I have a `93 ranger 2 wheel drive I recently replaced the front brakes from the master cylinder down and the spindle out now when I step on the brake pedal while moving I get a thumping or clunking from the front wheels and with that the pedal sinks a little I have inspected the brakes visually and bled them out numerous times but I am lost as to the cause of the noise I have asked my father who has been working on cars longer than I’ve been around and he says it is just the caliper piston hitting the brake pad, but I have never heard that in any car I’ve driven before! Any help or suggestions would be great thanks

 

Yes, I too am having the same problem on my 2002 Mazda. It's almost like its going into the ABS mode. It only happens when the truck is almost at a complete stop. Very scary. If I could afford the "down time" I would take it in to have it checked out. If anyone has heard of this before please help .
Thanks in advance.

 

Sometimes the front ABS wheel sensors can get dirty or for some other reason one or the other doesn't read the speed of a front wheel correctly. This can cause the symptoms you describe. Does your '02 have 4WABS?

msully's issue would appear to be a mechanical one.

 

Thanks for the reply. Yes my truck does 4wabs. Do you happen to know where these sensors are located? If I don't have to suffer the "down time" it would sure be a life saver at this time. Wouldn"t you this would happen when I need my truck the most.
Thanks again

 

Check out my posts in this thread:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/4...abs-issue.html

 

Thanks Rockledge,
I really can't thank you enough.

 

msully005, was there any hint of this problem before? Was there anything unusual that happened before you replaced the brakes, like a line blowout or the like? I would personally inspect the rear brakes very closely, to make sure everything is stationary back there except the shoes. Finally, does it pull at all? A sticking wheel cylinder (particularly rear, which wouldn't pull much) could release under pressure and cause a drop in peddle resistance. In any case I agree with rockledge, sounds like a mechanical problem, hey you might even want to check tie rod ends and ball joints while you're under there. And BTW, no this is not normal!

 

the problem just started when the front brakes were replaced I had replaced the rears about 6 months ago because I broke a break line while trying to replace a rotted out sending unit, so the rears have all new hardware as well, including new parking brake cables. the front steel lines were rusted out and the rubber hoses were dry rotted (all the salt and **** they put down on the winter roads up here in New York does not do any good for the cars) and the front end is tight the tie rod ends look new, I just purchased the truck used about a year ago and have been replacing parts since, but it is better than an escort wagon :<) Can you imagine 6’ 3 280lbs squishing into a ford escort station wagon, looked like a sardine in a can ha ha

 

i took my truck to my local ford dealer, who said everything looked good except for the rear brake shoes were installed backwards. would that make my front brakes clunk???

 

No it wouldn't make your front brakes make a clunking sound. question is did you install the brakes or did someone else? one thing I have seen done is the tension spring on the caliper retainer not reinstalled will cause a clunk, basically make sure the caliper can not slide forwards and backwards.

 

i dont remember seeing a spring on the calipers, but i will check tomorrow morning. where would i be looking for the spring???

 

sounds like retainer is missing also the pins could be worn or bent get a new hard ware kit also check your ball joints may not have noticed with the old pads

 

i looked up the front brake "blowup" in a repair manual and noticed the picture noted anti-rattle clips on the brake pads. i purchased the clips from the local parts store and installed them and that solved the rattling and thumping. i would like to thank all of you for your expertise.

 

your welcome