i have a 99 tahoe and had a horrible experience with the abs. the front brakes locked up on the highway and almost caught the truck on fire. i had to replace the abs unit to correct that problem. the original had been unplugged due to not stopping, i would get the same feeling from the pedal that you get when you hit the brakes on ice but on dry summer roads! The replacement unit is also un plugged. I also had both original front rotors break from their hubs, one while on a trip and one leaving the shop. Truck still doesent stop for s#!t. I'd love to replace it but, i'd rather rebuild my BUICK!!!!!
The funny thing about ABS is it exists to help you steer - not to stop faster. A computer can't outthink a person who is even merely adequate at threshold braking. On my father's car, I've managed to get them to lock, and have even reacted faster than the system - human's can anticipate and exercise judgment, while ABS just looks at what is happening at the instant. The thing I dislike the most (and feel is the most dangerous) about antilock brakes is when they work. When conditions aren't consistent, you may stop fine in one area and thus not alter your driving - so when you meet up with an icy intersection you do not slow down because you have had no feedback to suggest it's slippery. Then you just cruise through a red light that you wouldn't have if your wheels locked in less-slippery areas. Then there are people who think ABS is faster - end of story. They blindly put trust in it, hit things, and wonder why.
:gp: Very well put:TU: This is to the local people who looked at me cross-eyed when I mentioned doing this to my truck:moonu: The same kind of people who blindly put trust in the POS:Smarty:
x3 That's pretty well on the nail there. I Believe a better way to improve braking in slick conditions is to couple all wheels. in other works all wheel drive. one wheel that may be close to slipping is somewhat driven by the other 3. this helps the wheel match the speed of the vehicle and resist locking. Look at the rock crawler guys. They navigate the slickest, weirdest, conditions anywhere. they will preach and preach control, not locking wheels if possible. keeping the wheels turning is the key. Anti lock brakes are just the opposite of the name. They lock every time they cycle.
Was talking to a very knowledgable mechanic supervisor, whom I've known there for years, at Gainesville Ford today and asked about the stupid ABS that doesn't stop and how to disconnect them. He says the units made by Kelsey-Hayes used in the Fords and maybe the Chevys had a problem from poor factory install that can be easily fixed by someone who knows how to bleed them correctly. He says with time they build up crap/corrosion in the unit or were bled incorrectly at the factory and you can't bench bleed them or do it yourself in your driveway to flush it out. They must be bled by someone who knows how to actuate all the servos and solenoids in the correct order one at a time during the bleed process. He said once that it done the truck will stop on a dime and the ABS will work correctly. He offered to do mine before I disconnect them and I just might let him. I will call me back tomorrow after I put the new calipers in. I will let you know if it works. How complicated can we make this boys? Mikey
Well after making a great big stink here about anti-stop brakes, It doesn't even matter to me now, as I have decided to trade this Brontosaurus in on a used car. With me having the Suburban, and my wife with her Yukon, these things are eating us out of house and home. I'm not going to be able to even begin to think about an enclosed trailer for at least 2 more years, so I'll drive a car that gets 25-30 mpg for now.
