Tahoe brake/abs issue ???
bass_caster
11-28-2009, 12:28 AM
2000 nbs tahoe ls 5.3l 4x4 208,000 miles
out of the blue yesterday while driving, a strange thing started happening when i hit the brakes. i have normal pedal feel during braking except for the last couple feet just before i come to a complete stop. it feels like the abs brakes kick in, the brake pedal feels mushy, and it take waaay longer to stop in the last 5 feet or so before coming to a dead stop. at the beginning of braking, even if its HEAVY breaking from high speeds, it feels fine throughout the entire braking cycle, EXCEPT the very end at the last 5 feet or so. i get no codes or warnings about abs issues to indicate a possible problem with the computer or the individual abs sensors at each wheel. any thoughts??
being a braking issue, i will obviously look into it ASAP. if its something i cant figure out on my own after pulling the wheels off, is there any chance of me losing brakes completely? should i be worried about driving it to the dealer about 15 miles away or should i just have a towed at extra $$$?
out of the blue yesterday while driving, a strange thing started happening when i hit the brakes. i have normal pedal feel during braking except for the last couple feet just before i come to a complete stop. it feels like the abs brakes kick in, the brake pedal feels mushy, and it take waaay longer to stop in the last 5 feet or so before coming to a dead stop. at the beginning of braking, even if its HEAVY breaking from high speeds, it feels fine throughout the entire braking cycle, EXCEPT the very end at the last 5 feet or so. i get no codes or warnings about abs issues to indicate a possible problem with the computer or the individual abs sensors at each wheel. any thoughts??
being a braking issue, i will obviously look into it ASAP. if its something i cant figure out on my own after pulling the wheels off, is there any chance of me losing brakes completely? should i be worried about driving it to the dealer about 15 miles away or should i just have a towed at extra $$$?
MT-2500
11-28-2009, 08:54 AM
We can not give you a OK to be safe to drive.
But I have have never saw one with just a ABS brake activation problem fail to stop.
Hold down hard on brake pedal.
Slow speed activation problems is usually wheel speed sensors acting up.
There is several TSB on cleaning rust build up off of sensors.
But it needs to be put on a ABS capable scanner to see for sure where the problem is.
On a good ABS scanner you can see what sped sensor is acting up or what the problem is.
A lot of good repair shops can repair ABS problems to.
Post back any codes it has.
But I have have never saw one with just a ABS brake activation problem fail to stop.
Hold down hard on brake pedal.
Slow speed activation problems is usually wheel speed sensors acting up.
There is several TSB on cleaning rust build up off of sensors.
But it needs to be put on a ABS capable scanner to see for sure where the problem is.
On a good ABS scanner you can see what sped sensor is acting up or what the problem is.
A lot of good repair shops can repair ABS problems to.
Post back any codes it has.
j cAT
11-28-2009, 08:12 PM
2000 nbs tahoe ls 5.3l 4x4 208,000 miles
out of the blue yesterday while driving, a strange thing started happening when i hit the brakes. i have normal pedal feel during braking except for the last couple feet just before i come to a complete stop. it feels like the abs brakes kick in, the brake pedal feels mushy, and it take waaay longer to stop in the last 5 feet or so before coming to a dead stop. at the beginning of braking, even if its HEAVY breaking from high speeds, it feels fine throughout the entire braking cycle, EXCEPT the very end at the last 5 feet or so. i get no codes or warnings about abs issues to indicate a possible problem with the computer or the individual abs sensors at each wheel. any thoughts??
being a braking issue, i will obviously look into it ASAP. if its something i cant figure out on my own after pulling the wheels off, is there any chance of me losing brakes completely? should i be worried about driving it to the dealer about 15 miles away or should i just have a towed at extra $$$?
sounds like those rusted up front wheel sensors. there is a re-call on this failure required by the NHTSA goverment agency. see if your vehicle still qualifys..or if It was ever done..rust belt re-call..
if you do repairs on your vehicle and are familar with electrical/electronic repairs it is simply reading the senor voltage while you rotate the wheel...you need 480MV AC...
when mine failed 3 yrs ago the voltage was less than 300mv ac..I removed the very fragile sensor and filed the rusted hub where the sensor sets. installed sensor checked sensor voltage, then coated the whole area with rusfre anti-corrosion undercoating...when I did my brake rotors/pads this sept still looks good and the voltage is still 480mv ac..
if all this is familiar to you it should not be a big deal...if you don't own a volt ohm meter better go where the repair shop is familiar with this failure...
if the abs is acting up real bad it would not be a good idea to drive this very far /very close to other vehicles, or at all...just to local repair shop maybe..
out of the blue yesterday while driving, a strange thing started happening when i hit the brakes. i have normal pedal feel during braking except for the last couple feet just before i come to a complete stop. it feels like the abs brakes kick in, the brake pedal feels mushy, and it take waaay longer to stop in the last 5 feet or so before coming to a dead stop. at the beginning of braking, even if its HEAVY breaking from high speeds, it feels fine throughout the entire braking cycle, EXCEPT the very end at the last 5 feet or so. i get no codes or warnings about abs issues to indicate a possible problem with the computer or the individual abs sensors at each wheel. any thoughts??
being a braking issue, i will obviously look into it ASAP. if its something i cant figure out on my own after pulling the wheels off, is there any chance of me losing brakes completely? should i be worried about driving it to the dealer about 15 miles away or should i just have a towed at extra $$$?
sounds like those rusted up front wheel sensors. there is a re-call on this failure required by the NHTSA goverment agency. see if your vehicle still qualifys..or if It was ever done..rust belt re-call..
if you do repairs on your vehicle and are familar with electrical/electronic repairs it is simply reading the senor voltage while you rotate the wheel...you need 480MV AC...
when mine failed 3 yrs ago the voltage was less than 300mv ac..I removed the very fragile sensor and filed the rusted hub where the sensor sets. installed sensor checked sensor voltage, then coated the whole area with rusfre anti-corrosion undercoating...when I did my brake rotors/pads this sept still looks good and the voltage is still 480mv ac..
if all this is familiar to you it should not be a big deal...if you don't own a volt ohm meter better go where the repair shop is familiar with this failure...
if the abs is acting up real bad it would not be a good idea to drive this very far /very close to other vehicles, or at all...just to local repair shop maybe..
Automotive Network, Inc., Copyright ©2026
