Ok, I have run into this problem twice now. When I come to a hard, and I mean very hard stop, or I am sliding on snow/ice and abs kicks in full force my brakes feel like they are going to fall off. It will grab and pull then let go as if there is something, (such as rocks) in between the rotors and the pads and make a crunching sound. Just this weekend I was up in New Hampshire and came upon a slippery patch of snow/ice. I went to step on my brakes only to have the same thing happen, the brakes would grab violently and let go repeatedly, my headlights dimmed, and there seemed to be a sputtering noise from under the hood/dash. I'm guessing from where the abs reservoir is.

I just recently replaced all of my pads, and rotors. So i know they are all good, and visually they are fine. I have bled the system many times now. under normal conditions the brakes work great. Its only when i have to stop short, or when i am on slippery ground they give me issues. Has anyone else had a similar experience? And there are no cels thrown.

Thanks guys
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Not sure but I don't think codes for the ABS system show as CEL lights, I thought just engine codes came up as CEL's ?
But ABS does give a pulsing harsh vibrating feel through the pedal when it's activated, that is normal, the crunching sound will be the wheels skidding really slightly as the ABS does lock and release. When you say you've bled your brakes did you follow the correct procedure and also bleed the ABS unit as well ? The correct procedure is pass rear, driver front, driver rear, pass front. (Then the spare only joking)

Have a look at this old thread about the ABS unit :

https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=575311

 

thanks, ill have to try that. i bled the lines, never the abs unit.
what do you think would cause the dimming of the head lights? bad alternator coupled with the draw from the abs?

 

Possibly the sudden extra current draw from the ABS unit would cause lights to dim. It is a safety device, so designers would give it priority over other functions and wouldn't be too worried about the extra current it pulls, as ABS is only active for a very short period under extreme braking. One way to test is disable ABS take on a straight road when it's safe brake heavily making sure you do it safely. If the lights DON'T dim then you know that it was the ABS kicking in that caused the lights to dim in the first place.

 

ok, i guess i have never been in a situation before where abs was active. i thought it would be smoother, not so violent and brutish. the car i owned before this was a 1986 saab spg turbo, and that didnt have it, altho sometimes i wish it did, way to many close calls.