intermittant brake trouble

[hihosilver]

Hi Guys,My 2006 Vibe has a brake problem that nobody seems to be able to figure out. I've been to three shops and all of them say the brakes are fine. over the past several years my Vibe will occasionally make a horrible "Clunking" noise when I hit the brakes. I can feel the brake pedal jerk as if the brakes are locking up and the car does not stop. This usually happens when its wet outside, we are on a downhill slope and its the first or second time I've braked on the trip. After this the brakes seem to warm up or something and everything works fine. I'm scared to death about this but no one at three different shops has been able to make the problem happen or figure out what the issue is. Can anyone give me any advice? Thanks so much!

[Sublimewind]

High and welcome to GV..!!first thing in the day... wet out... downhill slope... Slippery? Could it be you invoking the anti-lock brakes coming to a stop first thing? It's not a clunking sound, but more of a "grinding" sound and makes the brakes seem like they are locking up...Possible??

[epcIII]

Quote, originally posted by Sublimewind »High and welcome to GV..!!first thing in the day... wet out... downhill slope... Slippery? Could it be you invoking the anti-lock brakes coming to a stop first thing? It's not a clunking sound, but more of a "grinding" sound and makes the brakes seem like they are locking up...Possible??Kinda sounds like ABS brakes to me too. Is this your first car with ABS brakes?

[hihosilver]

Ahhh, thank you very much, I took the car in this afternoon to another brake shop and indeed, that's what the sound is. I've always had trucks before this and had never experienced the ABS kicking in before. it sounds awful, but I guess its normal and everything is ok. That's a weight off my mind. thanks for your response!

[Salsa Guy]

LOL....I was trying to think that one through. You all nailed it.

[djkeev]

Quote, originally posted by hihosilver »Ahhh, thank you very much, I took the car in this afternoon to another brake shop and indeed, that's what the sound is. I've always had trucks before this and had never experienced the ABS kicking in before. it sounds awful, but I guess its normal and everything is ok. That's a weight off my mind. thanks for your response!I know what you mean about the noise and vibration, while disconcerting at first, the system WILL bring to car to a much safer stop on slick surfaces than you ever could by manually working the pedal. At first impulse you want to remove your foot from the pedal but don't do that, if anything push harder and trust the ABS to work properly. Release the pedal and reapply the brakes and you just lost a second or two before you can stop safely!!Dave

[hihosilver]

Thanks so much for the advice/help! I feel much better about my upcoming cross country drive!