2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Panic Brake and Death Wobble!

[Devil Black Diesel]

All,



Today I had to panic break going about 80mph and when I hit the brakes it felt like my front axle was going to fall off... . my truck started a serious (scary) death wobble and I thought I had a blowout or something...



After pulling over and looking at it it's obvious my ABS caused the problem. It's as if they were locking up intermittantly really quickly - Left, Right, Left, Right, etc. causing the front end wobble...



Now, I just posted a thread recently titled "Stuck on Defrost??". After reading the feedback from you TDR members it sounds like I definitely have a vacuum problem somewhere. Would my vacuum problem have anything to do with my death wobble today? Also, my ABS light has been flickering on every once in a while, usually when I'm idling in traffic.



Where do I look for problems?



Thanks for your feedback.

 

[Signal73]

My ABS light is on, (Its the front right sensor) When I brake hard, It does get a little crazy like yours is doing, FWIW. Jim

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

You might look here too:

2. 5" Leveling Kit, 315 BFG's

After fixing this, go for the DSS or Solid Steel 3gen track bar and bracket replacement. Folks seem pleased with the results.

 

[Devil Black Diesel]

It's definitely not my leveling kit and 315's... I've run this truck over 100mph several times at the track and hit the brakes hard... nothing like this has ever happened... it felt like my wheels were falling off.



Then I got out and looked and everything was fine. I drove away slowly and everything was back to normal but my brakes smelled really bad (burnt).



Something definitely malfunctioned with my brake system and it seemed like the brake calipers took turns locking up side to side...



Hopefully someone will tell me it has something to do with a bad sensor or my vacuum leak.

 

[DBohl]

I had a very similar experiance last week. After a second inspection I found that the bolt on the tracking bar had come loose where the bar attaches to the axel. Start there , Don't try to wiggle the bar and assume that its tight because you don't feel movement, put a wrench on it. Hope this helps.



Doug

 

[Devil Black Diesel]

Yes, I checked mine and they were loose on both sides... . hopefully this was the problem.



Thanks

 

[mbhw]

ABS Problem Solved

I have a very effective set of accumulators on my braking system. They take out all the chatter out of the brakes. They elliminates brake fade. They help to stop my truck about 30% shorter. I had them on my 2000 Ford PSD and which I transferred to my 3500. (I had over 93000 miles on my factory brakes) Therefor they also help to increase brake life. Over the past 5 plus years, I figure I saved about $900 - $1000 on brake jobs alone. They are very efficient which give me close to 100% braking efficiency instead of 50% that is common whith factory brakes.



From what I learned, ABS help you steer better but do nothing to help you stop quicker. In fact ABS increase your stopping distance from 26% to 67%. ABC did a thing on ABS brakes a few years ago. They come up with some interesting things. They have been known to cause death (a hiway patrol man was killed in a high speed chase, the cause of his loosing control was pin pointed to his ABS)and injury.



Any way I have used these same accumilators for over 5 years on 2 trucks, and have not regretted my putting them on.



I hope this helps to inform you and give you something to think about.