Att: recall for ABS problems

I'm posting this information for all those who have had unwanted abs activation while braking. I just received in the mail a recall notice for certain 1999 - 2002 Silverado, 2000 - 2002 Tahoe and Suburban, 2002 Avalanche, 1999 - 2002 Sierra, 2000 - 2002 Yukon and Yukon XL located in Ontario, Quebec, Newfoundland, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.
Quote: These vehicles may have a condition permitting corrosion to occur between the front hub/bearing assembly and the wheel speed sensor. If the brakes are applied while the vehicle is traveling at a speed greater than 6 kp/h (3.7 mph) but less than 16 kp/h (10 mph), the corrosion may cause an unwanted anti-lock brake system (ABS) activation. If this condition occurred where stopping distance is limited, a crash could occur. Your dealer will clean and treat the affected area, and in some cases, replace the front wheel speed sensor. This service will be performed for you at no charge. End Quote
It goes on to say contact a dealer for an appointment and also that if you have already had this service you will be reimbursed by providing proof of service and ownership. You have until January 31st, 2006 to apply for reimbursement.

So I am assuming this recall is only for the above mentioned areas? Or is this a world wide recall?

I haven't contacted the dealer yet so I have no other info. Seems pretty specific for Canada though.

I have this same problem on my 95. Does anyone know where to clean off the corrosion? I had the rotors off, but could not see the surface where sensors were mounted to that corrodes.

I have the same problem with my 98 tahoe, is there a quick fix or does the dealer have to repair the sensors??????

Here's a good article regarding maintenance of the sensors. http://www.advanceautoparts.com/english/youcan/html/ccr/ccr20030701as.html

Here's a good article regarding maintenance of the sensors. http://www.advanceautoparts.com/english/youcan/html/ccr/ccr20030701as.html

Thanks Daver for the info at the advance website its very informative for cleaning the sensors. I'm going to try cleaning the front wheel sensors today to see if the abs starts working correctly.
Oleo from Lodi

I have a similar problem with my '96. Anti-lock kicks in driving in parking lots under light braking loads. I'll check out the above maint. site to see if it helps.

By KEN THOMAS
Associated Press Writer

May 3, 2005, 1:33 AM EDT

WASHINGTON -- The government has opened an investigation of more than 1.2 million General Motors Corp. pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles in Connecticut and 20 other states amid questions about the vehicles' antilock brakes.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Monday that stopping distances may increase when the brakes are applied at speeds of under 10 mph because of the build up of corrosion.

NHTSA has reported nearly two dozen crashes, including one that involved six vehicles and four injuries because of the problem. There have been no fatalities associated with the braking issue.

The investigation involves 1.27 million GM trucks and SUVs from the 1999-2002 model years in the following states: Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin, West Virginia. It also covers the District of Columbia.

The vehicles include the GMC Sierra, GMC Tahoe, GMC Yukon Denali, GMC Yukon XL, GMC Yukon XL Denali; Chevrolet Avalanche, Chevrolet Silverado, Chevrolet Suburban; Cadillac Escalade, and Cadillac EXT.

GM, the world's largest automaker, recalled about 150,000 pickups in eastern Canada in November 2004 from the same model years because of the condition in the antilock brakes.

In some of the vehicles, the corrosion of salt and other cold-weather road substances led to unwanted activation of the brake system at low speeds and increased the stopping distance.

NHTSA said the U.S. cases "appear to be related to the defect condition addressed by GM's safety recall in Canada."

GM spokesman Alan Adler said the company reported a failure rate of about 3 incidents per 100,000 vehicles in the Canadian recalls.

The company announced a recall of more than 2 million vehicles last week, including nearly 1.5 million sport utility vehicles and pickups because of problems with their seat belts.

Here's a good article regarding maintenance of the sensors. http://www.advanceautoparts.com/english/youcan/html/ccr/ccr20030701as.html


Daver, my mechanic and I took the front bearings and sensors apart and replaced the sensors with new ones. We took a small screwdriver and cleaned excess grease from the notched sensor gear , put it back together and the problem cleared up. I don't know if it was a bad sensor or the excess grease and possible small metal shavings in the grease that was the problem. My mechanic has tried this on several more GM trucks and the problem cleared up.