Problem as below, according to Bosch, is caused by dirty or faulty ABS sensors. They are magnets and gather iron filings, which stops them working.

I've cleaned the sensors and the problem seems to have gone away. Hopefully for good.



my earlier post:


I'm posting here because (i) as a Magna owner I get very useful feedback from people here, and (ii) ABS unit (Bosch Germany) and master cylinder (PBR) on my AUIII Futura wagon are identical to that on my TW Magna wagon.

The problem is that on a sound surface, under light braking, just before the car comes to a stop, a completely different, scraping, pushing feel comes back up thru the brake pedal. Intermittently.

I took it to my mechanic, who it seems has sold out to some other guy who put new pads and rotors on the front (necessary: rotors were out of round and almost at minimum). This improved braking performance at speed (no shudder) but no change to above problem. He said everything looked fine to him. But I won't go back to him because he said steering column needed a $700 replacement (for a front end clicking noise). Pedders tightened the rack bolts, did their 28-point check, and charged me $14 (fixed the click). I like Pedders. They said front end looked good.

But the weird brake problem lives on. Has now got worse to the point that my wife has noticed it. I'm thinking ABS or master cylinder. ABS light behaves as normal during startup. Booster behaviour (pumping pedal with engine stopped and then during startup) seems normal.

Next stop will be a brake place.

I know it's a Ford, and you're right, it doesn't handle as well as my TW, but I like it.

All advice much appreciated.

Peter

My te magna has the same problem as well i have no idea what it is i need help to

At least you can afford a Ford.... hehe.
Hard to say really. Is this with any type of braking? Or with hard braking (ABS intervention)? What kind of pads? Cheapos? Fluids flushed and changed recently - prolly won't make much diff.

Have you checked for play in the wheel bearings and ball joints? May be causing low speed sideways movement that is feeding back to the brake pedal.

Had a low speed grinding noise once - not the brakes, but water had penetrated into the steel belts of the tyre and was making a low speed grinding noise. Try using the spare on the corner you suspect.

Do you have wear indicators on the pads? These scrape on the disc when the pads are worn down.

Check for excessive up/down play in the pads where they mount in the callipers. Could be a low speed pad vibration. Swap pads around or replace them and see if the problem improves.

Have you checked for play in the wheel bearings and ball joints? May be causing low speed sideways movement that is feeding back to the brake pedal.

Had a low speed grinding noise once - not the brakes, but water had penetrated into the steel belts of the tyre and was making a low speed grinding noise. Try using the spare on the corner you suspect.

Do you have wear indicators on the pads? These scrape on the disc when the pads are worn down.

Check for excessive up/down play in the pads where they mount in the callipers. Could be a low speed pad vibration. Swap pads around or replace them and see if the problem improves.

The first of above, no, checked that. Pedders did too.

Second: worn tyre? I doubt it. That would probably be constant. This is intermittent, and when it does happen, it does with a click, like some valve is opening or closing. It's a definite transition from one state to another.

Third: wear: put new pads on. No change.

The fourth: new pads have been fitted. I've checked and they seem to be snug, there doesn't seem to be any up/down/sideways movement.

It's got me beat.

No, not worn tyre, but one damaged by water entering the steel belts and rusting them. Makes a grinding noise when you are travelling slowly, and extra weight is on the tyre, ie when you brake. If its coming from one side, put the spare on there and see if it still does it.

I spoke to Bosch who said it is the ABS sensors, so I'm cleaning them. If that doesn't fix it, next stop is an auto electrician with an oscilloscope, they advise.

if u feel a kick back from the brake pedal that means the abs is is working it would be a fault in a sensor or a knick in the tone pick up wheel had that on a ba falcon b4 same sorta problem

Te me sounds like you might need a caliper rebuild. When your applying the brakes the piston pushes out and then its getting stuck when you release.

Not very expensive, you can buy a kit and rip it apart new seals etc for like $50 a side.

yeah on my old trooper it was $11 a side for seal kit, had every piece of rubber on the caliper and rubber grease (can just use brake fluid). was very easy, just take off caliper and pull piston right out and check for pitting or rust, clean up chamber and if all good replace seal, grease and reinsert. put other rubber bits on and yeah.

My te magna has the same problem as well i have no idea what it is i need help to

I finally fixed it: got ABS sensors from a wrecker for $15 ea and replaced both front ones (dead easy to do) and problem FIXED!!