i have a 99 ranger 4.0 4x4 auto, and just recently i noticed that when im in 2wd and on snow or mud or something slick if i start spinning i cant get my wheels to stop at all. i can have the brakes all the way down and they will still spin slowly with no gas. the only way to stop them is to shift into park. this really confused me. whats the problem.

 

Sounds like your rear brakes aren't working fully... I'd have someone take a look at it, that doesn't sound safe if you rear brakes aren't fully engaging...!

 

j123

serious problem!! Sounds like you've unknowingly been running on mostly your front brakes. The back brakes do have less power than do the front in order to keep the vehicle under control during hard braking ie. your front brakes lockup first so that your tail does'nt pass your front end in a pirouette. Either the backs are seriously out of adjustment, your pads are contaminated with brake fluid or axle lube, or there's a problem with the hydrolics that isn't allowing your brake shoes to fully engage with the drums. It might be one side or both. Either way get them services ASAP. If your fronts have been handling the whole load, they may need work too. Are the rotors blue and/or grooved?

If you're doing it yourself, jack 'er up, pull the drums and see if everything is dry. If wet right up to the top on the backing plate, it's probably the brake cylinders. Half way up - axle seal - big job.
If you've never been on the inside of a differential, get it to a mechanic.
Brake fluid has a distinctive smell. replace brk cylndrs and replace the brakes&springs. It's not difficult. Get a good manual.

Good luck
Fred

 

It could be he has abs. i drove a van that did that once, it wasn't that there was a problem, so much as the abs was just being quirkey. to stop i had to throw it in nueteral. it wasn't fun, but if you have abs the problem isn't the brakes ot fluids, so much as the electrics.