For at least 6 to 8 months our car has been braking oddly, sometimes braking in a straight line under normal braking, heavy braking the car going to the left & sometimes violently to the left under hard braking, We'd been blaming the state of the road & tyre pressures for ages, Car went in for it's MOT and was asked if we'd noticed any braking issues whilst driving, Did tell him it went to the left sometimes, he then said the driverside calliper isn't working at all, He then bled the calliper thinking it might be air, fluid came out straight away, so wasn't an air issue, Then removed the pads & calliper to check the piston, no signs of it being seized up, So connecting up the computer it showed nothing.

He then set about checking the ABS pump and said something has failed inside the pump [gulp oh dear] so he got on the phone doing some enquiries about a new pump, from Ford a genuine brand new pump could be anything from £1,200 to £1,800 depending on the type but a new one can't be just fitted and job done, The new pump would have to be married with the cars electronics, Something only Ford can do, Ford estimating the cost could easily be over £2,000 including the labour........Good grief ☹️

Scrap yard purchases wasn't an option as you never know what they are like in the first place and one out of another car will still have to be programmed by Ford.

He then got back on the phone to a company that they use for reconditioning ABS pumps and other type of pumps/electrical components, chap on the phone saying.... 'yes we can fix the pump but you'll have to post it off to us and it'll take 2 to 3 days to recondition and will cost around £200 to sort out, So we took that route, Car was off the road for a week so just waited patiently.

The total cost to get the car done was £340 all in.....I think this was excellent value considering the garage took the wheel off - Took the calliper off & bled the calliper - Hooked up the computer to check - Fault check the pump - Remove the pump - Post off the pump - Pump repaired - Pump posted back - Pump refitted - Whole braking system with fresh brake fluid & bled......All for £340, can't imagine what the full cost would have been if I'd gone the Dealer route.

The company who reconditioned the pump said it's a common on many older Fords now and does dozens every week.

Our car had only done 2000 miles from last years MOT to this years MOT, Garage mechanic mentioned about the low milage & due to lack of use the pump had seized up inside.

Not driving a car much has it's downside

Agree with the lack of miles comment!
There are (thankfully!) multiple firms that recondition ABS units and lots of other modules to save having to spend stupid money on manufacturer parts that are simply not economically viable.
As it was a good outcome, do you know the name of the company and was it a lifetime warranty?

Over the last 15 years, my classic has stayed dry in the garage from end of October, till March or April depending on the weather. 76k on the clock, but now only does about 500 miles per year. I certainly subscribe to moving things around in the car over this period, but not starting the engine.

My "Mothballing" routine starts with a good wash, taking it for a drive, then a second drive a few days later, then over inflating tyres, connecting the trickle charger. and putting to bed under a blanket. Thereafter, at least once a month I roll it backwards, and then two weeks later roll it forwards. Twice a month I sit in the car (and pretend I'm driving it like a lunatic!) ignition on, ABS pumps up, operate the brake pedal a number of times to flatten the ABS, then leave it to pump up again. Operate the handbrake a number of times, (normally left off), operate the clutch a number of times, and move the gearstick around the box. Touch wood, nothing has seized up so far. I also now stick in a dehydrator to keep the inside of the car dry.

4 hours ago, Shearers said:

As it was a good outcome, do you know the name of the company and was it a lifetime warranty?

It's not entered my head about the warranty but I will ask, nipping back there tomorrow as their printer wasn't working [ran out of ink] to print out the receipt.

2 hours ago, Paulkp said:

My "Mothballing" routine starts with a good wash ☠️

You or the car 🤭🤭

Knew of one mate who had an series 1 white Escort RS Turbo, was better than brand new & only saw tarmac twice a year, he used to put the crapper on axle stands - all wheels off the car - once a month he'd put a big fan to the front - start up the car and go through the gears and braking & steering, generally getting it used without moving it - he also had cereal dishes with salt in them, placed in the boot & footwells, to absorb water like!......Some 5 years on he said to his missus i'm getting shut of this thing, whilst it's gorgeous to look at i dare not use it on the road incase it gets chipped or hit or someone keys it out of jealousy....He sold it for £35,000 to some Irish guy in Ireland.

5 hours ago, Ian Lanc said:

printer wasn't working [ran out of ink]

Probably HP Instant ink.........

In case it gets chipped - Yes I get that, but my view is that classics should be driven, but not too much. One of the columnists of Car Mechanics got stick from some "enthusiasts" because he drove his classic to a car show, rather than put it on a trailer..... I've had mine for over 30 years, and would still use it for work occasionally until I retired in 2012. I still find it a rewarding drive, and better than a 2008 Focus ST3.... Problem around here now is potholes (!) and risk of deer not using the green Cross Code!

Oh, it is the car that gets a good wash, not me ! As a Submariner, I think that personal hygiene is over rated !!

10 hours ago, Paulkp said:

my view is that classics should be driven, but not too much. One of the columnists of Car Mechanics got stick from some "enthusiasts" because he drove his classic to a car show, rather than put it on a trailer.
I've had mine for over 30 years, and would still use it for work occasionally until I retired in 2012.
Oh, it is the car that gets a good wash, not me ! As a Submariner, I think that personal hygiene is over rated !!

When car owners start using trailers to move their car/s around it nolonger is a joy,
in my mind anyway, even my son says the same, used to drive my Escort every single day.

As an X Miner hygiene wasn't a thing down the Pit! Used to work with men just in their pants,
was that hot so you can imagine the sweating and stink after the first 4 hours

On 3/11/2026 at 10:57 AM, Shearers said:

As it was a good outcome, do you know the name of the company and was it a lifetime warranty?

''Essex Recons'' is the company who has done the pump, lifetime warranty to the original owner of the car.

https://www.essexrecons.com/

Been testing out the ABS today, hitting the brakes as hard as i can with no hands on the steering wheel, car was flawless and stopped in a dead straight line, caused some ***** on the M1 though Only kidding about the M1 bit but did stop hard on a empty road