Abs Or No Abs

[scottheimcustoms]

I have a 96 K3500 ext cab 4x4 and there is no
abs box
I think someone took it off
did 96's come w/ abs and some didn't
if it has it how/what do I need to get
to make it abs again
plus when I go to stop in about 1-2 of snow
the rear brakes lock up. any help would be thankfull
I just bought it a month ago



1996 k3500 ext. cab 4x4
ssd fsd heat sink #9 resister, 5" straight pipe w/ 5" single stack
soon- heath 80hp ecu, heath turbo-master, injectors

[625fireman]

My rear brakes do the same thing the first couple times i hit them. Has done it for years the stealership said "i dont know, maybe moisture?" it just something i have learned to live with right or wrong. :confused:

[ChevyCowboy]

mine lock up when there is any moisture on the road and if i drive the gravel roads and they are muddy as soon as i hit the pavement again i feel them get really touchy i think its just crappy pads but i wont know for sure on that untill i put new ones on and see how they do

[scottheimcustoms]

thanks
I have drums on the rear would that
make a difference?

[Bentt]

When mine are wet or the first several times each morning my brakes are extremely touchy , abs seems not work at these times . However once warmed or dryed they are fine.

[JD_countryboy]

If its like mine, i have rwl. rear wheel antilock. it uses speedo/speed senor on tranny to sence rear wheel lockup. So if your driveshaft is turning, it thinks wheels arent lockedup.

[scottheimcustoms]

Thanks
But I don't have the abs box in the engine compartment

[ChevyCowboy]

hey jd
im guess'in sence my truck is almost idenical to yours iv got that also right. i dnt quite understand the point of it though and i dnt think that mine is working if i do have it cause why whould they lockup on me all the time like they do

[JD_countryboy]

Don't quote me but i'm fairly sure most all gm trucks, s-10 included, since at least 91 have rear wheel antilock. i think this even applied to camaro and such rear wheel drive vehicles. Camaros used a sensor on the rear diff. Trucks used the vehicle speed sensor on the output shft of the trans/transfer case. All the computer knows about the rear wheel speed if is the driveshaft is turning. but yet 1 wheel on the back can lock up, the other still spin, thus letting the driveshaft turn, and the computer not think any wheels are locked up. I have rwl on both my 93 and my 91 s-10. I was once told by a mechanic that the rar wheel antilock was simply designed to help prevent skidding out of control under hard braking. I havent had any brake locking issues on my 93. My s-10 it was intermitant and only under hard braking. So i never really gave much thought to it. I'm not exactly sure how the computer limited the rear braking effort, cause its not built the same as the newer 4 wheel abs systems.
Do your tries lock up for long distances? or just short length? are you sure both wheels lock at the same time for same distance?

[ChevyCowboy]

ok that kinda makes sence im not sure i never really let them lock for long if i fell them start i pump the peddal a little and stop all right ill check it ou the next time it starts to do it so when it rains alot next

[John R]

ok that kinda makes sence im not sure i never really let them lock for long if i fell them start i pump the peddal a little and stop all right ill check it ou the next time it starts to do it so when it rains alot next
I know that not all abs systems were 4 wheel abs some were only 2 wheel.

[Chevylover]

Correct, there are RW-ABS and 4W-ABS systems on or trucks.
You can check your RPO codes for it. Also if you got 4 wheel ABS and engage 4 wheel drive (equalif 4H or 4L) the rear ABS is shut off (disengaged) while in 4 wheel mode.

Cu,
Sven

[GM Guy]

IIRC, 1995 was the first year that 4-wheel ABS came standard, before that, rear ABS was standard, and i think the 4-wheel was optional.

Sven is right about the disabling in 4WD, but IDK if that shuts off all ABS on the 4-wheel ABS systems, or just rear axle.

My 1991 gasser has rear ABS(non working, i think i need VSS), and my 95 has 4-wheel ABS.

[torque454]

My trucks rear brakes get touchy and lockup on the first stop or two of the morning also. And in rain the first time or two also. My boss is the original owner and says it has done that from day 1. In my experience that has been a wheel cylinder problem, both of my old suburbans (78 and 89 models) did that when the wheel cylinders went out and leaked fluid on the brake shoes so I am wonding if the brake shoes on our trucks are made of a certain type of material that causes them to lock up in certain condtions. Perhaps changing to a different brake shoe and replacing the wheel cylinders would make the problem go away. My truck is a 96 and i believe the ABS pump is on the drivers side inner fender. Thats on a suburban, so it may be different that the trucks but on my 96 atleast its on the inner fender. Cant miss it if it has one.

[Chevylover]

My trucks rear brakes get touchy and lockup on the first stop or two of the morning also. And in rain the first time or two also. My boss is the original owner and says it has done that from day 1. In my experience that has been a wheel cylinder problem, both of my old suburbans (78 and 89 models) did that when the wheel cylinders went out and leaked fluid on the brake shoes so I am wonding if the brake shoes on our trucks are made of a certain type of material that causes them to lock up in certain condtions. Perhaps changing to a different brake shoe and replacing the wheel cylinders would make the problem go away. My truck is a 96 and i believe the ABS pump is on the drivers side inner fender. Thats on a suburban, so it may be different that the trucks but on my 96 atleast its on the inner fender. Cant miss it if it has one.


Got the same problems with the first stop. Since I changed to a better/expensiver Rotor and Brakepads manufactor, the problem is gone.

If yours need to replaced, you should try this.

Cu,
Sven

[John R]

Got the same problems with the first stop. Since I changed to a better/expensiver Rotor and Brakepads manufactor, the problem is gone.

If yours need to replaced, you should try this.

Cu,
Sven
Also another thing most guys fail to check is the brake calipers (make sure that they are releasing properly)Clean and inspect to make sure they move freely.A brother of mine had his lock up while driving down the hiway at about 80 kph and the brake on the front passnger side locked up SOLID and he nearly rolled his vehicle.After he stopped and had it inspected they found that the caliper did not release.Dumb thing is he had just bought it recently with a recent safty check! Figures :eek: