2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Scared Spitless - Brakes

[Mike Ellis]

I almost got killed last night in my truck, there was a light mist coming down following fair amount of rain and the roads were wet (not icy). I was driving my usual route, had made several stops along the way with no incident, and as usual driving the speed limits.



I was coming down a slight hill to turn onto 377 at a redlight in Benbrook, as usual downshifting until close to the light. When I was down to about 20 mph, I shifted into neutral as usual and put on my brakes, maybe 30-40 yards from the light. To my amazement, my brakes locked up and I slid like a greased hog right into the intersection with the POS ABS hammering away and making the whole truck shudder. No steering control at all!



The light on my side was red, and traffic was whipping through the intersection at 45-50 mph. I think I would have glided all the way across the road if I hadn't gotten it back into first gear PDQ, as it was I was well out into the first lane and a couple of cars had to swerve significantly to avoid me.



I may have to replace my driver's side seat cover, as a large circular section was lifted up by extreme pucker action. I checked out the brakes immediately, plenty of fluid, no leaks, no obvious problems, and they worked fine all the way home.



This has happened to me once before as well, and we could find nothing wrong. WTFO???

 

[Forrest Nearing]

Mike, the roads in DFW were definately slick yesterday!



I never locked 'em up, but I was VERY aware of being careful to brake...



I BELIEVE these trucks only have rear ABS, but I may be wrong on that...



the lack of steering control was due to the fact that your front tires were sliding and not rolling...



I had a big time pucker incident happen in my old 1st gen. I was coming across Woodall Rogers and stayed left to turn onto Irving Blvd. well, the road is downhill and curves and is pretty slick when wet. the brakes locked up and I was sliding... had to modulate the brakes (let off!) in order to steer... so I was on and off the brakes... SOMEHOW I got the truck stopped before I plowed into anyone, but my seat cover definately got bunched up on that one!!



one thing you might check is the adjustment of the rear brakes... if they're out of adjustment, it'll cause even MORE of the braking energy to be applied to the fronts than usual.



like I said, I was very careful/cautious yesterday and didn't have any hairy braking incidents, but I've definately BTDT!!



glad there was no damage!



Forrest

 

[gitchesum]

Been there, done that.

Ended up mashed up against the left side of my truck since that was the side touching the ground.



Scared the hell out of me and I still go extra slow at the corner it happened at. Not sure what caused it, I braked to slow down at the corner the truck just went straight. Over the curb and landed sideways in the ditch(luckily it was empty). Even letting up didn't help a bit.



Glad you got through it OK. Hope the seat covers go back to normal.

 

[Forrest Nearing]

these things just have different driving/braking characteristics than most vehicles due to a LOT of weight over the nose and NONE over the tail... it happens to the best of us. the key is to do your best so that it only happens ONCE!



Forrest

 

[radixr]

Our rear brakes are susceptible to grabbing in wet driving conditions. I believe others have said it is due to the lining becoming a little damp. If your rear shoes are close to needing replaced, you might try linings that are not touchy about being wet.

 

[EricBu12]

If either of you have the origional tires,,... the Michelins, they slide more than normal. I read several posts where they were stuck on wet grass.



I have 285 AT tires that are a little more aggressive than regular AT but not MT... . They seem to do well on wet roads. Snow too

 

[Rman]

That's weird that you made several stops along the way before it happened. Generally when wet that first brake application tends to be a bit grabby... but if you were miles into your trip... could be just the road conditions. Perhaps the tires slipped and ABS did its thing, I hate ABS by the way, completely useless in my not so humble opinion. I've never had the honor of completly standing on my brakes yet (knocking on wood here) so I can't really say what happened.



