Brake question.

Spike88 · 02-21-09, 06:04 PM

My girlfriend recently got a 96 Chevy Blazer. She was attempting to stop when her brakes didn't stop like they should. So she thought she needed new brakes. We looked at the brakes and realized they were fine, but that there was air in the brake tubes, so we bled them. The brakes work fine now, but her ABS light is on, and when you slam on the brakes the rear wheel locks up. A friend of mine told me that it had to do with the air being in the brakes earlier and that it should fix it self, but another friend told me that she needs a mechanic to check it out. Any opinions?

Platapus · 02-21-09, 06:18 PM

When it comes to something as important as brakes, I would always go to a good repair shop.

Brakes is too important to mess with.

Good luck

August · 02-21-09, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Platapus

When it comes to something as important as brakes, I would always go to a good repair shop.

Brakes is too important to mess with.

Good luck

Very good advice this.

UnderseaLcpl · 02-21-09, 06:40 PM

I don't know how much help I can be, as my own mechanical experience is limited, but is it possible her previous brake failures contributed to/caused wear on the tires that causes them to skid? It is my understanding that excessive tire wear can cause lockups that will alert the computer to display a fault light.

Any additional information would be useful.

Spike88 · 02-21-09, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UnderseaLcpl

I don't know how much help I can be, as my own mechanical experience is limited, but is it possible her previous brake failures contributed to/caused wear on the tires that causes them to skid? It is my understanding that excessive tire wear can cause lockups that will alert the computer to display a fault light.

Any additional information would be useful.

The tires are actually brand new. The front ones show wear but she's buying a new set this Friday. Its only the back wheels that lock up, the front work fine.

UnderseaLcpl · 02-21-09, 07:17 PM

Okay, what do you mean by "brakes didn't stop like they should?" Are they not pulsing? How, exactly, are they behaving? Is the brake pedal not funtioning like it should (i.e. depressing too far?) Is the vehicle skidding? What is the average temperature where you live right now? Are you sure you used the right brake fluid?

Even if I can't help, this information might help others diagnose your problem.
One more thing, since the front wheels provide most of the stopping power due to weight distribution, is it possible that the back wheels are locking because they are overcompensating for the lack of front-wheel traction? How worn are the front tires?

Pardon the slew of questions, but the more information, the better.

Digital_Trucker · 02-21-09, 07:28 PM

I once had an ABS light come on back in the early '90s. I ended up towing the car home from the concert I missed because the car screwed up on me. When they set the car down in front of my house, I cranked it up to move it into the driveway so my crazy neighbor wouldn't hit it on his screeching way to work the next morning and guess what? The damn ABS light was out. So, my suggestion is to jump up and down on the bumper a few times to simulate the wrecker pick up and see if the problem goes away.

Seriously, I'd have it looked at by a reputable automotive diagnostician. It's possible that something that was done in bleeding the brake lines caused a sensor to trip and the ABS to stop working.

Disclaimer : The last time I was able to effectively work on an automobile was over 20 years ago and I am, by no means, an automotive expert.

Spike88 · 02-21-09, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UnderseaLcpl

Okay, what do you mean by "brakes didn't stop like they should?" Are they not pulsing? How, exactly, are they behaving? Is the brake pedal not funtioning like it should (i.e. depressing too far?) Is the vehicle skidding? What is the average temperature where you live right now? Are you sure you used the right brake fluid?

Even if I can't help, this information might help others diagnose your problem.
One more thing, since the front wheels provide most of the stopping power due to weight distribution, is it possible that the back wheels are locking because they are overcompensating for the lack of front-wheel traction? How worn are the front tires?

Pardon the slew of questions, but the more information, the better.

Before they would not brake quick enough, and the pedal would be depressed all the way. After bleeding them the front brakes work fine but the back ones are locking up and sliding. The break pedal is stiffer now that we have bled the lines. Right now its actually quite cool in the 60-75's. I actually do not know if its the right brake fluid. I did not purchase it, her father did. I'm pretty sure he bought the right stuff, I was not the one who put it in either, a friend of mine did. He was also the one who bled the brakes while I pumped the pedal.

The right front tire is balding slightly the left one looks fairly new.

As a side note, apparently the brake flood reservoir had been empty at one point and the brakes had been used.

02-21-09, 06:04 PM	#1
Spike88 Ocean Warrior Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 3,052 Downloads: 36 Uploads: 0	Brake question. My girlfriend recently got a 96 Chevy Blazer. She was attempting to stop when her brakes didn't stop like they should. So she thought she needed new brakes. We looked at the brakes and realized they were fine, but that there was air in the brake tubes, so we bled them. The brakes work fine now, but her ABS light is on, and when you slam on the brakes the rear wheel locks up. A friend of mine told me that it had to do with the air being in the brakes earlier and that it should fix it self, but another friend told me that she needs a mechanic to check it out. Any opinions?

02-21-09, 06:18 PM	#2
Platapus Fleet Admiral Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 19,396 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 0	When it comes to something as important as brakes, I would always go to a good repair shop. Brakes is too important to mess with. Good luck __________________ abusus non tollit usum - A right should NOT be withheld from people on the basis that some tend to abuse that right.

02-21-09, 06:40 PM	#4
UnderseaLcpl Silent Hunter Join Date: May 2008 Location: Storming the beaches! Posts: 4,254 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I don't know how much help I can be, as my own mechanical experience is limited, but is it possible her previous brake failures contributed to/caused wear on the tires that causes them to skid? It is my understanding that excessive tire wear can cause lockups that will alert the computer to display a fault light. Any additional information would be useful. __________________ I stole this sig from Task Force

02-21-09, 07:17 PM	#6
UnderseaLcpl Silent Hunter Join Date: May 2008 Location: Storming the beaches! Posts: 4,254 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Okay, what do you mean by "brakes didn't stop like they should?" Are they not pulsing? How, exactly, are they behaving? Is the brake pedal not funtioning like it should (i.e. depressing too far?) Is the vehicle skidding? What is the average temperature where you live right now? Are you sure you used the right brake fluid? Even if I can't help, this information might help others diagnose your problem. One more thing, since the front wheels provide most of the stopping power due to weight distribution, is it possible that the back wheels are locking because they are overcompensating for the lack of front-wheel traction? How worn are the front tires? Pardon the slew of questions, but the more information, the better. __________________ I stole this sig from Task Force

02-21-09, 07:28 PM	#7
Digital_Trucker Silent Hunter Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: The Peach State Posts: 4,171 Downloads: 141 Uploads: 10	I once had an ABS light come on back in the early '90s. I ended up towing the car home from the concert I missed because the car screwed up on me. When they set the car down in front of my house, I cranked it up to move it into the driveway so my crazy neighbor wouldn't hit it on his screeching way to work the next morning and guess what? The damn ABS light was out. So, my suggestion is to jump up and down on the bumper a few times to simulate the wrecker pick up and see if the problem goes away. Seriously, I'd have it looked at by a reputable automotive diagnostician. It's possible that something that was done in bleeding the brake lines caused a sensor to trip and the ABS to stop working. Disclaimer : The last time I was able to effectively work on an automobile was over 20 years ago and I am, by no means, an automotive expert. __________________ RSM-GIEP-Killflags-LV Tribute-Playable Elco __Peace be with you, Dave.