Grade Braking

valleyfreak45 · June 15, 2016

Has anyone figured out how to turn off normal grade braking completely off? So that I don't have to do it every time I start the truck. I find it rather frustrating when I'm braking the truck decides to intervene and try to slow the truck more abruptly.

newdude · June 15, 2016

It doesn't intervene unless it has to. A message will pop up on the DIC saying GRADE BRAKING ACTIVE, and the truck will begin to downshift almost like in TOW/HAUL mode. Turning it off makes no difference driving it. Placebo effect is all...

Dunc · June 15, 2016

It doesn't intervene unless it has to. A message will pop up on the DIC saying GRADE BRAKING ACTIVE, and the truck will begin to downshift almost like in TOW/HAUL mode. Turning it off makes no difference driving it. Placebo effect is all...

I disagree with the bolded. Turning it off has made a very noticeable difference in driving for me and many others as seen here: http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/topic/186752-interesting-progress-with-odd-trans-behavior-2015-6-speed/

scott.moody.9401 · June 15, 2016

i think it depends on 6-spd vs 8-spd

Sent from my SM-T817V using Tapatalk

MySilverado180 · June 15, 2016

I am also looking for an answer to this question. I have the 8 speed, and the klunks are minimized by turning off grade braking every time I start the vehicle.

GM, if you're listening, please provide a setting to turn this off.

valleyfreak45 · June 15, 2016

I have 6 speed with 3.42 rear end and to be quite frank I'm not sure how you can say it doesn't intervene nor make a difference driving. It makes a huge difference off vs on. When I apply constant braking, the grade braking will downshift to essentially use the engine/trans combo to slow the truck as opposed to the brakes and you can feel the truck lurch backwards from slowing quicker than my constant braking. It's enough to certainly feel.

robsieb · June 15, 2016

Funny this subject came up. I purchased my 2016 in December of last year (replaced at 2014) and had never seen the "Grade Breaking Active" message until last week when I saw it three times in about as many days. In all cases I was on a flat piece of pavement slowing down from highway speeds. I suppose that's all fine and good but I just wonder why all of a sudden I'm starting to see in places where I have been braking in this truck for 7 months. It had been raining quite a bit here in North Texas and it's now dried out a bit and I haven't seen it in a few days. Wonder if there's any correlation?

winn0040 · June 15, 2016

Turning it off makes no difference driving it. Placebo effect is all...

Wrong

redwngr · June 15, 2016

It doesn't intervene unless it has to. A message will pop up on the DIC saying GRADE BRAKING ACTIVE, and the truck will begin to downshift almost like in TOW/HAUL mode. Turning it off makes no difference driving it. Placebo effect is all...

I agree that when it will comes on and becomes active, and give the message the first time it does so -- and that it is quite noticeable when it happens.

I also agree with the others that it does have some (minor) effect when it is enabled, but not active.

When running with it disabled was first reported, I also figured it was placebo, but decided to give it a try. I've found that it does seems to make a minor difference in driveability. It's as if the truck/transmission is keeping itself in a 'ready mode' when grade braking is enabled, but not active.

redwngr · June 15, 2016

Funny this subject came up. I purchased my 2016 in December of last year (replaced at 2014) and had never seen the "Grade Breaking Active" message until last week when I saw it three times in about as many days. In all cases I was on a flat piece of pavement slowing down from highway speeds. I suppose that's all fine and good but I just wonder why all of a sudden I'm starting to see in places where I have been braking in this truck for 7 months. It had been raining quite a bit here in North Texas and it's now dried out a bit and I haven't seen it in a few days. Wonder if there's any correlation?

Any chance you were holding the brake lightly for a longer than usual amount of time?

holty · June 15, 2016

Just so i'm clear, there is no way to disable it completely, correct?

redwngr · June 15, 2016

Just so i'm clear, there is no way to disable it completely, correct?

Correct.

At least none that I've heard reported.

However, if you use 'range selection mode' to prevent the trans from using V4, it will also prevent it from using 'normal mode grade braking'.

holty · June 15, 2016

sorry, what is 'range selection mode'?

Correct.

At least none that I've heard reported.

However, if you use 'range selection mode' to prevent the trans from using V4, it will also prevent it from using 'normal mode grade braking'.

TJay74 · June 16, 2016

NO way to turn it off, it is built into one of the modules of the truck.

Dunc · June 16, 2016

i think it depends on 6-spd vs 8-spd

Sent from my SM-T817V using Tapatalk

I have the 8 speed and it made the difference for me even though the thread was made regarding the 6 speed.

sorry, what is 'range selection mode'?

It's when you put the transmission into "M" instead of "D." For me personally this isn't a decent solution as I want it in "D" and I want to use AFM/V4 mode...I just want grade braking only to be off completely by default instead of on by default on vehicle startup. That is unless tow/haul mode is turned on then I can justify having grade braking turned on.