Brake problem on a Ford Escape

[pwdcougar]

Is it ok if I ask the question here? It's regarding a 2010 Escape.

Paul

[pwdcougar]

Well no one has said no yet so....

2010 Ford Escape ABS but with drums on the back. New pads and rotors up front and new master cylinder. Master was bench bled and then the entire system bled with a Motive Powerbleeder (which works great by the way).

Problem: the pedal will go down to the floor eventually and has what I can only describe as a what the heck moment during braking. When applying the brakes you get good pedal feel for a bit then WHAT THE HECK IS THIS for a bit then good pedal feel. During the what the heck part the pedal drops but then starts to feel correct. Very disconcerting. It work then it doesn't then it works again.

An odd note is that while messing around with it I plugged the rear brake line at the master and the pedal lost all spongy feel.

I'm not sure the rear brakes are adjusted all the way up but they are working.

Any takes on this?

Thanks

Paul

[rpmerf]

Is there anything special that needs to be done to bleed the ABS pump, like run a bleeding program with a scan tool?

[Dead Parrot]

The traditional way to adjust rear drum brakes is to go in reverse about 10mph and stomp on the brakes. Repeat as needed.

Not sure that still works on the computerized versions.

But if the rears are out of adjustment, might be messing with the ABS/Traction Control sensors as the fronts get applied and the computer expects the rears to be engaging.

[pwdcougar]

Thanks for the responses guys. I'll re do the rear drum adjustment and check online for special instructions for for bleeding the ABS

Paul

[JAKA]

Check the tone rings for the ABS sensors. Have actually seen them broken and sometimes moved out position. This can cause false activation of the ABS.

[rpmerf]

Interesting thought. Brings up some more thoughts.

If you can get the ABS to activate (dirt / gravel road, raining, snowing), goes the pedal feel the same as your what the heck moments?

Does the ABS light come on when the ABS engages?

Do you notice the ABS light or brake light come on during these what the heck moments? I realize you are likely paying more attention to not crashing than the gauge cluster. Wonder if you can look up some sort of history. Should be a history for at least the fault codes.

[biketopia]

Originally Posted by JAKA

Check the tone rings for the ABS sensors. Have actually seen them broken and sometimes moved out position. This can cause false activation of the ABS.

This, 100% this. Pull both front wheels and carefully inspect the tone rings. I bet you will find one is broken. I've had it happen to a handful of escapes in our fleet. Even had a friend bring me her car because her friend that owned a shop told her the ABS pump was bad and needed replacing at $1500 bucks. $10 tone ring and back in business. Very common problem on those SUV's . When Dorman makes it, it's important to check out haha

https://www.dormanproducts.com/p-6126-917-532.aspx