corvetteguy Posted September 8, 2011 Share Posted September 8, 2011 A few weeks ago my 99 Savana and I were going down King Hill. Near the middle of the 1/2 mile hill (ending in a "T"), my pedal went down to the floor. Pumping had no effect pedal went to the floor. Parking brake seemed ineffective. Low gear helped but I wound up sliding through intersection making a right. On lift I found the rear brakeline was leaking along the frame near the gas tank. I traced the line and it went to an ABS unit under the driver. WHY DID THE FRONT BRAKES FAIL TO STOP ME? DOES IT HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH ABS? when bleeding the new line with a vacuum pump no fluid/air would come out until I pumped the pedal also. DOES THE ABS PREVENT BLEEDING? I notice the dash warnings never show an ABS ICON WHY? Help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corvetteguy Posted September 9, 2011 Author Share Posted September 9, 2011 That is what I thought Was able to bleed line the old fashioned way with someone pumping the brake. It is working as before However, I worry the next leak will cause the same drop in pedal. Maybe a preemptive changing of the Master Cylinder will make me safer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jsdirt Posted September 9, 2011 Share Posted September 9, 2011 Find a dirt, or a sandy road & lock up the brakes several times to engage the ABS motor ... then let it sit for a couple minutes ... then LIGHTLY touch the brake pedal a few times. Sometimes this allows bubbles to rise into the master cylinder, removing any trapped air. If that doesn't work then lock 'em up a few more times, then bleed conventionally. Eventually the air will come out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redvett Posted September 9, 2011 Share Posted September 9, 2011 Your truck has ABS but the light should cycle on when you turn on the ign. Possibly someone removed the bulb. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corvetteguy Posted September 11, 2011 Author Share Posted September 11, 2011 http://www.autoshop101.com/forms/brake02.pdf I like the explanation. Now, do you have anyn lessons on ABS? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markw8 Posted September 8, 2011 Share Posted September 8, 2011 I can't say why you lost all braking but most systems aren't split frt/rear anymore. They are diaginally, left frt, right rear. If you have air in the abs system, you might have to bleed it while it is cycled with the correct scan tool. Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redvett Posted September 11, 2011 Share Posted September 11, 2011 RWAL was used on 1988 to 1994 GMT trucks and ABS was used on SUV's Suburban & Tahoe starting In 1992. RWAL is REAR WHEEL ANTI LOCK and ABS is ANTI BRAKE SYSTEM. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corvetteguy Posted September 8, 2011 Author Share Posted September 8, 2011 I can't say why you lost all braking but most systems aren't split frt/rear anymore. They are diaginally, left frt, right rear. If you have air in the abs system, you might have to bleed it while it is cycled with the correct scan tool. Mark When purchased I did not think the van had ABS, also there is no dash ICON ABS. In fact there is only 1 line going back to the rear axle where it "T"s to go to both wheels. Maybe it isn't ABS? Than what is the unit on the frame under the driver? Is there a quick test to see if the master cylinder is working correctly? Like loosen one side and pump brake? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8.1HD/ALLISON Posted September 8, 2011 Share Posted September 8, 2011 Probably has ABS, Rear is usually one circuit, Front is split left and right. You probably need a scan tool to actuate abs motor to bleed brakes. Front brakes should have worked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug_Scott Posted September 9, 2011 Share Posted September 9, 2011 It was pretty common in the early days of ABS to only have it on the rear brakes on pickup trucks and vans. The traditional split master cylinder had two unique brake systems that would use the hydraulic pressure from one part of the master to apply the second part. If you had a failure on one of the two parts, there was a failsafe method that would apply the brakes on the system that did not fail. Basically the pedal would push the rear piston in the bore of the master cylinder, and that would in turn apply hydraulic pressure to the piston directly ahead of the piston being applied. If one system fails, the two pistons would physically touch to apply the brakes on the system that did not fail. It is a very simply system, but a bitch to explain with just text. See this pdf for a good explanation... http://www.autoshop101.com/forms/brake02.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Question
corvetteguy
A few weeks ago my 99 Savana and I were going down King Hill.
Near the middle of the 1/2 mile hill (ending in a "T"), my pedal went
down to the floor. Pumping had no effect pedal went to the floor.
Parking brake seemed ineffective. Low gear helped but I wound
up sliding through intersection making a right.
On lift I found the rear brakeline was leaking along the frame near
the gas tank. I traced the line and it went to an ABS unit under the
driver.
WHY DID THE FRONT BRAKES FAIL TO STOP ME?
DOES IT HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH ABS?
when bleeding the new line with a vacuum pump no fluid/air
would come out until I pumped the pedal also.
DOES THE ABS PREVENT BLEEDING?
I notice the dash warnings never show an ABS ICON WHY?
Help.
Link to comment
Share on other sites
0 answers to this question
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.