Chevy & GMC Vans

This is a reverse post, since it's something that my van did to me .... I had a close call thanks to ABS (again).

I've noticed that when the wheels spin, the van decides it's time to apply the ABS. Picture a short, steep driveway with ice at the bottom. I gave it a bit of gas at the bottom to get up, wheels spun a little bit as I climbed, then I applied the brakes to stop. But to my horror the ABS kicked in and I continued to roll towards my brothers cherished Cougar. I stood on the brake with all my weight and managed to stop a hair's breadth away. Keep in mind that without ABS the wheel(s) may have locked, but it was a steep incline so I would have stopped instantly.

I've noticed this on mud as well, and especially last summer while 4-wheeling. I was going up a steep, rocky road, and got into a spin (all wheels), so I wasn't moving. I applied the brake, expecting my wheels to stop instantly. Instead, they kept spinning under momentum. I had to apologize to the guy behind for flinging rocks.

My guess is that if wheels are turning at different speeds under brake application, the ABS system assumes one of them has locked. ABS systems have to be extremely sensitive to work, so the slightest difference will activate it. I think the problem is the system is too stubborn. Once the ABS activates, it stays on, no matter if you have regained traction. You would have to lift your foot off the brake completely, and then re-apply, which would be too late of course. I can't think of any tricks to overcome this. I'm still hesitant about pulling the ABS fuse in case it saves my life some day, but thus far it has been a very stressful feature. It scares the bejesus out of me sometimes!

Replaced the shift cable on the 4L60 today. Last week snow / ice got packed around the left side of the transmission and when I tried to put it in Park, it broke the plastic sheethe at the end of the inner cable and it was like trying to shoot pool with a rope. Also the broken end would catch on the outer cable and not let it go into D either without several attempts. I've sure owned a lot of Astros and this is the first time this has happened.

Now I just replaced the wiper blades with RainEx. 21" on drivers side and 18" on pass.

Did a ton of work on my exhaust, and I'm nearly done with it! Once I get finished with the tailpipe, the only thing I'll have left to do is replace that clogged up cat.

rear hatch shocks blew out in the cold. hatch worked fine then all of a sudden it got heavy really quick (I always help hold it up in the cold since the shocks dont work 100% in the cold.)

timelessbeing wrote:My guess is that if wheels are turning at different speeds under brake application, the ABS system assumes one of them has locked. ABS systems have to be extremely sensitive to work, so the slightest difference will activate it. I think the problem is the system is too stubborn. Once the ABS activates, it stays on, no matter if you have regained traction. You would have to lift your foot off the brake completely, and then re-apply, which would be too late of course. I can't think of any tricks to overcome this. I'm still hesitant about pulling the ABS fuse in case it saves my life some day, but thus far it has been a very stressful feature. It scares the bejesus out of me sometimes!

Could a toggle switch be added to the line coming into the fuse so you could toggle them off when you know they may cause more problem than not?

You could, but I don't think you really know when it's going to be a problem. For example, in the driveway situation I described it was a problem, but 1 minute before that on the road it may have been a good thing.

Hauled a load of scrap and made a good bit of coin. Gotta love that.

I ordered brand new 11" brake backing plates from a Chevy Caprice....hmmmm :-k

I'm really impressed with the brakes the 16" wheels on the 2003 and newer Astros allow. Day and night difference.

What did you do to/with your van today?

100 MPH !!

doyoulikeithere wrote:What did you do to/with your van today?

100 MPH !!

Only 95 for me. Pulled out to pass a truck and there were 3 cars in front of him. Times like that I miss my LS1 Astro.

Hope you guys have the fuzz busters, man I haven't done that in my van in a while. I am working on getting my spare 700R4 assembled, even if it is a tiny bit at a time. Got 7 full sized clutches in the drum with a thin retainer. Hopefully this will prove to be the way to go in regards to getting this thing to hold up. And some more line pressure.

ripped my door handle off again. Time for a new one and some time to fix... till then it's clibming in over the pass seat.

Put a new electric fan controller in yesterday. Today we drive another 300+ mile trip to snowshoe race!

I'm about to drill 40 holes in my vans roof.....