Speedy Auto > Auto FAQ > Cars > Ford

Ford: 93 Ford Explorer ABS brakes, pressure pot, aircraft mechanic


Question
I recently acquired a 93 Explorer that I believe may have master cylinder trouble, as the brake petal is spongy and seems to have a lot of travel.  The car stops ok, but also seems to lock up (or rather the ABS kicks in) easily on wet roads.  This is the first car that I've had that has all four anti-lock brakes.

Anyway the question/situation is this:
I would like to know about replacing the master cylinder myself. The Hanes book is telling me that I cannot replace the master cylinder at home because it takes special high dollar tools to bleed it and possible the anti-lock controller. It basically says that any opening in the system above the anti-lock controller has to be bleed by a professional shop. As an aircraft mechanic, I have a hard time dealing with many shops due to cost and many times they do sloppy work.  (I am sure that some don't but I probably can't afford them.)

Is there any other way to do it myself without paying for a shop?  What about reverse flushing/bleeding the system with a pressure pot.  That is how we do it on some airplanes, but they don't really have the same type of anti-lock systems.

Thanks for any help that you can give.
MB


Answer
yes...  first you know you must bench bleed then install the master . then with the vehicle running hold your foot down on the peddle and have some one help you bleed the brakes. now you can either pump them or you can just  hold them down and the sys. will self bleed.