I recently got ahold of my Father's 1992 Ford Ranger (he passed away in 2000 and my mother gave it to me).

Anyhow, I've had the truck only about 2 months but yesterday it developed a pretty scary problem with the brakes. I didn't really find the answer using the search so I hope this is a new one.


In the morning as I was driving I heard a clunk come from the right front wheel area like some metal part breaking or falling off. I did not see anything in the rear veiw mirror and the truck was fine so I went on to work, about 25 miles.

After work I came home and as I got almost home I noticed that it felt like the right front caliper was sticking and the truck was pulling to the right. I pulled over in a gas station to look at and really couldn't see anything much. I checked the fluid and it seemed full but pretty dirty so I decided to go on home and park it and change the pads, fluid etc. on the weekend. It was really sticking but I only had to go about 2 more miles so I went on.

As I got home the pedal lost almost all pressure and when it got within 1" of the floor the wheels would lock up on the rear! Pretty scary but since it's a stick I got it home.

I have to admit, I've never seen anything like this on any vehicle (I'll also confess that I consider a 1992 to a "new" car, most of the cars I own are 25-40 years old and I do all the work on them). Also, I really don't have any sort of experience with computer controlled systems in cars (I'm a carbs and cams person).

I am suspecting something like one of the pads fell out and the piston fully extended letting air in or something like the fluid boiled but I am not familiar with this truck at all and don't even have a manual for it yet. Any suggestions?

Thanks for any help you can provide!

Take a look, then ask the questions. If it's been sitting for a long period of time it could be alot of different things.

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'88 STX Super Cab 4x4
2.9 5spd 180,000 miles
Crappy Paint, Worn Parts,
Fix'em as they Break
when Nowhere is Now Here

Wow dick move. New guy askin for help and all you can say is idk wat to tell ya its old. Don't post unless you have something nice or helpful to say. That was worthless. He already had the truck apart from what it sounds like and now he IS asking the questions cuz he doesn't know much about rangers...

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The {EVOLUTION} Continues
!:::My Ride:::!
[SIZE="1"]2003 FX4 Ext cab 4x4.
4.0L V6, 4.10 axel 8.8 l/s, CAI, 2.25" Exhaust w/ turbo muffler.
T-bar crank, 33x12.5 Firestone Destination A/T on 15x8 Soft 8's.
3" BL, 6400 Shackels
Red LED's:Under dash and behind Grill, 6" fogs behind grill, painted headlights and flairs
Truxxedo Lo-pro Tonneu Cover and Chrome bed rails
Mods to come:DIY bedliner.

Uh, really, you didn't contribute either, so chill.


But I do agree with the above statement. You have the experience working on the older cars, and the front brakes aren't really any different on this one. Sounds like you have an educated guess of what happened, and that would be my first guess from reading your story. So, take it apart, and see what broke. I'm thinking it might have been one of the slide pins that hold the caliper on, or you might have blown a seal.

So, tear it down, let us know what you find, and we'll help you as we can once we know what we're dealing with.

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some thing simalr happend to my 96 and turns out it was the rear brakes that went out. if you take of the drum, make sure your adjuster cable and star key are all in workin order. I bought a whole replacement kit at auto zone. fixed it no problem

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My ranger was great off the line!Mountaineer Rangers1999 4.0 4x4 stock

Anybody have a brake diagram for 92 Ford ranger with 4x4? My front pads need changed and I can't figure out how to loosen the calipers to replace pads

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1992 Ford Ranger STX 4x4
4.0 Liter (6 cylinder)
"When I grow up I want to be an F150"

Hey, there are two holding blocks made of metal with rubber sandwiched inbetween them. Take a small flat bladed screwdriver and place it against the metal part on the inner side and tap it out the back. I am assuming the 4X4 is the same as two wheel drive.

That may not be the "official" way to do it but it worked very well for me. To put the caliper keeper back in, just tap with a hammer. It's real easy to work on and nearly identical to 70s Fiats.


PS: On my truck, the problem was that the pads had worn out and the piston was sticking (weird because it made no noise). I am assuming the brakes failed suddenly because the fluid or water in the fluid had boiled. I replaced one caliper and the pads and replaced the fluid and all is fine now.

Yeah, I finally figured it out. Weird!
But I got it done.

But after al lthat work I slid into a guard rail this morning and messed up my left from fender and bumper and knocked out one of my orange reflector.

Hopefully it doesn't affect my inspection.

__________________
1992 Ford Ranger STX 4x4
4.0 Liter (6 cylinder)
"When I grow up I want to be an F150"