Jim Grant's Tech Tips
'95 Ford Windstar, Braking Noises
Q:
I have a '95 Ford Windstar
that has a loud grinding/creaking noise that starts at the end of braking
when the vehicle is almost stopped. This happens about 50 percent of the
time and started a few months ago. I have taken the vehicle to three different
shops who report that there is no problem with the brakes. The last place
was a Ford dealership who said that it sounded like it may be an ABS problem
but since the interior dash light did not come on they could do nothing.
The brakes and rotors were replaced a year and a half ago by the same
dealership.
A:
ALLDATA Information
System shows a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) regarding brake noise
and false Anti-Lock Brakes System (ABS) system activation. The condition
is most likely to present itself at lower speeds when turn and going over
a bump. It seems that the ABS system is sensitive enough that it detects
the change in wheel speed under these conditions and interprets this as
an ABS event. This results in the ABS system being overactive. Ford has
a revised computer/program to address this issue. You should take some
time to pin down just what conditions create the noise that you're hearing.
With that information a technician can duplicate the problem. The tech
can then isolate/disable the ABS system to prove if the system is being
overactive and the cause you your braking noise.
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