Brake Grinding Issue

darkstarsinner · 11-25-2012, 08:05 AM

So I've had my 08 300 Limited for about 2 1/2 months now and I love it!! However today was the first real day of snow and I've found an issue. While she most certainly handles great in the snow my braking abilitities... not so much. First thing this morning while coming down a hill I pressed on the brakes only to hear a nasty grinding sound and feel my pedal pulse. It was horrendous and fairly scary as I floated through an intersection at the bottom of the hill barely missing an F150. While driving I can gently press the brake and be fine however with extra pressure the grinding returns and so does the pulsing, and it doesn't feel like I'm even slowing down or braking at all. What in the world is going on? Any help would be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks.

**Northern Rider** · 11-25-2012, 09:35 AM

What you were feeling was the ABS brake system as it attempted to keep you from locking up the wheels.

It is working as designed. If your brakes stop the wheel from turning completely, you lose all control over the cars direction and also you increase the stopping distance.

There was probably ice on that downhill road.

Do you have dedicated ice and snow tires on this car for winter driving?

darkstarsinner · 11-25-2012, 09:41 AM

I do have winter tires, yes. I've had ABS vehicles before but have never felt this. I didn't slow down in the least bit. I told a coworker and he said the same thing. But he suggested that I unplug the ABS during the winter. Any thoughts on that?

**Northern Rider** · 11-25-2012, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkstarsinner

I do have winter tires, yes. I've had ABS vehicles before but have never felt this. I didn't slow down in the least bit. I told a coworker and he said the same thing. But he suggested that I unplug the ABS during the winter. Any thoughts on that?

I do not ever recommend unplugging the ABS in winter. Sounds like there may be an issue with the ABS. If so, it should throw a code. See if yoou can get the code read, and go from there.

**MADDOG** · 11-25-2012, 01:11 PM

Never unplug the ABS. Do they sand or rock icy roads? Do you have studs on your winter tires? Were the roads icy?

darkstarsinner · 11-25-2012, 09:00 PM

They salt the roads regularly. No studs on tires and it was only a thin layer of snow and presumably no ice as it had only been snowing a short time. Maybe an eighth of an inch.

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**MADDOG** · 11-26-2012, 11:52 AM

Make sure nothing has gotten between a pad (all 4 wheels, front and back sides of rotor) and a rotor.

darkstarsinner · 11-28-2012, 08:29 PM

Well I dropped her off at the dealership yesterday for an alignment and drivers side door lock motor. Had them look at the brakes to. All they could do was assure me that it was the ABS. Needless to say I don't like it at all. Never had ABS feel like that.

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**Northern Rider** · 11-28-2012, 08:37 PM

Well as one with a lot of ice racing and winter rallies (in the past), I will say this:

Even the best ice tire will have little grip going downhill on ice - especially ice under a light dusting of snow on top. The ABS can make a lot of noise under those conditions.

If, after a brake inspection for, as MD says, a rock caught in the pad, you still see no explanation, take the car to a large open parking lot, under wet or ice conditions and try a few panic stops.

If the ABS feels okay, then it was probably just one of those rare situations where ice tires and ABS were overcome by ravity and the elements.

darkstarsinner · 11-28-2012, 08:39 PM

I wish that were the case. It did this the whole way to work unless I was gently applying the brakes in dry areas

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