I have a 1998 Dodge Dakota 4x4. The dash brake light and ABS light dash light keep coming on. The brake fluid is OK, but sometimes I feel the vibration on the brake peddle when I apply the brakes normally on a dry smooth road. Where does one begin to find out what is wrong?
Anybody know the steps I need to follow to repair the problem?

I seem to resent the lights everytime you turn the truck off but the lights keep coming back on after braking.

Any comment are appreaciated.

 

I will move this to the 2nd Generation Dakota Sub-Forum.

 

I have a 98 Dakota I have never had this problem but I do know those brakes the rear brakes never self-adjust so.

Adjust the back brakes and see what happens.

Do you know if you have the all-wheel ABS or only rear ABS?

 

It's the rear abs sensor over the rear differential. Do you ever notice your speedometer not working? Sometimes that will happen as well, but I'm pretty certain it's your rear abs sensor. I forget how much they cost but no more than $40 and it's fairly simple to replace.

 

A good brake shop or the dealer can scan the ABS controller and read any fault codes. It's not the same scanner used for the engine. The dealer can use a DRB.

It may be a rear speed sensor but it may also be a front wheel speed sensor if he has 4 wheel ABS. Without the codes, it's just a guess.

 

I have read it is probably the rear sensor on the diff, but the only problem that I am cautious about is the fact the speedo has Always worked and that the brake peddle sometimes feels like the ABS vibration on a dry road. \

 

I always forget I need to adjust my back breaks and start to get squealing in front breaks and soft or mushy breaks.

I then adjust the back breaks and all problems vanish I think the back breaks if not adjusted every year will start to act up on you.

Cant hurt to adjust the back breaks and see what happens.

Its easy to do thier should be a rubber plug on the back of the breaks pop that out you will see the adjuster give it a few turns and see what happens.

Best is remove the drum and adjust them but from the back works.

The picture makes it look hard all you need is a screwdriver through the hole and pry down or up on the star wheel cant remember one way it will turn the other it will not turn.

 

With the back brakes, if you reverse and then firmly apply the brakes, they should adjust automatically unless there is a bind somewhere.

 

Titan12345

I dont know why but my rear brakes have never self adjusted in 12 years they have been replaced only two times in 12 years.

My original factory rear breaks lasted me 8 years they have been looked at over and over and no one sees anything wrong with them they just dont self adjust EVER.

I need to remind myself to adjust them or they never get adjusted.

I have tried backing up and up and up pumping the breaks just applying the breaks all kinds of ways to back up but they never adjust EVER.

 

Hmm, the vibration makes me think it's not necessarily a sensor...