What is this part?

[FatWilbur]

thank you all of you for chiming in. hopefully I can get it in soon to get fixed.

i took a picture (after I googled ) ... yes, I think it is low.

 

[FatWilbur]

For sure. Losing brakes is a heck of a surprise on the highway

. I will get some to fill it up... to get to mechanic.the shop is 3 miles away

 

[FatWilbur]

It's just what we do.

Be really careful... needing to brake... and having NONE is the worst feeling!

yes sir, I will be. ty!

 

[FatWilbur]

yes sir, I will be. ty!

I have AAA, so i will have them tow it for me

 

[1990RangerinSK]

thank you all of you for chiming in. hopefully I can get it in soon to get fixed.

DO NOT DRIVE IT.

. I will get some to fill it up... to get to mechanic.the shop is 3 miles away

Depending on how bad the leak is, three miles is long enough to lose all of your brake fluid. When that happens, NO BRAKES.

WARNING: Even though brakes are set up with two "zones" (usually left front -> right rear and right front -> left rear), you can still end up with NO BRAKES when one line is leaking.

I have AAA, so i will have them tow it for me

Good plan.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

DO NOT DRIVE IT.

Depending on how bad the leak is, three miles is long enough to lose all of your brake fluid. When that happens, NO BRAKES.

WARNING: Even though brakes are set up with two "zones" (usually left front -> right rear and right front -> left rear), you can still end up with NO BRAKES when one line is leaking.


Good plan.

In general I agree.
But brake zones... I've never seen the split you describe. All I've run across is front zone, and rear zone. At least those built in the 60's thru 90's. Maybe newer ones have the split you describe.
And a word about older than 1960's, those usually had only one zone, so all the brakes failed at once, front and back...
It's good to have working parking brakes...lol.

 

[1990RangerinSK]

In general I agree.
But brake zones... I've never seen the split you describe. All I've run across is front zone, and rear zone. At least those built in the 60's thru 90's. Maybe newer ones have the split you describe.
And a word about older than 1960's, those usually had only one zone, so all the brakes failed at once, front and back...
It's good to have working parking brakes...lol.

I can't say for sure, but I *think* my 1990 was set up diagonal. I had a leak in the left rear wheel cylinder. If it was set up front/back, I should have still had good braking power (but no back brakes). It felt like there was nothing there when the brake fluid got low. No, I shouldn't have been driving it. Ultimately, though, that's why I finally took it off the road (that and the bad fuel pump).

 

[FatWilbur]

DO NOT DRIVE IT.

Depending on how bad the leak is, three miles is long enough to lose all of your brake fluid. When that happens, NO BRAKES.

WARNING: Even though brakes are set up with two "zones" (usually left front -> right rear and right front -> left rear), you can still end up with NO BRAKES when one line is leaking.


Good plan.

thanks I appreciate the info

 

[superj]

mine always had the front zone and rear so if you lost a rear line, than you still had fronts and parking brake.

those new electric parking brakes worry me because now you cannot control how they work when you need them. you hit the button and it locks up, i guess? in two vehicles, the parking brake saved my butt when i lost brakes on the highway

 

[Josh B]

I never had a parking brake. All I ever had was an emergency brake, and I have certainly used them.

 

[sgtsandman]

The 1998 and 2011 definitely have front and rear zones. There is only one line that runs back to the rear axle before it splits off for the left and right rear brakes. I’m pretty sure the 2019 is the same. I think it’s a solid axle thing.

The only vehicles I know for sure had/have a split front and rear were/are vehicles with and independent or semi independent rear suspension.

 

[Ranger850]

I never had a parking brake. All I ever had was an emergency brake, and I have certainly used them.

If you set the "emergency" brake after you turn off the engine, it becomes a "parking" brake.
Kinda like the Moon roof Ford used to have when every one else had a sun roof. Different manufacturers call it different things to sale it, but it works the same.

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

Kinda like the Moon roof Ford used to have when every one else had a sun roof.

Huh. I thought the one only worked during the day, and the other only at night.

 

[Shran]

All Rangers dating back to 83 have two circuits, one for front and one for rear but after 85 they share the same reservoir for fluid so if you lose a line anywhere you'll eventually lose the brakes entirely. A reservoir of fluid is good for a while though, I had a line rust off next to the fuel tank on my '88 and it puked all over the parking lot at work. Filled it up and drove 10 miles home, trying to use the brakes as little as possible. Had a fair bit left in the reservoir and it did stop OK, pedal just went to the floor if you held it there lol... gotta pump it.

My buddy had a 78 F150 that we called the Critter Gitter, I believe it only had one functional brake on the front and none on the back. One side on the rear was missing the drum and everything inside it and the lines were pinched off. That was interesting to drive to say the least.

 

[1990RangerinSK]

thanks I appreciate the info

You're welcome. Sorry to come across so cranky.