help. when i hit the brakes hard they lock up and the pedal locks and feels mushy. i have new pads and rotors. I think it may have to do with the ABS but the light on the dash isnt on. this problem has been going on for a while. before and after replacing brakes. if i am coming to a slow stop brakes are ok. they lock only when i come to a sudden stop. could it be a bad caliper or something with the ABS?

 

If your brakes are locking up, you don't have ABS.

Anyway, the problem probably lies with your tires. Are they old, or severely worn?

 

ew, if youre 100% sure you have ABS and wheels are locking up, I think thats a serious problem. How are you tires??

 

They souldn't lock w/ ABS obviously. But then again, I don't have ABS on my 4th gne...so. .hmm.

 

i have a 1997 max se. tires are less than 3 months old.

 

i am almost positive it has ABS

 

ABS was optional on all 4th Gens, never standard equipment.

When you start your car, does an ABS light on the gauges come on for a few seconds, then go out? If so, you have ABS, if not, then you don't.

 

yes there is an ABS light on my dash

 

last time i did the brakes i did notice i had a hell of a time compressing the piston on one of the calipers. could that be related at all?

 

Were your old pads worn evenly? Could be a sticking caliper. When you brake does the car stay straight or pull to one side (just when you're braking)?

 

Check your tires by turning the steering wheel, if you have a bad alignment and its wearing from the inside, your going to have a beautiful brand new tire on the outside and a worn out one on the inside. That would definately cause your ABS to jump into play.

 

its a scary thing when the brakes lock up. Happened to me when a car tried to cut in front of me, but I I'm sure the tires werent fully warmed, and probably neither were the brakes, but I know for sure my tires were very bald which caused it.

but they should lock up all the time you step hard on the brakes suddenly, how are the road surfaces? maybe if they are slippery a lot then that might cause it.

 

They shouldn't lock up all the time with ABS.

 

They should only lock up when they lose traction... which can be a number of things, bald tires, slick pavement, dirt on the pavement...

 

And then pump as ABS were designed to do...