89 ranger rear brake bleed problem

[greenstranger89]

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]

RABS valve is probably plugged up with gunk.

 

[greenstranger89]

can i bleed the proportioning valve or is that nowt the problem and where is the rabs module

 

[escort_gts]

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.

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[greenstranger89]

how did you bypass it is a proportioning valve needed or can you just route a line around it?

 

[escort_gts]

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.

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[greenstranger89]

so there is no need for a proportioning valve even if the rears are drums?

 

[escort_gts]

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.

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[Sasquatch_Ryda]

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]

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]

Does bypassing it cause the idiot light to come on?


Steve

 

[escort_gts]

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]

Does bypassing it cause the idiot light to come on?


Steve

Actually mine went out when I did, it was always on before.

 

[tx3nc]

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.