I recently picked up a 1995 Bronco Eddie Bauer with the 5.8L. It's a mild project vehicle, but has a lot of potential. Well, at least I hope both of those are true.

There's a bit of a back story to the whole ABS situation, but I won't bore you all with those details. I discovered that the ABS Hydraulic Control Unit / Pump has some bad valves in it. After not being able to find a replacement and searching this forum I found the information on buying an Explorer HCU, repinning it, and bolting it up. So I ordered a 1994 Explorer HCU from a salvage yard and partially bench tested it to confirm the solenoids measured good, then rewired it using the factory service manual wiring diagrams and forum posts for guidance. I installed the Explorer HCU on the Bronco, bled the brakes, and took it for a spin. After reaching about 6mph the ABS light came on. Well, this seemed better than with the original pump, with that the ABS light came on as soon as the engine was started (after I installed a bulb for the ABS in the instrument cluster - part of that back story). In checking the ABS diagnostic codes though, there was a REALLY long list of 10 codes. I started with the highest code, code 63, and tested the ABS pump motor. It tripped the circuit breaker on my PowerProbe without making any noise. No good. I used the PowerProbe to test the original pump motor and it runs just fine.

So at this point I thought I'd just remove the three bolts (one bolt needs to be removed to gain access to the second motor bolt). I've removed these three bolts on both the original as well as the Explorer pump motor but I'm unable to get either pump motor to separate from the valve body. I don't see any other bolts that should be holding the motor on, and found a post on the forum suggesting he only had to remove the two bolts to remove the motor. I've soaked the seams with penetrating oil, tapped the motor house with a dead blow mallet, tried to pry them apart, but nothing seems to be budging.

Does anyone know if I'm missing something? I thought I'd check with the experts here before I get too rough with either of them or before I go purchase another used Explorer HCU (and do a more thorough bench test before voiding the warranty).

-Rod

 

Been doing this 45 years and never had the pleasure
That said the pump motor and accumulator have to be able to hold 5000 psi so it is probably a tight press fit
I do not think you will find any experts as overhaul of the HCU is not a thing
You may find some tinkerers and we are all that
Good luck
Sometimes it is necessary to destroy one component to figure out another
The motor does not go in twist and then bolt up?

 

I was wondering if it might require a twist as well. We had our first nice spring day today for probably 4 months so I've been outside enjoying it, but this evening I'll try the twist approach. A chisel following a penetrating oil soak between the motor and HCU didn't cause any movement....

-Rod

 

And of course you cannot get a picture of a new motor

 

I haven't been able find any images of a disassembled pump similar to the Bronco unit. Plenty of BMW and a couple of GMs, but they are different enough that they're of no help. I tried to twist both the original and the Explorer units and neither seem to budge. There is an interesting pattern around the cast base of the motor that appears like it may be so a special spanner wrench could fit it. A wrench kind of like those used to spin the spring collars for adjustable coil overs, but I tried a wrench and I tried getting it to rotate clockwise or counter clockwise with a blunt punch and dead blow to no avail. I didn't see any sort of movement in either rotation.

-Rod

 

And thank you for your suggestions!

-Rod

 

It is probably pressed in there real tight? Or has a class of fit with threads that is damn tight and possibly assembled when real hot
Due to the big pressure it needs to pump and hold (5kpsi roughly)
You may have to ruin (cut apart with a aluminum cutoff wheel) (on a air bizzer) a HCU or two
By the time you do that you may run across a good one
Hell they were 3200 from Ford back in the day and absolute hell to get bled
Starting to wonder if it's really worth it
Most vehicles with abs problems that are damn expensive or impossible to find parts for get the bulb removed and live with no abs
Proud of you for trying

 

My 96 Bronco abs went out back in the 90's, I wasn't about to spend that much for a new unit. Been running with no ABS ever since, have over 300000 miles now, bulb finally burnt out. so I removed the tape. LOL

 

This Bronco is going to be my 14 year old son's vehicle so, considering the rather short wheelbase, I think having working ABS is something I don't want to easily give up on.

-Rod

 

Plus if you can teach him to drive and use it properly
He will be much safer as you know
Find a clean one owner wrecked one at the junkyard and get the HCU?
95 with a 5.8
I will look myself at a yard near me for you

 

You might check with Chris your Neighbor on Facebook, he parts out Broncos. Has all kind of parts.

 

Correct, '95 Eddie Bauer with a 5.8 and 4WABS.

Your help continues to be much appreciated. I did find a 1994 Explorer HCU at a salvage yard 45 miles away for $35. This being the rust belt though I'm not sure what condition it will be in. Rewiring it to fit the Bronco doesn't bother me, but this time I'll bench test it all before I leave the salvage yard. There's another Explorer HCU about an hour away for $50 as a backup plan.

-Rod