Brake noise...?

[mattinak]

'95 Ranger, 2WD, manual, 120k miles. When you step on the brake pedal at relatively slow speed (i.e. coming up to stop light), there is the sound of a noisy motor somewhere underneath the pedal, and pulsing vibration in the pedal as well, like you would expect with ALB on ice. What should I be looking for?

 

[killj0y]

That's your ABS (anti-lock brakes system) acting up.

 

[killj0y]

The abs light doesn't come on? Might be your wheel speed sensor. Get your codes read.

 

[adsm08]

I'd be looking for a damaged tone ring if you have ABS. If you don't, I'd be looking into the condition of the pads and rotors as pads that have gone into the metal or rotors that have corroded from the inside out and lost the glazed surface can both cause something similar to what you have described.

 

[killj0y]

I'd be looking for a damaged tone ring if you have ABS. If you don't, I'd be looking into the condition of the pads and rotors as pads that have gone into the metal or rotors that have corroded from the inside out and lost the glazed surface can both cause something similar to what you have described.

wouldn't they squeal like a mother though?

 

[daniel3507]

Any chance the brake pad has come loose in the caliper?

 

[adsm08]

wouldn't they squeal like a mother though?

Not if it is running metal to metal or on a pure rust surface. Those conditions produce more of a rumbling sound. Squeals are made when two smooth glazed surfaces run over each other.

 

[mattinak]

Thanks for all the great suggestions --that gives me some things to start looking for....

Just got the truck recently and I'm not sure if it has ABS.... How can I tell?

I haven't seen an ABS light on the dash, but I've noticed that the regular red brake light will come on momentarily when it's happening, then it will go off. One other thing I just noticed is that that there is a slight tug to the left when braking to a stop (but not perceptible when braking at driving speed).

The noise is definitely an electric motor-type noise, and it sounds like it is coming from somewhere right underneath the pedal (or maybe transferred through the pedal?). It is not the type of metal/metal noise that I have heard on other rigs coming from the vicinity of the front wheels when there is an obvious rotor and pad conflict.

Thanks again for your help!

 

[adsm08]

Then it's ABS activation. The bulb for the ABS light is just burnt out. Best way to tell for sure is to look for electrical wires running to the front wheels, but most 95+ trucks did have some from of ABS, usually RABS.