Front brake problem
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Elder User
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 630
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From: Central PA
Front brake problem
I just did a brake job on my 98 EB 5.4 4x4. I replaced the pads and rotors. Now when I brake, just before the truck comes to a complete stop, the brakes pulsate really loud and they don't work very well. Also with the wheels turned fully in either direction, the brakes pulsate real loud and they dont work very well. I checked my work. Everything seems to be installed correctly. I cant see how anything could be put in wrong. Nothing fits if its not installed right. I also bled the brakes just in case. I did have trouble with the old rotors coming off. I tried the bolts thru the caliper bolt holes trick. That didnt work. I ended up cutting the rotors and hammering them till they broke off. I made sure not to cut thru anything but the rotors.
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Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Where the war is...
Remove and reinstall the wheels, one side at a time, and check to make sure you torque the lugnuts correctly and to the exact torque specified. Also check the torque on the caliper mounting bolts. If either of these torque values are off, the wheel can end up wobbling. Try that first.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Apr 2008
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From: 0,0,1
Sounds like your ABS is kicking in. It's likely that you damaged one of the ABS wheel sensors the wiring to it, or the toothed sensor ring.
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Elder User
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 630
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From: Central PA
So, I pulled the ABS fuses and now the brakes seem to work fine. My guess is that I must have damaged one of the ABS speed sensors. Can I disconnect them one at a time to see which one is bad? It looks like they go up the inside of the wheel well and into the engine compartment somewhere.
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Fleet Owner
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From: 0,0,1
If one of your sensors was no good the ABS light would be on. Since it's not, you should inspect the toothed sensor ring at each wheel for cracks or missing teeth.
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Senior User
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Where the war is...
I don't understand how that could be damaged; I took my entire hub and steering knuckle to replace lower ball joints and removed the ABS sensor and cleaned it, etc. That toothed sensor ring sits inside the hub and bearing assembly. How would that get damaged? I could see the wire to the ABS sensor or maybe the sensor itself getting pulled, but how would the sensor ring get damaged? Is it common? I didn't see any missing teeth on it when I turned it over when mine was disassembled.
Junior User
Joined: Mar 2003
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From: Miami, FL
The ABS would seem to be working, thats what the pulsating is. The problem is that it is getting an incorrect signal and seems to think the car is on a skid. This is why the prev poster was indicating to check for missing teeth. I would also check for the distance (clearance) from ring to the sensor and things of that nature.
It is highly unlikely that both are bad. An alternate procedure would be to get a sensor, replace one side, and if that doesn't cure it, use the one you just took out on the other side. But if the clearance is the issue that would not fix it.
It is highly unlikely that both are bad. An alternate procedure would be to get a sensor, replace one side, and if that doesn't cure it, use the one you just took out on the other side. But if the clearance is the issue that would not fix it.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 467
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From: Where the war is...
The ABS would seem to be working, thats what the pulsating is. The problem is that it is getting an incorrect signal and seems to think the car is on a skid. This is why the prev poster was indicating to check for missing teeth. I would also check for the distance (clearance) from ring to the sensor and things of that nature.
It is highly unlikely that both are bad. An alternate procedure would be to get a sensor, replace one side, and if that doesn't cure it, use the one you just took out on the other side. But if the clearance is the issue that would not fix it.
It is highly unlikely that both are bad. An alternate procedure would be to get a sensor, replace one side, and if that doesn't cure it, use the one you just took out on the other side. But if the clearance is the issue that would not fix it.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Apr 2008
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From: 0,0,1
It could've happened when you were doing all of that pushing, pulling, and banging to get the rotors off. Regardless of how it happened, it happened. Now you're stuck with the task of looking for a cracked ring or a broken tooth if you want it fixed.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Where the war is...
Well, it was ICEFAN that had the problem, my rotors came off fine. But, I am trying to learn more about how he may have damaged the abs sensor ring; I would have thought that banging the rotors hard to remove them would have damaged the wheel bearing in the hub first, which I guess could have torqued the ring around a bit in the housing, and I guess if you drove off with the ring cocked in the housing it could have cracked it, but it seems like a stretch .... possible, but a stretch - certainly worth considering. I'm more inclined to think its the sensor itself and/or the wiring leading to the hub; like was mentioned before, ICEFAN could consider getting just one new sensor and try swapping it in with each front sensor and see if that fixes it.
Fleet Owner
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From: 0,0,1
Well, I'm not dismissing the possibility of a bad wheel sensor. However, the symptoms do not support a bad wheel sensor. The ABS light is not on, and the ABS kicks in only as he's coming to a stop. With a bad sensor, the ABS light would be on, and the ABS would kick in at higher speeds.
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Elder User
Joined: Feb 2005
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From: Central PA
I haven't been able to troubleshoot any further. 12 hour shifts and lots of rain. Hopefully tomorrow the weather will be better and I can get back at it. I thank you all for your input. Hope I didn't cause any arguments.