Hey guys,

Just got a 1996 2.3 4x4 Ranger with 4 wheel ABS. I noticed a bunch of fuses for ABS had been removed, ABS light on on the dash, so I replaced the fuses and the light went off.

Went out in my snowy backyard to test the ABS. I'm very confused by how the ABS sound and feel. If you stomp on the brakes I feel a faint pumping action in the pedal, but the pedal also gets very stiff (feels locked?) unlike it did before I put the fuses in. The weirdest thing is that the pedal makes a very odd noise that sounds like an electric motor (whirring sound).

I will say that the ABS seem to work well in terms of stopping, I didn't notice any skids or lock up, and the stopping distance was very good. During light braking, brakes act totally normal.

Are the odd pedal feel and the "whirring" sound normal? I have never had ABS on any ranger I had previously.

I could take a video tomorrow and post it if that helps. The sound is pretty audible.

 

Anyone have any thoughts on this?

Putting the truck on the road soon would love advice on the ABS

 

I'm not an expert on ABS, but yes the abs will make a noise while it's working. The motor is cyclying to keep the wheels from looking up. Sometimes it's a whine, mine is sort of a grindy noise. This is also the pumping sensation you feel in the pedal. If the truck brakes fine under normal conditions (regular soft/moderate stops) I don't think anything your describing sounds abnormal.