What could be causing this?

When I step on the brakes they pulse. I don't think it is the ABS. Almost feels like the rotors are warped. It gets really bad and you can feel it coming up thru the steering column when I use the brakes on the interstate.

It gets worse when the brakes have been used.

You can feel the pulse slow as the wheel rotation slows.

What is going on with my '97 Explorer? Front or rear Rotors? brake pads? master cyclinder, bad brake fluid?

How can I tell without taking in to Ford dealer and paying a fortune?

 

could be a collapsed brake hose - one side worked fine and the other side dragged

same thing happened to my 97 f150 - two weeks ago - no abs light

easy & cheap fix (with erick's help ) - common issue on the fords

easy way to check is to do an old fashioned bleed and see if the pedal goes to the floor like it should when you open the calaper - if not the hose is restricted

or it could be the rotors are warped

 

Warped front rotors.

 

ironically it's today's comic
I'll second the rotors.

 

X3 Warped rotors.

 

This actually happened to my wife's truck, same symptoms and everything. It turned out that the rotors were so rusted it split in half when I removed them! It rusted out in 7 years time.

New rotors are fairly cheap, your old ones might not be worth resurfacing if they are warped.

BTW, I also have a '97 Explorer and part of the www.explorerforum.com. 2nd gen Explorers are known to have weak rotors. Replace them all if you haven't already since new.

 

new rotors def.-they are warped as many have said, always is!