WOW - Nearly crashed today - Brakes just stopped working

[Fin[uk]]

Hi Guys,
Went out on a trip in the Typhoon in the last hour (me, wife and kids), All going well comming up to a roundabout junction on the dual carrageway (70mph speed limit ) and the brake peddel was just solid and no braking at all. I could not move the peddel no matter how hard I pushed, Luckly the E brake ) slowed us down from 70mph. The old drums were starting to fade , I pulled it back to first gear from Drive and that helped

To put it politley I shat me self..... Not used to a foot E brake it took a few seconds to find it. Luckly we missed the stopped traffic ahead and we stopped short of the junction

Pulled it around off the main road and turned off the engine, Restarted and the ABS light came on.... and the brakes worked again.

Drove back along the back roads taking it steady and all was ok but the light was on.

In the last week Ive fitted new front pads, lowered the front a bit and fitted new beltech lowering leaf springs, shocks and 1" rear sway bar.

It ran fine over the last 4 day's with the mods done....

Was this the ABS system playing up.....hardly a safety system is it. I know quite a few of you guys have removed the ABS is this because of similar faults?


Any ideas?

Cheers
Fin

 

[jjorgensen52]

Re: WOW - Nearly crashed today - Brakes just stopped working

That could be an ABS malfunction, yes. They are notorious for going bad and either not doing anything or just doing very strange things at random times. Mine stopped working years ago so I tossed it... haven't looked back :tup:

 

[dgoodhue]

Re: WOW - Nearly crashed today - Brakes just stopped working

I know Ty owner who's brakes failed. His ABS went out on him and he rear ended somebody. My ABS failed, so I ditch it.

 

[Fin[uk]]

Re: WOW - Nearly crashed today - Brakes just stopped working

We were just lucky the traffic ahead moved off, It was a close call.

I know I have to replace the rear brake lines for the next MOT test (yearly test) in Feb07. Steel lines have to be replaced once they show any sight opf corrosion. So I can just renew a full line system and junk the ABS all together.

In the mean time, would you say the ABS system is disabled as soon as the light comes on? Or should I disconect the Electrics from the system?

 

[bezerk]

Re: WOW - Nearly crashed today - Brakes just stopped working

i have the same thing on my truck, sometimes you can push the peddle away, and you feel the ABS doing it's thing when it shouldn't do it, but i get no codes?

 

[91blazins10]

Re: WOW - Nearly crashed today - Brakes just stopped working

My abs in my 91 blazer was doing this, it would just kick in at random times and I wouldnt be able to stop, so I just unplugged all the electrical connections to it and its been fine. Im going to take it out soon, my abs had already been taken out in my typhoon and it def brakes alot better than the blazer.

 

[jjorgensen52]

Re: WOW - Nearly crashed today - Brakes just stopped working

We were just lucky the traffic ahead moved off, It was a close call.

I know I have to replace the rear brake lines for the next MOT test (yearly test) in Feb07. Steel lines have to be replaced once they show any sight opf corrosion. So I can just renew a full line system and junk the ABS all together.

In the mean time, would you say the ABS system is disabled as soon as the light comes on? Or should I disconect the Electrics from the system?

Just disconnect everything. I did that and I do not get a light without the system. My regular pickup has the light on almost all the time but the ABS still works fine.

Also, if you have to replace the lines when they corrode... go stainless :2cents:

 

[Quickstop [UK]]

Re: WOW - Nearly crashed today - Brakes just stopped working

when I changed my brakes a few weeks ago I got a light and the brakes were crappy. The system is slightly odd in that it seems to play up a little after the change. I got a light, no codes and after a few drives it has been fine.

Is your fluid level high enough?

 

[Double12]

Re: WOW - Nearly crashed today - Brakes just stopped working

Mine did the same thing. I unplugged everything on the ABS unit and no problems since.

 

[Deanzsyclone]

Re: WOW - Nearly crashed today - Brakes just stopped working

I wonder how many sytys were lost due to the ABS.

 

[Fin[uk]]

Re: WOW - Nearly crashed today - Brakes just stopped working

Wouldbe a good idea to pop a warning post at the top of the brake Tech page regarding ABS problems. The Typhoon system put me and my family in danger today..... Would hate to think that anyone got hurt

 

[dgoodhue]

Re: WOW - Nearly crashed today - Brakes just stopped working

My abs in my 91 blazer was doing this, it would just kick in at random times and I wouldnt be able to stop, so I just unplugged all the electrical connections to it and its been fine. Im going to take it out soon, my abs had already been taken out in my typhoon and it def brakes alot better than the blazer.

I have heard of them failing when disconnected as well. Their suposedly is an O-ring that gives out and the brakes goto the floor.

 

[AWD]

Re: WOW - Nearly crashed today - Brakes just stopped working

isnt there a fuse you can take out for the abs system?...that would be a simple solution...no?

 

[Mtn Z]

Re: WOW - Nearly crashed today - Brakes just stopped working

No because fluid still has to travel through the system. By unplugging it, you just aren't using it's ability to regulate wheelspeed. Fluid still travels through it and if o-rings and such are bad inside of it, that's where you will have problems. I'm ditching mine. My pedal feels like crap and my light is on.

 

[George Blake]

Re: WOW - Nearly crashed today - Brakes just stopped working

Yeah, unplugging it will stop the ABS from kicking in when it's not supposed to. Doesn't sound like a big deal until your trying to stop on a little bit of snow and you've almost come to a complete non-panic stop and the ABS kicks in and the truck just takes off. I unplugged it and I'm soon removing mine with one of the ABS delete kits that Mike from Tucker automotive sold in his last big GP. The reason I'm removing it is because of the internal failures of the unit that can cause mechanical, not just electrical motor issues.
There was a HUGE ABS recall years ago and the media specifically stated, Syclone, Typhoon in the recall.....then the recall just disappeared. I spoke to the dealer about it and they said they didn't know what I was talking about.

 

[#1611 - Ty]

Re: WOW - Nearly crashed today - Brakes just stopped working

Wow.. So from what I read, it's a good idea to pull the abs out as soon a possible??? Mine seems to work fine right now, and it stops decent, but should I wait or get rid of it right away?? Advice from the pros??