got a ranger: need help w' brakes

So I got the '91 ranger for a good price, except when I step on the brakes, it doesn't slow down until the rear ABS kicks in and it locks up the rear tires.

The symptoms are:
-when the truck is off, there IS resistance in the brake pedal
-when the truck is on, there IS little to NO resistance in the brake pedal, and I can push it all the way to the floor. Pumping the pedal doesn't build up any pressure.
-if I slowly roll out, then press the brake pedal, the truck won't slow down...so I'll press the lever further and the rear wheels will lock up (and squeal).
-when I checked my driveway, I saw fluids at miscellaneous locations (especially where I was parked and pumping the pedal)

So does that mean I have a leaky brakeline? Will replacing that be a potential fix, and how much should I expect to pay to have it done?

In my head, the brakeline is the problem, and topping off the reservoir and driving over at 12am in the middle of the week is the safest way for me to get it over to a shop so that it can be fixed. Is that a reasonable plan?

I'm sorry did you say location(S)?

Really, it's safest to find a friend with an AAA plus that will let you use it for a tow to a shop.

I lost the brakes on my 93 ranger last year and for whatever reason thouhgt I could bring it home. I was a little over 6 miles from my house, but I'll never do that again. Granted my rear ABS was toast from the start so it didn't do anything.

Power brakes with a blown front brake line. When the truck is not running, the vacuum booster is not helping. It is instead, providing a small amount of resistance. The system is designed so that if you blow a brake line, you'll still have some brake left. Rear brakes on a little pickup lockup very easily when the front aren't working.

The moral of the story is...you need to replace all the brake lines. If one rusted out, the rest are close and will be just waiting to blow when you to slam on the brakes because some asshole pulled out in front of you.

Topping off the master cylinder will only put more brake fluid on the ground; it will not improve your braking ability.

Cost...steel brakeline is cheap, the flex lines are probably 30 bucks apiece. Labor will be expensive. When I did mine, I ended up buying reman calipers too because the fricken bleeder screws were just about rusted off and broke when I tried to loosen them. Luckily the lines across the rear axle to my wheel cylinders were still in good shape and I didn't have any problems with the rear bleeder screws.

BTW...my truck was a 94 F150

I do have all the tools needed for doing brakes on that fine vehicle...benders, cutters, flanging tools, you name it I bought it.

The front's are more of a pain bendingwise but for about 16$in steel lines and 30$ in flex you're done...provided the calipers don't go on you. Also keep in mind if you do calipers might as well do pads and rotors and wheelbearings while you're at it or I can tell you the next thing to go.

The rear lines are cake with only a few bends, but you will need a few more pieces of hardware, probably like 70$ to do them materialswise not counting parts.

Oh and the bleeding is loads of fun.

If you have the time and another vehicle - put the truck on jackstands, take the wheels off, and soak all the fittings and bolts you're going to touch with PB Blaster for a few days. One shot in the morning, one shot at night. Do yourself a favor and pick up new flex lines. The time you'll waste trying to get the old ones apart is easily made up for. Pick up some six point sockets (I went with 1/4 drive deep and a 1/4 drive breaker bar). Clip the hard lines close to the fitting and pull out the longest pieces you can. Lay these on the floor and use them as a template for bending the new lines (zip tie or tape the new one to the old one as you go along). Then use the six point sockets to take out all the fittings. Coat all the clips, bolts and external hardware with never seize or grease before you put them back in. Good luck...

my bimmer I bought last month had a broken rear brake line,

I filled the reservoir with fluid a drove it home rom MA

only has to used the brakes when stopping for the toll booths on 95 & spaulding

trickiest part of driving without brakes was the sticky throttle

I should have pinched off the broken line with a pair of vice grips

but I made it home ok