problem w/ brakes????????

[barkroc2]

90gts (just bought) brakes work fine on dry/non-slick roads, but when trying to stop on snowy road-the brakes apply about 75%, then once the vehicle stars to slide the brake pedal rumbles under my foot and wont go down any farther as the car slides. if i release the pedal and reapply its cool as long as i dont push down all the way, is this a major prob w/ the brakes or am i used to driving w/ abs all my life??

----asap (its still warrantied)

[barkroc2]

Originally Posted by barkroc2

90gts (just bought) brakes work fine on dry/non-slick roads, but when trying to stop on snowy road-the brakes apply about 75%, then once the vehicle stars to slide the brake pedal rumbles under my foot and wont go down any farther as the car slides. if i release the pedal and reapply its cool as long as i dont push down all the way, is this a major prob w/ the brakes or am i used to driving w/ abs all my life??

----asap (its still warrantied)

update: when driving ..like maybe 5-10 mph and pull up on th emerg brake the car not only dont stop, but barely slows down. looks like the probs in the back brakes eh?

[Twizted_3KGT]

Uhh, the ABS should make it rumble under your feet. If you know for sure that you don't have ABS then yes you've driven too long with it. Without ABS if you just press the brakes on snow, your tires will lock very easily and you'll just slide. In this situation you have to "pump" the brakes to slow down, in other words, release and reapply the brakes repeatedly. As far as the E-brake doing nothing, if you pull up on it in snow you should spin out if you turn the wheel. In most instances the cable simply needs to be adjusted so that the cable has the mechanical ability to apply the brakes. If that's not the case then you may need new emergency brake pads (if it's drum in rotor rear brakes) or just new brake shoes on the rear. Hope this helps ya out.

[GTSStevo]

you have the same car i do (only mine's a 91)... yes you have ABS, and yes that would be your ABS that's making your brake pedal rumble... that's all it is, it's no problem at all, and i PROMISE you that's what it is. i would bet my life on it... the ABS it's to keep you from applying too much pressure and sliding. it'll do that when you hit a pothole while you're trying to stop too.

[GTSStevo]

Originally Posted by barkroc2

update: when driving ..like maybe 5-10 mph and pull up on th emerg brake the car not only dont stop, but barely slows down. looks like the probs in the back brakes eh?

check your shoes in the back... they're not hard at all to replace. if there is indeed a problem with your back brakes, there should be a light on in your dash. it'll be the same light as your emergency brake light, and it will stay on all the time. that's letting you know that you need to replace either the pads on the back, or the shoes in the drum. but i would not rely on the e-brake to slow you down... but i'll tell you one way you'll know if your e-brake isn't working... go down a dirt road at about 45 mph, pull up on the e-brake as hard as you can and turn the wheel and if your rearend slides way out, then yes, your e-brake works just fine

[barkroc2]

but i called the ins. co, and they told me it does not have abs (going by my vin #) unless it was added aftermarket which i doubt. and i dont rely on the ebarke, but just used it to test the rear brakes. however i was coming around a corner just now-not fast either, and saw a car coming my way rather close so i jammed on the brake and got that rumbling feeling again...it doesnt feel "natural" to me

[barkroc2]

so aside from progressive, how can i tell if i have abs then??

[barkroc2]

maYBE if i finda fuse for the abs / take it out / then hit the brakes and see if i get the same thing

[vtecludeguy]

ok, open your hood, look at the front left hand side of the engine compartment, next to your washer fluid resevoir, and if you have a weird contraption thing there with 4 brake lines running to it, then you have ABS... that's you ABS module.

[GTSStevo]

did that help you any?

[barkroc2]

steve-=o its been too damn cold and snowy to be outside more than i gotta. gonna check it out in the next few days

[barkroc2]

absofrigginlutely DOES have abs. but how to prove that to progressive since it DOESNT according to the vin?

[GTSStevo]

that's what i thought... mine actually just did that on the way home cuz i hit a damn pothole while i was braking from about 95... not fun... but you have fun trying to convince progressive... but in my opinion, they're full of it and don't know shit about celicas

[barkroc2]

actually progressive said just get a signed note from a cert mechanic on company letterhead saying it does, and theyll save me my $8 every 6 months.