SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
PROBLEM 1, BRAKES: THE ABS SYSTEM STATES IN THE OWNERS MANUAL THAT IN THE EVENT OF AN ABS FAILURE THE BRAKING SYSTEM WILL REVERT BACK TO A NON ABS MODE. IN MY CASE THE ABS PUMP IS STUCK IN THE "DUMP" MODE WHICK FESULTS IN ALL PRESSURE BEING LOST TO THE REAF BRAKES. THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE LOCAL GMC DEALER, RIVERSIDE MOTORS, INDICATED THAT THERE IS PRESSURE TO THE REAR BRAKES AND THAT THE ABS IS JUST DISSABLED. WITH NEW REAR SHOES PROPERLY INSTALLED AND ADJUSTED THE REAR WHELLS WILL SPIN FREELY WITH THE BRAKES APPLIED. THE ABS WARNING LIGHT IS LIT AS WELL AS THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT. THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT INDICATES THAT THIER IS A LOSS OF PRESSURE IN THE SYSTEM THUS CAUSING AN IMBALANCE. A NEW MASTER CYLINDER DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THE BRAKE FLUID IS BY-PASSING INSIDE THE ABS PUMP/VALVE ASSY. IR THIS OCCURRED IN A PANIC SITUATION MY BRAKING DISTANCE WOULD BE GREATLY INCREASE. PROBLEM 2, STEERING, THE STEERING COLUMN BROKE OFF AT THE TOP RIGHT WHERE THE TILT ADAPTER MOUNTED TO THE COLUMN. THE COLUMN HAS SEVERAL LOCATING NOTCHES CUT IN IT WITH SHARP CORNERS. IT LOOKED LIKE A CRACK STARTED AT A SHARP EDGE AND WORKED ITS WAY AROUND. THE COLOUM WAS LOSE FOR AWHILE AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE BOLTS WOULD NEED TIGHTENING BUT BEFORE I COULD GET THEM TIGHTENED THE COLOUM BROKE. NOTE I AM A BIG MAN,475 LBS I AM SURE THIS ACCELAERATED THE FAILURE BUT THOUGHT I SHOULD REPORT IT TO YOU ANYWAY. THANKS FOR THIS SITE IT WAS VERY HELPFULL AND USER FRIENDLY. *AK
