thanks guys. i'm at disneyland right now. will be driving to a friends in San Francisco (400 miles) next later this week, he's got a good shop I'll try to get it fixed there before going back over the mountains.
so far this trip i've drivin over 1250 miles and the bravada runs like a dream except this little prob. i could really feel the smartrak kick in on the snow and slushy sections. the first portion of the trip probably would have taken two days in my old rig.