Maybe it was a sign from above to get your stuff together... you **** off someone at work Mike? hehe j/k



p. s. I even know the roads you refer too, can't recall the exact intersection though. I grew up in Ft. Worth

 

[SBashaw]

I had this happen in Jackson WY. The roads were icy, when I came up to an intersection and applied the brakes (I was going about 10mph) the front wheels locked up and the back wheels pushed me through the intersection. the ABS never locked up the back brakes and I couldn't stop (auto trans)

definite pucker situation

 

[Sticks]

90% of your braking power is in the front. The ABS on the rear is to keep the rear from passing you since it will lock up LOOOOONG before the front does. The newer trucks with the ABS on all 4 is way better, especially on snow and ice.



Look at it this way, if you guys did not have the ABS on the rear, you would have spun in circles rather than in a straight line, or more likely, you would have let off the brakes at the single worst time and rolled the truck mid spin. Instead of rolling over in the ditch, you would have done a really pretty cartwheel and probably landed on your roof. Instead of stopping half way through the intersection, you would have done pretty pinwheels all the way across... missed everybody coming through the intersection and changed your religion.



It just takes a little different driving habits. I faithfully take my truck to a large vacant parking lot during the first snow that will make the roads a little treacherous, and re-educate myself in how the truck handles and reacts to hard braking, swerves, slides, and so on. Every time, I have a cop pull into the lot. They hit their lights and pull up to me, I explain what I am doing, they usually say something like "You're one of the smart ones, you get 10 more minutes" then they go sit in the corner of the lot and wait me out. Ten minutes later they flash their lights a couple of times and on my merry way I go, no hassles.

 

[Mike Ellis]

Thanks for the info guys, I will check my pads and the adjustor in back as well.



Similar event happened to me over a year ago in Houston, was slowly approaching a red light in misting rain and brakes locked up at low speed resulting in a surprisingly long skid. Lots of momentum in these 7,000 lb trucks even empty. This was after a lot of stop and go driving in the downtown area.



My truck is my daily driver, I have literally thousands of stops in it in all sorts of driving conditions. Strange to me that it happened after making several other stops in identical conditions with same careful driving technique. I am pretty conservative in braking due to time spent pulling the horse trailer and hauling my heavy truck camper, only takes a few times for a heavy load pushing you further than you want to go before you learn to start slowing down "a bit further out" than you think you have to.



Pretty strange event, no warning and lots of adrenaline. Not as bad as the "death wobble" I have heard about, but plenty enough to flex the seat cover... .

 

[SMorneau]

I just got done pulling the fuse on my 4 wheel ABS. This system almost put me into the back seat of a small car. That was enough! On dry pavement the ABS is fine. On snow or ice it takes much longer to stop. Anybody who thinks I am wrong is welcome to come over to my place with a bunch of money they are ready to lose.



ABS or not, Steering on ice is something that just doesn't happen. There are many times when the roads are really bad that I am happy the traffic is 5mph. I figure it gets me to work in one piece.

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

Minnesota is too far to come to pocket your money



IMHO. After a personal experience on packed snow/ice with the 4 wheel disc ABS on my 02 I wouldn't go back. Suffice it to say it made a believer out of me.



Plus, the disc brakes are plumb marvelous for everyday driving.

 

[Harry V]

My truck has rear drum rear only anti-lock brakes. With just a film of fresh snow on the road today, the turning back wheels would push the locked front wheels along. No way to stop other than taking the truck out of gear. It was a little better when I put the truck in 4wd.



I put it back in the garage... . I have the EGR disc brake conversion (not installed yet) but I don't imagine that is going to help the anti-lock problem... ????

 

[Dane]

Put some weight in the back of the truck and drive slow in icy conditions.

 

[duaneparks]

Originally posted by Mike Ellis

Pretty strange event, no warning and lots of adrenaline. Not as bad as the "death wobble" I have heard about, but plenty enough to flex the seat cover... .

BTDT too. When it happened to me most recently, I pulled into the parking lot at the intersection and sat there for a second. 3 other cars did the same thing at the red light. Maybe something was on the road? Coulda been a vehicle with an oil leak (or worse) went through there before you did. I believe that's what happened to me.



Anyway, thought I might throw that possibility out there.



Duane <NOT a fan of ABS even though it's a good idea for some/most