Question about GM ABS brakes

[SaturnIonVue]

Recently I wanted to see how my ABS worked on my 08 Saturn Aura (a near Chevy Malibu twin) so I waited for a day with light rain, and no traffic. At about 30 to 35 MPH I hit the brakes, forcing the ABS to engage. I thought the front end of the car was going to be knocked off the car! There was a really violently loud and very rapid knocking sound that kinda scared the heck out of me. I didn't feel any pulsing through the brake pedal that I've read people often feel. FWIW, the car didn't skid or slide to a stop. I can understand now how people can, in a panic, release pressure on the brakes!

My question is about if what I experienced is typical of ABS in GM vehicles or if something could be out of adjustment? TIA.

 

[tomcat27]

it sounds normal. I purposely engage my ABS all the time for fun - of course its easier on snow/ice than wet pavement. actually, EVERYONE should practice using their ABS in all conditions: straight stops, steering around an obstacle... etc

 

[bepperb]

Wet pavement has too much traction, so you will get a pretty violent reaction from the ABS system. Come up by me and give it a try on snow. You'll pretty quickly get used to the sound, then you start getting too used to it and become a less safe driver to compensate for this safety feature (at least for most drivers).

 

[aaxb970]

Seems normal for wet pavement...I was gonna say wait for snow but I see ur LOC.

 

[DeeAgeaux]

Originally Posted By: tomcat27
it sounds normal. I purposely engage my ABS all the time for fun - of course its easier on snow/ice than wet pavement. actually, EVERYONE should practice using their ABS in all conditions: straight stops, steering around an obstacle... etc


So, how often do you replace your rotors?

 

[The_Jeff]

You probably hit a resonant frequency of your suspension bushings. Like said above you probably had a lot of tire friction.

Back in the day Chrysler K-cars used to wear little grooves in the brake pad guides because of the chattering of pads under ABS use.

 

[jhMalibu]

The one time (so far) that I've really used the ABS on my 05 malibu I feel like it really saved my cookie. Had to do an evasive maneuver on a somewhat sandy, dry road (winter) and the ABS was working the whole way through the turns. I didn't notice any violent shuddering as I was too busy mashing the pedal to the floor

 

[JTK]

Originally Posted By: bepperb
...give it a try on snow. You'll pretty quickly get used to the sound,....


True. All the ABS equipped vehicles I've owned shared the same horrible grinding noise and pedal feeback when engaged. ABS is nice on ice/snow IMO. My Hyundai does an ABS self test on EVERY startup as soon as you hit ~20mph. You can hear it and feel it on the accelerator pedal. Kinda drives you nuts.

Joel

 

[SteveSRT8]

I can't imagine anyone driving who does not know how their car will react in an emergency!

Of course you want to use the ABS and explore the vehicle response.

And it will not hurt the brakes. Actually good for them to be used at or near their limits, better to find out during testing than in an emergency.

And BTW, some vehicles have very smooth ABS, thank goodness they are all not like a Saturn.

 

[CivicFan]

Once I was doing 60 in my Bimmer on a state road and didn't notice a stop sign until I was very close to it. I hit the brakes expecting to end up in the middle of the intersection. The ABS came on and the car stopped a few feet short of the stop sign.

After that, I have great respect for ABS.