Bought the truck about 6 months ago, rebuilt the front suspension and installed new front pads, rotors and bearings. About a month or so ago my 01 Ranger started having brake issues, pedal sinking to the floor, grinding noise from rear. Turns out all the hardware and springs broke in the rear drum brakes. Replaced all the hard ware and springs as well as new shoes and drums, driver side wheel cylinder rebuilt because it had some minor leakage and bled the entire system. Afterwards the excessive pedal travel never went away. Fluid looked crappy so flushed the entire system, no change. Replaced master cylinder, no change. Replaced power brake booster, no change. Adjusted rear shoes, no change. Replaced front pads and greased slide pins again, no change. Have pushed 2 gallons of fresh brake fluid through entire system, no change. Feel as though the rear wheel cylinders might be the culprit, but they show no visible signs of leaking. Also an occasioal occurrence, while sitting at a stoplight, the abs pump motor pulsates for a second, dont know if its associated or normal, or a completely unrelated issue. Any input and advice is appreciated, thanks in advance.

 

Sounds like air is trapped somewhere, possibly in the ABS. What process did you use to bleed the system?

 

Used the automated bleed procedure on the scan tool multiple times, then bled from furthest to closest to the master cylinder. have done this both by pumping the pedal and using a vacuum bleeder. I've pushed over 2 gallons fluid through the entire system. Ifthere is air in the system, its not from lack of being bled and/or bled properly.

 

Its not spongy feeling. The brake pedal just travels half it's stroke before it feels like it engages the brakes, after that 5-6" of travel the truck stops as it should.