Braking issues

[802]

Started my car the other day and pulled out of the parking lot. when i went to put my foot on the brake it was really hard ( as if it was all ready engaged) and made a LOUD roar. ABS/Trac off/ SES immediately came on.


after the first initial brake it no longer made the loud grind/growl noise but it was still hard to press down the rest of the ride home.

(drove slow with caution)


Once i got home i decided to take it around my yard and brake check it to see if i could diagnose. Not only could i not get the lights to come on, but the brake was a little more giving.. no squealing and no grinding/growling.



Today i jump in my car and the brake is super hard. Once i put the car into drive and do a few brake checks the dash lights came on once again. I restarted my car and drove the rest of the way to work without the lights coming on.




I don't understand what caused that initial large growl, why my brake pad is so hard to press and why its triggering the dash lights some of the time.

I also don't understand where all of this came from, as the ride before i endured all these problems was nothing out of the ordinary. ..


I'm going to bring my car to a garage tomorrow and see if they can shed any light onto my problem, and read the codes if they are stored.

I'll probably end up replacing all the rotars and pads, they seem a little worn but as you can see i am not certain where the problem exists.

If anyone has had a similar experience, Understands the problem i am having, or has any info they'd like to share i'd greatly appreciate it. Kinda at a loss with this one....

 

[Zimgxp]

A hard pedal can mean that the vacuun booster has an issue. As far as the noise I can't help.

 

[802]

Brought the car to a local garage today and asked them to scan the car for me. They couldn't find anything aside from an old code stored in the history.

Turned the car on, drove foward and put the brakes on and the lights popped up freshly for the technician. Still couldn't read them with the scanner though.

He said my brake pedal felt fine and that he couldn't hear any vacuum leaks.


Driving home from work not only did the lights NOT come on, but the brakes appeared to be working okay.. still a little stiff but better then HARD and GROANING.


I've got a little theory, and i'm going to check it tomorrow. I think that at least one of my brakes is sticking after i release it, causing that tire to rotate slower throwing the abs light which triggers the other 2.

I'm gonna jack the car up tomorrow and check for any resistance or grabbing on each tire. Depending on what i find will determine my next step.

 

[melsg5]

Is the mechanice using the correct scanner for the brake system?

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[802]

I'm pretty sure they just used a standard scanner, he said he had a larger scanner that would probably detect the fault but he'd have to charge me 45$ to use it. i didn't happen to have the extra cash on hand so i didn't have him do it.

I know that the problem is in the front of the vehicle and if i had to guess i'd say that it sounds like its coming from the right front caliper.

I visually checked both the front rotars, aside from having a 1mm lip around the top their are no marks or gouges in the rotars.

I couldn't see the pad thickness but i'm willing to bet thats where the problem lies. I have a feeling that they are worn down and thats the noise that i'm hearing.

I also have come to believe that the warn down pads may be effecting the ABS system, throwing it off and causing the ABS TRAC OFF AND SES to pop up.




Because of the issue being so severe when first noticed it i think i overlooked some of the obvious explanations.. First warm day i get i'm going to go ahead and check the front pads out. If that happens to be the case i'll have them swapped out in two weeks time. I'm hoping the issue wont progress much in the mean time, would suck to have to replace the rotars if i didnt need to!

 

[802]

Swapped out my front pads today, boy did they look nasty! Cleaned up my calipers as one should and lubed a few spots, over all a pretty easy and successful procedure.

ABS trac off and ses are still coming up, i'm really hoping its related to the rear pad's condition (i assume they were as bad as the fronts) which i will be changing as soon as i get the free time.

in the mean time my brakes are running much smoother with the exception of the dash lights, which is a relief.

Just for piece of mind, Could worn down pads throw an abs light? If i understand correctly if the system detects a fault it shuts down, does it detect the worn pads?

 

[melsg5]

You probably have a bad sensor or the harness leading to the sensor.

 

[802]

Thats what you'd think, right? When i purchased the vehicle it had the three lights and a code for the RF speed sensor. Changed both of the front hubs and it didn't solve the problem. Ended up buying a speed sensor harness and hardwired it as far up the harness as i could. It solved the problem completely.


6 months later its back intermittently. Usually comes on during first braking but if i baby it i can get all the way home stopping quite frequently at signs and lights.

also, their is no code. atleast no code that a regular scanner can pick up. The same exact scanner picked up the RF speed sensor circut the first time, so i dont see why it wouldnt this time if that was the culprit.


Going to swap the rear pads Tuesday. I figure they are as bad as the fronts were. Rotors seem fine all the way around.

If i'm still experiencing the lights after i do a rear brake swap i'm going to start trouble shooting starting with the idea that its sensor circuit related.
I can pay a local tech 45 to scan it or i can purchase a 'Actron CP9449 ABS scan tool' for approx 50 used. Hoping the abs scanner will be able to point me in the right direction.

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[Zimgxp]

Pad wear should not set a code.

 

[802]

If worn pads can't trigger abs then It's gotta be the wiring harness for the speed sensor throwing the lights. Just swapped it 6 months ago didn't expect it to give out so soon.. As i stated before the problem is intermittent, So it seems like i'll be going without abs every other day until it warms up outside lol.

Gonna go ahead and buy the abs scan tool this Friday, I have a feeling it may come in handy.

 

[802]

Changed the rear pads today, they weren't as bad as the fronts but still were bad enough. Smooth installation, fairly quick too having done the fronts just a few days ago.. Started and drove the car four times today after the rear brake pad swap and i haven't seen the dreaded dash lights.. Doubt i'm out of the woods this easily though

 

[melsg5]

try to be more optimistic, maybe you got it fixed

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[802]

In my experience it tends to hurt more when you count your chickens before they hatch; but i like the way you think! No 'bad' dash lights today either...