Serious brake problem at 24,000 miles. Please Help

yes, the leaks are coming from the top cirle in the pics. I don't know why they wont load, but I'll try to fix that. I filled it to just above the max line with power steering fluid. I started the engine, and is still does that whirlpool thing. It's foamy too, just a little. The brakes are making that sound again, and there's no power steering at the wheels. I noticed too, the brake pedal will be stiff as usual at first, then sink away as the sound starts. Then like it's been doing, it jitters, then kicks back. Not safe to drive anywhere. No steering, no brakes, on a manual transmisson. The brain can't handle all that at once for a 14 mile drive. Hopefully the dealership will pay for the tow.


No luck on the pics. Looks like image shack is down for the time being.

Yeah but in my case it cant be the rotors scratching. The car is not moving when it makes this sound. Anyway, the flatbed is on it's way right now to take it back to the dealership. I'm just gonna leave the FR500 wheel on it, and hope the guy doesn't notice. If so I'm telling him I swapped the wheel like 8 days before the problem started. Yeah it's a lie. However, EVERYONE tells me (on this forum, and offline), that a simple wheel swap did not cause it. But the dealership will look for any reason not to fix it. I'll keep everyone posted on what happens.

I kept trying, but couldn't get imageshack to work. Then a few days later I tried photobucket. So, the images I posted on page 1 last weekend are working now. You can see where the leak was. It was coming from the top circle of each pic. I filled it to the max line with fluid, and it still didn't work. Had it towed back to the dealership and had to listen to 10 minutes of "oh that's weird. usually the breaks and steering don't go out like that" "oh I've never heard of that before, that's strange". The next day, the shop told me what I already knew. The rack and pinion was shot. Leaking and needed to be replaced, and that was what caused my brakes to go out. I kept asking them, and stressed the issue on what caused it. The only responces I could get were "it was michanical failure", "the thing just went out", and "I'm not a ford person". They also replaced a line, and needed the car an extra day to bleed the system. They said it was fighting them. Whatever. The was no mention on any problems with the power steering pump. I can only hope they honestly did check it, and it checked good. The new part took several days to arrive, and cost $300. Labor was about $500 they said. That's a big fat bill that went strait to the used car department who sold me the car. Nothing cost me a dime, but although I'm not too sure, I think they test drove half a tank of gas out of my car. Also I was 3/4 of the way home before I noticed the wheel is not centered. Too bad for me though. I need a car NOW, and will just have to get that aligned some other time. Also the car doesn't pull to the left or right at all, which I like. (my old V6 mustang pulled to the right really hard. I think that's because I did all my donuts in the same direction. The car didn't have the power to do donuts turning to the left.)

So in the end, ther was nothing wrong with the brakes. After reading some replies, I kinda figured that anyway, especially after seeing the power steering fluid leak. I'd like to also add that the grinding sound was not coming from the rotors, or being cause by metal on metal contact involving my brakes. Any time I heard the grinding sound, the car was STOPPED, meaning there was no possible chance of movement or friction at the rotors. I'd also like to add (for anyone else in the future who might troubleshoot this on their car, that the ABS light in the dash NEVER stayed on. It only did the routine light up with all lights for a few seconds, then went out.

Now that I think about it. Maybe 4 days before it went out, the engine was running, it was in park, but the wheel was very hard to turn. The brake pedal has always been spongy, but never acted up until the steering went out. I do remember braking very hard one night, and the wheel made 2 small jerks to the right.

If it was my fault, it would have either been from that 1 hard stop, or swapping to the FR500 wheel. I honsetly don't think either is possible, but I can't ignore the coincidence. There's just too much of that in my life right now. Call it bad karma I guess.

So Yesterday I picked up the car, and it was the FIRST time I drove it knowing about this whole hydroboost system. I don't like it at all. I don't like how the steering performs differently while your braking, as it does while your cruising. I don't like how turning the wheel slightly at a stop, then pressing the brake will cause the wheel to pull back to center. I don't like how my RPMs drop slightly from idle when I step on the brake. I also don't like turning, then braking halfway into the turn, and noticing the difference. Most of all I don't like having the steering system, and brake system accociated in any way on my car. This is a safety issue here. Losing the steering means you will also lose your brakes. Those are the 2 ONLY evasive manouvers for avoiding a crash that's happening in front of you. It bothers me to think that if I ever have to take any evasive manouver, how I press the brake might effect my steering, and vice versa. This hydroboost thing is common on all new cars though, not just Fords.

So that's it. Looks like this issue is resolved, and we all now know, for future reference. I'm outta here now. I'm going to Panda Exress, which COINCIDENTLY was where I was trying to go last thursday, when I first noticed my brakes making that sound.

I'm not noticing the things like I did the first day I picked up the car. They did need an extra day to bleed the system, and said they still couldn't get all the air out. They also did say something about it getting better over time, or something about whatever. I don't know. Once I heard them say things like "I'm not a ford person", and laugh it off, I kinda stopped listening. I never tried the stop, turn, then brake thing to feel if the wheel moves again. I'm scared I'll break the junk. Also, doing donuts hasn't crossed my mind again, which is probly good in the long run. I will say that my steering is still EXTREMELY responsive. Sometimes the slight hand movement from me hitting the turn signal switch will cause the car to turn (just a little). On a 2 lane road my car drifts to the right in the right lane, and drifts to the left in the left lane. Just from the curve of the road surface. Pebbles feel like skateboards and garbage can lids, and potholes feel like the Grand Canyon. I better not sneeze ever at 70mph.