ABS not working right

[vlmuke]

I am not really fimilar with the windstar this vehicle is my girlfriends the ABS light is on and the brakes are pulsing when you press the pedal which to me usually means the rotors are warped but I noticed that most cars with ABS have a tone ring on the CV joint but the CV joints on her van don't so I was wondering if someone replace the CV joints with one for a van with out ABS any thought or ideas would be helpful
Thanks
Rich

[mark v]

The ABS ring is on the wheel bearing.

[jr78]

On a Windstar the front tone rings are on the outer CV joint. If your ABS light is on the ABS system is shut down, so if you are getting the vibration when the light is on then most likely it is not an ABS issue. Although the missing tone rings maybe why the light is on.

[midnitez]

My ABS light comes on right after I start moving and the brakes sometimes feel like they are pulsing. I think it is the ABS unit that went bad. Big $ item that I refuse to get fixed. Not a big deal with me as I really dont need ABS. Its more of an annoyance then anything else. Some day I might locate the ABS fuse and pull it so I dont (hopefully) get the pulsing.

[BillsCatz]

Howdy. I got a 98 Windstar from friends a few weeks ago and like it so far. But I signed onto the Windstar forum today and right away saw every problem I've noticed so far has been listed here within the past few days: power steering leak, funky ABS and dome light that stays on sometimes.

The folks that owned this one had the whole front end done over last year, like $1800.00worth of work, all the new parts are obvious and the Mieneke invoice is there. Of course, now it's time for other things to wear out, ahem...

My ABS light comes on after I brake moderately at higher speeds, but goes off and stays off after a re-start. Doesn't seem to affect the braking at all -- no pulsing or other odd feel to them. So I'll ignore it unless the real brake light comes on. Thanks for the stories and advice.

Bill

[mark v]

The picture in post #2 shows the Windstar's hub/wheel bearing with the tone ring attached to it, my sources showed this was for the front wheel. After doing a better search off a trusted website it clearly shows you are correct that it is attached the the CV Joint.

Disregard my photo unless you will need one for the rear.

Originally Posted by jr78

On a Windstar the front tone rings are on the outer CV joint. If your ABS light is on the ABS system is shut down, so if you are getting the vibration when the light is on then most likely it is not an ABS issue. Although the missing tone rings maybe why the light is on.

[BroncoJoe19]

Personally, I would discribe the feeling when the ABS is in effect as "shuddering" NOT as pulsating. Pulsating may be my discription for warped rotors. WIth that being said, if the ABS is not functioning, one would not feel the effect of the ABS shuddering. IF the ABS is not working, and one feels "pulsating" that pulsating sensation is probably related to warped rotors.

My guess, (if your discriptions are acurate) is that there are two problems, one in the ABS, and warped rotors.

It is my understanding that some, but not all shops have ABS scanners.

[mark v]

When the ABS activates you will have a smooth brake pedal and then the ABS kicks in and makes the brake pedal seem like it is moving up and down very fast.

Is this is what you are experiencing?