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Brake master help

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vping

vping

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Anyone have experience with a 1991 Ford Ranger? This is my daily driver and has been so coming up on 16 years. Approx 130k and have not spent much on her in that time. Extremely reliable.

I get in it today and the brakes feel a little weird. (Wife moved it as I was pulling the GT out for the inaugural run and she adjusts the seat so it always feels a little weird) I blew it off.

I leave work this afternoon and noticed that the pedal goes down more that it usually does and does not feel right. Then it felt as if as I pushed down, it held but then the pedal kinda clicks down a notch. Kinda like when the MC might be going. I always check the fluid every 3K when I change the oil and it's always fine. I looked at it tonight and if brake fluid is normally the color of Budweiser, this looks like amber beer.

Consensus?

Figures I got the brakes bled on the GT yesterday. Every time I work on the GT and get closer to using her more often, the truck gets a little peaved & breaks on me.
 
Check the rear brake cylinders (both of 'em)... They're probably about due for replacement. MC should be good to go.
 
Hi Vping,
Has the brake fluid ever been changed? I’ve owned my ’99 Ranger since ’01 and have changed the fluid twice.
 
Yes the fluid does need changed periodically too. Could be yours has degraded enough to start boiling under mild heat (for brakes).... Which adds air to the system. Also, brake fluid absorbs water... or moisture from the air. Which will let it boil too - adding air.

Don't forget to check the rear cylinders... a slight bit of moisture in the system will hasten the failure of those parts by coroding the inside bores. And the truck is 15 years old... I've had the rear cylinders go out on almost every used car I've ever bought that was 10 years old or older (with rear drum brakes). Surprisingly though my MGB has not needed them yet... But I have new one's to go on it soon. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif
 
This morning it was not that bad & it was very hot here yesterday. That is the first thing I thought of that I should change the fluid.
Thers is a little foam bobby thing in there that seems to be starting to sink. I wonder if that needs replacing.

Best way to change fluid would be what, a complete drain & then fill & bleed or should I drop the level a bit & fill with new fluid while pumping out the old?

This has power brakes with antilock rears. Is there anything I need to watch out for?

Should it be running?

I have the Haynes but am at work right now so I will have to review it tonight.
 
Not while running. Start at the far end and keep topping the MC 'till you've clear fluid there, then on to the next. Continue until fresh fluid and repeat at the other two. Keep the MC topped and you ~should~ have no issues.
 
If possible, I’d use a turkey baster to suck most of the fluid out of the reservoir. Then add new fluid and run it through the lines by bleeding. I would not drain it, you’d have to deal with air bubbles then.
 
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/iagree.gif That's what I just did for the brake fluid change in my Honda. Be sure to keep the master cylinder reservoir full as you flush the individual wheel cylinders; if the ABS pumps get air in them you often need the scan tool to bleed them (translation: It gets towed to the dealer). Just bleed the wheel cylinders until the old fluid gets purged and the fresh stuff comes out. Pretty easy to do, it took me about an hour to do all four wheels. Even my 2 year old Honda had fluid that looked the same color as strong tea when it came out.
 
Last thing I need it another tow to my mechanic. I rarely do the bigger things on the truck because it is my daily ride.
I wanted to do the brakes myself but needed a special tool to get the nut holding the rotor off. It's 4WD and I could not for the life of me figure it out.

Bleeding the brakes might not be too bad for her.
 
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