to try to get the traction back. The sound and feel will sometimes feel like the pedal is vibrating and there can be a motor like noise. From what I'm understanding of your post it would seem your brakes are working properly hopefully someone else with more knowledge can add in. It wouldn't be a bad idea to check the tone rings. Won't cost you anything. Hope this helped.

 

[adsm08]

The ABS system in your truck does more than just release the brakes. If actually has a fluid pump so it can release and apply them, just as if you were pumping them to come to a stop of slippery roads, just doing it the same number of times you can in a minute every second or so.

This will result in a high frequency clicking noise as the valve cycle, as well as a whirring noise when the pump runs.

It also causes the pedal to try and push back against your foot as that pump applies pressure to the whole system, up and down stream.

Pretty much everything you described there is normal for an operating ABS system. The key to it, for people who aren't used to driving an ABS equipped vehicle, is to not let it freak you out. Just hold that pedal down as hard as you can and ride it to the stop.