1998 Ford Ranger

A VIBRATION HAS DEVELOPED UNDER ALL BRAKING CONDITIONS (15,000 MILES ON). THE STEERING WHEEL WILL SHUDDER AND TWITCH FROM SIDE TO SIDE. ENTIRE VEHICLE WILL VIBRATE. WORST UNDER LOW BRAKING PEDAL PRESSURE. AS THE VEHICLE SLOWS, THE SENSATION IS AS IF THE BRAKES ARE MAKING VARYING BRAKING CONTACT WITH THE ROTORS/DRUMS, CONSISTANT WITH THE WHEEL REVOLUTION SPEED. AT LOW SPEED AND LIGHT BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE, THE STEERING WHEEL WILL SUDDENLY SPIN 90-180 DEGREES TO THE LEFT, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CHANGE DRIVING LANES, UNLESS FIRMLY HELD BACK. DEALERSHIP INSPECTED AND DROVE THE VEHICLE. EXPERIENCED VIBRATION/SHUDDER AND WHEEL PULL. STATES BRAKING AND STEERING SYSTEMS COMPONENTS ARE IN NORMAL CONDITION, BRAKES ARE UNADJUSTABLE, COMPLAINT IS COMMON, AND USUALLY GETS WORSE. CAN OFFER NO SOLUTION. *AK

LOAD 'SQUEAL' HEARD WHEN RELEASING CLUTCH PEDAL BETWEEN 1ST-2ND, 2ND-3RD, 2WD & 4X4 HIGH. WILL BE SERVICED FOR THE 3RD TIME MARCH 1999. FIRST TWO INSPECTIONS RESULTED IN REPLACEMENT OF PRESSURE PLATE(2) AND FLYWHEEL (1).REAR DRUM BRAKES FAILED TO RELEASE AFTER EMERGENCY LEVER PULLED. OWNER HAD TO APPLY UNACCEPTABLE GAS PEDAL PRESSURE TO MOVE VEHILCE, RESULTING IN A LOUD 'CLUNK' WHEN DRUM BRAKES FINALLY RELEASED.

PROBLEM WITH REAR DRUM BRAKES GRABBING WHEN TRYING TO APPLY SLIGHT BRAKE PRESSURE, AGGRAVATED IN DAMP WEATHER. THE FIRST TIME I TOOK IT INTO COLE WHITNEY FORD FOR REPAIR WAS 2/19 /98 MILEAGE 12282. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS CAUSED BY A BUILD UP OF BRAKE DUST THAT WHEN WET WOULD CAUSE LOCK UP. THEY BLAME IT ON THE NON ASBESTOS CONTENT OF THE SHOES. ALL THEY DID WAS CLEAN OUT THE DRUMS AND SAND THE SHOES. THEY SAID THERE IS NO KNOWN REPAIR OTHER THAN THIS.I HAVE NOW MOVED TO BANGOR SO I HAVE MY TRUCK SERVICED AT DARLINGS FORD 403 HOGAN ROAD BANGOR MAINE 04401 PHONE 1-800-540-1339. SINCE THE FIRST INCIDENT IN FEB. 98 I'VE HAD THE TRUCK IN TO DARLING'S TWICE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM . THEY TREATED THE PROBLEM IN THE SAME WAY, STILL NO PERMANENT FIX. I ASKED IF FORD WOULD CONTINUE TO TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM AT NO CHARGE AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. THEY TOLD ME TO CALL FORD CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE. THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT AND I SHOULD TALK TO THE DEALER AS THEY MAY DO IT AS A SIGN OF GOOD FAITH. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT SAFETY ISSUE ON THIS VEHICLE AS I TRAVEL 60 MILES TO WORK IN ALL WEATHER AND IT'S DANGEROUS TO HAVE THE REAR BRAKES GRAB WHEN DRIVING ON ICE . I'VE HAD SEVERAL INCIDENTS OF NEARLY LOSING CONTROL WHEN APPLYING VERY SLIGHT PRESSURE ON THE BRAKES AND THE REAR BRAKES LOCKED. I'VE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS IN THE SUMMER DURING DAMP WEATHER ON NEARLY DRY ROADS WHEN THE REAR BRAKES LOCKED UP CAUSING THE ANTI LOCK SYSTEM TO COME IN AND GREATLY INCREASING THE STOPPING DISTANCE. THE LAST FORD TRUCK I OWNED WAS A 1987 MODEL IT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WHICH WAS FINALLY CURED BY INSTALLING BRAKE SHOES CONTAINING ASBESTOS BY ME. I 'M TOLD BY DARLINGS THESE TYPE OF BRAKE SHOES ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE.I SHOULD THINK THAT AFTER 11 YEARS FORD COULD COME UP WITH A FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM.I THINK THIS IS AN ACCIDENT JUST WAITING TO HAPPEN AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. THE BRAKES ACTED UP AGAIN LAST WEEKEND AND I'M TAKING IT IN TO DARLINGS AGAIN MONDAY 03/15 99 , PROBABLY ANOTHER TEMPORARY FIX.

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP BRAKE PEDAL GETS HARD AND TRUCK STOPPING DISTANCE IS INCREASED. MY SON EXPERENCED PROBLEM AT ABOUT 25 MPH, AND RAN OFF ROAD INTO A HOME OWNERS YARD. OWNER HAS ALSO EXPERENCED SAME PROBLEM. DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO FIX 3 TIMES. ADJUSTED ALL COMPONENTS/TURNED/FACED DRUMS/ROTORS; REPLACED MASTER CYL; REPLACED ALL PADS/SHOES. NOW PROBLEM ALWAYS HAPPENS FOR FIRST FEW STOPS AFTER SITTING OVER NIGHT OR ABOUT 1 HR. SERVICE TECH. HAS EXPERIENCED PROBLEM, BUT DID NOT FIX. OWNER WILL NOW CLAIM LEMON LAW RIGHTS. *AK

MY PICKUP HAD UNDIAGNOSED BRAKING DIFFICULTIES SINCE A MILEAGE OF 150. THE BRAKE PEDAL WILL NOT DEPRESS, THEN BREAKS FREE, GREATLY INCREASING MY REACTION TIME. THIS OCCURS UP TO 25 TIMES PER DAY IN VARYING DEGREES. FREEWAY FORD MERCURY HAS ATTEMPTED TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM WITH THE HELP OF THE MANUFACTURER REPRESENTATIVE. THEY HAVE REPLACED THE POWER BRAKE BOOSTER TWICE, THE PROPORTIONING VALVE, LINKAGE, AND OTHER SUSPECTED FAULTY PARTS TO NO AVAIL. ON THE THIRD VISIT IT WAS FOUND THAT MY RIGHT REAR BRAKE CYLINDER HAS NEVER WORKED. THIS WAS REPLACED, BUT HAD NO AFFECT ON THE STICKING BRAKE PEDAL. FOLLOWING THIS VISIT, THE FORD HOTLINE ADVISED THAT I DRIVE THE TRUCK 1,000 ADDITIONAL MILES IN HOPES THAT IT WOULD