I have a 96 Ranger 2.3l currently having a problem with my brakes. The "ABS" light stays on and the brakes are real touchy. I can only apply real slow pressure otherwise they lock up and squeal the tires. Seeing if anyone can point me in the right direction on where to start.

 

If possible go to a gravel road and see if both front brakes are the issue or just one side.
Also for the rear
Or does it pull to one side?

Does the brake pedal come all the way up?
Can you lift it more with your foot, or hand?

There are a few things that can cause this.
Broken return spring
Broken/open atmosphere valve on power booster
Flex hose
stuck calipers
master cylinder problem


Power booster uses engine vacuum on one side of its diaphragm
The other side of diaphragm, facing the cab, there an atmosphere valve on the brake pedal rod.
When you press on brake pedal it opens the atmosphere valve allowing outside air pressure to assist you in pushing down on the pedal.
If brake pedal is not coming back up all the way then atmosphere valve stays open applying pressure to brakes.
Or if atmosphere valve is leaking then pressure is being applied

 

I'll let you know what happens thank you for the input

 

So I did some checking and only the rear tires lock up and the brake pedal does fully retract back. Any idea where to start with that information?

 

If pedal comes back all the way the power booster is OK.

Power booster's push rod isn't attached to Master Cylinder, it just sits inside Master and pushes on Masters piston when you push on the pedal.
And power booster has it's own return spring, pushes brake pedal back up

It could be the Master is your problem if it's piston return spring can't push master back.
BUT(big but) it could also be a collapsed flexible brake hose is causing limited return flow to master so it can't return fully.


When you push down on the brake pedal the master pushes fluid out to all 4 slave cylinders(calipers), so flow is like this:
Brake pedal>>>>>>>master>>>>>>>>>flex hose>>>>>>brake slaves

Then when you release the pedal then masters spring pushes master piston back and pulls fluid back releasing pressure at the slaves:
Brake pedal