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1998 Chevy Astro ABS breaks acting up

Tiny
BENO987
  • MEMBER
  • 1998 CHEVROLET ASTRO
  • 6 CYL
  • AWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 130,000 MILES
Occasionally when breaking, especially at slow speeds like when in a parking lot, the breaks pedal will get very hard and feel as if the abs kicks in. If I either release the pedal compleatly and then re-apply pressure it usually works fine. Also if I press the pedal harder rather than releasing it it will engage sometimes. It also seems to happen when slowing down in a turn at low speeds.

The break fluid resivoir is full and break pads have approx. 3/16 inch left.
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Saturday, January 26th, 2008 AT 7:44 PM

7 Replies

Tiny
BMRFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 19,053 POSTS
Sounds like one of the wheel sensors and or ring
check it
if module get a wrong or irregular readings
will try to slow the tires
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Sunday, January 27th, 2008 AT 12:09 PM
Tiny
BENO987
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Actually the breaks do not work at all when this is happening. When I said that it feals like the abs kicks in I meant that the pedal vibrates very rapidly but there is no or very little breaking of the vehicle. I figure that the sensor and rings are probably ok because the breaks do not actually engage.

Sorry about the poor description.

Any other Ideas?
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Sunday, January 27th, 2008 AT 2:07 PM
Tiny
BMRFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
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I still think its an ABS system fault
most common is the front ABS sensor hub assembly
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Sunday, January 27th, 2008 AT 2:33 PM
Tiny
BENO987
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Is there a test that I can do to check the function of the abs sensors to see which one may be bad? I don't want my wife driving the car until it is fixed and would rather do it myself if possible rather than taking it in to a shop.
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Sunday, January 27th, 2008 AT 3:42 PM
Tiny
BENO987
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Reading in the Chilton manual it is mentioned that the power stearing and power break systemas are connected. The fluid level in the stearing resivoir is low, still on the dip stick but not by much. Could this low level result in such a responce by the break system especially as it seems that the problem occurs more frequently when turning which would be suing more of the fluid for stearing?
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Sunday, January 27th, 2008 AT 4:09 PM
Tiny
BMRFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 19,053 POSTS
You need to monitor the data with a scanner
or you can unplug wheel ABS sensor and drive try to see if it happen if it doesn’t then a ABS problem
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Sunday, January 27th, 2008 AT 4:46 PM
Tiny
BMRFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 19,053 POSTS
Yes some they have hydro booster and other have the vacuum booster
if you have the hydro booster power steering can effect the brakes
definitely check and adjust the fluid also check the belt and tensioner
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Sunday, January 27th, 2008 AT 4:53 PM

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