Fed probe on GM ABS brakes

snoman · May 3, 2005

Ran accross this link to a probe on possible GM ABS problems in rust belt states.

jhm · May 3, 2005

Ran accross this link to a probe on possible GM ABS problems in rust belt states.

Click Here

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My truck did that a few times when I was braking over uneven pavement. I told the dealer and he said that is normal, the brakes were fooled into going into ABS mode by the uneven pavement. That may be true but they also go into ABS mode if the road has the slightest bit of wet snow, I dont think that is how they were intended. Extremely touchy ABS system.

killerZ-71 · May 3, 2005

i have always felt that my brakes were the absolute weak point

of my 2001 Z-71 the abs is so touchy that it scares the crap

out of me sometimes. when it comes on when you don't expect it

you are like talking to the truck "PLEASE JUST STOP"

JRW68 · May 3, 2005

"The agency said a buildup of corrosion on the antilock brake system may cause it to activate improperly at low speeds, increasing stopping distances. "

Increasing stopping distance... I like that, since abs, once activated, takes longer to stop on almost every condition. Yeah, they've gotten better, but no computer can replace an experienced driver.

They should have a switch on ABS to turn it off for two reasons

1. Some people absolutely hate it.

2. When it does this, there is no way to disable it (there is, but no way they tell you) until you get it fixed.

My stepfather's truck is a 99', it did this and he was complaining about it, so I pulled his fuse. He preferrs driving the truck without the ABS any more.

Same with my girlfriend, go figure... I put two wheel bearings on the car (bad bearings, not a abs sensor) and shortly after the last, the abs light came on with that same wheel code. I took her to a snowy parking lot an pulled the e-brake real quick while she was mid-turn... made her stall the spin and even straighten the car back out. Same with stopping while skidding, got her used to lightly pumping the breaks when she needed to correct. She drove 2 winters without the abs and loved it.

I do have to admit... 1 in 30,000 isn't exactly a epidemic. But GM does need to take car of the problem. Perhaps abit of code that disengages the ABS under 10mph unless already engaged.

willieboy · May 3, 2005

I just had this happen the other day. Except mine is an '02 Burb and has always been in TX. Did it right after I pulled out of the car wash. Scared the crap out of me, and I nearly hit the car in front of me. I would have hit it if I had not thrown the truck in park. I am actually taking it to the dealer tomorrow to have them check it out.

budone · May 3, 2005

My 2002 Tahoe did this this past winter. really scaring heading down hill from my house, go to stop as normal at corner and WHOA!!!!

snoman · May 3, 2005

Knock on wood but I have not had any trouble yet with my 2000 K3500's ABS and it sees a lot of use during the winter too.

99GMCZ71 · May 3, 2005

I had the same problem with my 99 Sierra. Go over some bumps in the road and the d**n ABS would activate. Scary at times. Glad I got my 05 AV now! Brakes are much better on the 05.

sincityZ71 · May 3, 2005

Happens to me all the time at low speeds. Especially if I hit a bump or somthing like that. ABS has almost thrown me into a couple intersections right into cross-traffic when I have hit a bump in the road near the intersection as I am slowing down...Lets me know my heart is still pumping everytime...

Schwag · May 3, 2005

I had the same thing happen to me in my Y2K Sierra. I pulled in the driveway and the ABS kicked on, sending me through the aluminum garage door. It almost feels like you're accelerating on the ABS. If it happens to you, get off the brake quick to reapply or you're toast.

I look on the bright side at least it didn't activate the air bags.

A

sux!

-steve

snoman · May 3, 2005

Happens to me all the time at low speeds. Especially if I hit a bump or somthing like that. ABS has almost thrown me into a couple intersections right into cross-traffic when I have hit a bump in the road near the intersection as I am slowing down...Lets me know my heart is still pumping everytime...

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I have had that happen on a bumpy roads with no load in back because of tire bounce but I just brake accordingly in those conditions and expect the possibilty of it.

MS3DALE · May 3, 2005

I had the same problem with my 99 Sierra. Go over some bumps in the road and the d**n ABS would activate. Scary at times. Glad I got my 05 AV now! Brakes are much better on the 05.

Thats the same problem I had with my '99 Silverado,My '04 is much better and it does not happen on it,but the pedal feel is softer and not as firm as my '99.

On another note I wish they would not anounce things like this until us dealers have the parts to fix them,You would not believe the people that have called us up wanting there truck fixed now and then we have to tell them that GM does not have the parts to fix them yet,But this happens on every recall,The media knows about it before us dealers do!

black&grayHD · May 4, 2005

Guess it's more than just a few with this problem

I haven't noticed this yet with the 04, but the 01 HD was terrible. The roads around here are so crappy that the ABS would act up so often that I was able to plan for it. Hit the brake, hit bump, let off brake, hit brake again, not hit car in front of me Got hairy a couple of times.

99silveradoz71 · May 4, 2005

Same story here. Hit 'em, release, re-apply. Kind of defeats the idea/purpose behind abs when you have to let off the pedal.

sincityZ71 · May 4, 2005

Same story here. Hit 'em, release, re-apply. Kind of defeats the idea/purpose behind abs when you have to let off the pedal.

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Yep. I have had to memorize which intersections have bad bumps around them so I can compensate for it so I don't go flying into the intersections when the abs goes stupid...if there was a switch to shut the d**n thing off I would...