I have a 98 4runner with abs brakes. Something is wrong.. tonite I almost collided with a car because the abs system seems to be broke. The brakes work fine until there is slipping on snow or water... then there is a grinding like noise and I cant stop the truck. I need direction on this one. Never had abs brakes before.

 

If it was grinding it sounds likes it was working. With ABS you slam your foot on the brakes and the system does the pumping for you, you dont take it off.

 

based upon some other threads I did a search on... it seems conclusive that this noise and feeling of not being able to stop is common. I cant agree that I could have stopped my truck easier without them. Can the abs system be disengaged?

 

ya mine makes all sorts of weird nosies when the abs kicks in

 

AFAIK the ABS system cant be shut off, there are sensors that feed the computer for it. Just takes some getting used to, I find it much handier than trying to furiously pump. Course the pedal feels like its gonna break off and the sound is worse.

 

If you are not used to ABS, the best favor you can do yourself is to find an empty parking lot and put it through it's paces. Get some speed going, then STAND on the brakes and get a feel for how it behaves. It takes some getting used to.

It might feel as if you could stop more quickly manually, but in reality, that is probably not the case. It's a pretty effective system and once you learn to play to it's strong points, it work well.

It's disconcerting to feel like you are handing off some control to the computer, but that will diminish as you relearn braking. On pavement, it really is a good system. It's off road where you want to rip it out for doing strange things...

 

well if you have a e-locker it will shut the abs off

 

Absolutely. The noises ABS makes are VERY scary, especially if you've heard them before - yesterday I had to come to a sudden stop in the snow and I thought my pedal was going to shudder right off my truck.

 

Could you explain what a e-locker is. I believe the abs system makes sense on dry or even wet roads. But, on snow... I still disagree. The computer is not as smart as the brain in my head and every situation is different.

 

the NOISE lets you know the ABS IS WORKING! and that YOUR WHEELS ARE SLIDING!

You think you are smarter than a computer? Can you tell if your Right Rear wheel is not spinning in under .25 of a second???

 

You all think that noise is horrendous.
I think it is normal.
Granted I have always driven vehicles with ABS on them.
But from the ones without, I really don't feel that much difference,
granted I am one to compensate for new vehicles very quickly.
I was using mine a lot today since we got piled with 3" of sleet yesterday
(freaking 12 hours of the stuff coming down....)

 

You have it somewhat backwards. At vary least the only time ABS is not needed as much is on dry pavement. Some of the reason ABS and other driving aids were made is for winter driving. If you having a problem with the system kicking in to much. Look at your tires first. Once your tires have reached it ability to maintain traction is when the system is designed to take over.

An e-locker is a rear differential lock. Making both rear wheels lock together and turn at the same rate. Not something you want to be engaging on a slick road surface.

 

my abs are fine