Last night my brakes went out. Here is what happened. I was in stop and go traffic. All of a sudden I feel it pull to the right. When I hit the brakes it seemed to release the brake on that side and brake from the left. I pull over, and sure enough the right brake is glowing red. I started pumping the brakes I lost all brrakes. The brake fluid reservoir is full. I know this is power brakes and antilock brakes, but I am not familiar with brake systems. I wll be picking up a repair manual but wanted to get thoughts so I can get it fixed quickly. I have to use the E brake to stop it now.

My thought is that there is a pump that may have gone bad. And with how hot the brake got on one side I will be replacing the brakes and rotors.

Any help is definatly appreciated.
Thanks.


I have a 90 ford ranger 4.0

 

Well theres nothing in the antilock system that will lock an hold the brakes. kinda sounds like for what ever reason the brake on the right locked up , either they cocked in the drum , or the e-brake if used, failed to release, I have seen the brake pad material come loose from the backing an lodge in there as well .An if it over heated it probaly boiled the fluid an thats why you had no pressure

 

Thanks for the info. Problem solved. The piston in the caliper looks like it had locked up. The seals were just deteriated. So I replaced the calipers since they are $15 a piece, instead of rebuiling the damn things. Also got new brakes and bled the brake, and now I have something to stop me.

 

Great , glad you got it going , an you did say disc, guess the ole brain just went to drum....