Possible brake issue?

[Jfridge92]

So far it's only done this about three times, including today. The conditions for everytime this problem has presented itself were either rainy or extremely icy, one of the times I actually slid on ice.

Anyway, to the point. Sometimes when I hit my brake pedal, I get kind of a shuddering noise directly from the brake pedal, it almost sounds like an electrical pop repeating very quickly, kind of like if you combine the sound of a tazer with a machine gun, but not near as loud. I can feel the brake pedal jumping up and down under my foot, it feels like it moves about 1/8"-1/4" very rapidly.

When the pedal shudders and the sound appears, I pretty much lose all braking ability, it feels like the brakes completely disengage. I can let my foot off the brake and when I press them again they work perfectly.

I know the ABS light has been on a few times in the car, but I haven't been able to get a code to come up from the computer. Everytime i've gone to get it read, the light goes off after they put the key back in the ignition and nothing seems to be stored.


Any insight on this would be great, Lesabre in Buffalo, I'm sure you could be of some help on this :p


Thanks,

Joseph

[willwren]

This problem is called "Anti-Lock Braking System". It's a problem that was created at the factory, but by government proclamation for all cars sold in the US and Canada.

Sounds like your ABS is working exactly as it should.

[Jfridge92]

I figured it had something to do with the ABS, but isn't the point of it supposed to be to keep your wheels from locking, not completely turning off your braking ability?

[harofreak00]

The surface is just that slippery, that it feels like your brakes aren't doing anything, but in fact, they are braking hundreds of times per second.

[PRD2BDF]

This will be a good read for you to help understand the ABS system

http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/problems/equi ... page1.html

[enslow]

If your ABS is engaging so easily, my immediate question would be how good are your tires, or, are your tires appropriate for the roads you're on?

My ABS would engage quite easily with my General all seasons, which probably should be replaced. I couldn't get the ABS to engage with my new winter tires, and I tried quite hard on wet roads.

[Jfridge92]

that article really hit home, thanks enslow! It's a good thing to know that everything is working right and as should be, I'm just not familiar with ABS, so anyone who's felt the abs work can imagine that if you have no idea what it feels like, it can be a little nerve racking at first.


Also, my tires are pretty much brand new, they only have 2000 miles or so on them

[willwren]

Your tires age has nothing to do with it. What are they, and what area do you live in?

fuelforthesoul posted the article for you.

[enslow]

Your tires age has nothing to do with it. What are they, and what area do you live in?

fuelforthesoul posted the article for you.

If you're trying to brake in the snow with all seasons or bald tires, it will require less braking force to cause wheels to lock up. If the wheels tend to lock up, ABS will engage to prevent lockup. This much I have proven comparing my old General tires that have poor rubber. The new tires don't tend to lock, but stop the car instead so ABS doesn't engage.


However, I would agree that Joseph's issue is probably more due to road conditions.

[Jfridge92]

Haha thanks for the correction Willwren, and sorry about that, that's what I get for posting again after a 8:30-9:45pm US History class

My tires are bridgestone turanza el400, all season tires, so they're good for the conditions down here in Georgia.


Like I said, at least I know there isn't a problem and everything is just doing its job.
Thanks a bunch guys!

[LeSabre in Buffalo]

Yeah, that's the ABS doing what it does best. My brake pedal will jump up when the ABS kicks in. Like others said, tires play a giant role in how much the ABS will engage.

If you want more experience with ABS, buckle your seatbelt, find a sandy or loose gravel road with no traffic, get up to 20-25 mph, and hit the brakes hard. The ABS should kick in to keep the front wheels from locking. Repeat until you're comfortable with how the system acts.

Now if you have problems like my Buick's had, that's a different story!