Complaint 289283

Complaint Summary

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

Owner Narrative

ON A RAINY DAY, REAR BRAKE LINING GRABBED ACTUATING THE ABS SYSTEM. AS I HAVE FOUND, THIS PROBLEM IS DISCUSSED IN FORD TSB 9805A24A. THE BRAKE PEDAL FELL AS ADDITIONAL PRESSURE WAS NEEDED TO STOP. DESCRIBED AS "NORMAL" IN SPECIAL SERVICE MESSAGE 03731. (A NICE WAY TO DESCRIBE A PROBLEM THAT YOU DO NOT WANT TO FIX.) THE ABS BRAKES STOPPED PUMPING. THE SYSTEM THEN APPEARED AS THOUGH NO BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE TRUCK WAS NOT SLOWING DOWN. EITHER THE BACK BRAKES AND POSSIBLY THE FRONT WERE NOT FUNCTIONING AT ALL, OR ALL 4 WHEEL WERE LOCKED UP AND THE TRUCK WAS SLIDING. (TIRES WERE ALL IN GOOD CONDITION.) I WAS FORCED TO PUT THE TRUCK INTO A DITCH IN ORDER TO AVOID THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. LATER TESTING ON A WET SURFACE REVEALED THAT I WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER OFF TO PUMP THE BRAKES, SOMETHING THAT MANUFACTURERS OF ABS SYSTEMS ADVISE YOU NOT TO DO. AS I UNDERSTAND FROM READING INFORMATION BY OTHERS WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, THE VACUUM SUPPLY ON THE SYSTEM IS NOT SUFFICIENT TO HANDLE REPEATED OPERATION BY THE ABS SYSTEM. I STILL AM NOT SURE WHAT THE CONDITION OF THE WHEELS WERE AT THE POINT WHEN I HAD TO LEAVE THE ROAD, WHETHER THE FRONT WERE ROLLING, OR LOCKED AND WHETHER THE BACK WERE ROLLING OR LOCKED. *AK

Owner-submitted narrative on file with NHTSA. Complaint narratives are self-reported and have not been verified.