94' Eighty Eight rear lockup

Hi All,

Just picked up a pretty clean 1994 Eighty-Eight for cheap with good new trans in it. Was looking for a driver to put big miles on each day, about 80 round trip. She already has 220K on her so I figured she'd take a few more.

Anyway right after I bought it I had to make a quick stop and the rears locked up big time. The ABS light is on and I figured no big deal but the rear proportioning is way wacky. Also the pedal was low and real touchy. I figured the rears might be gone but after a quick inspection found new drums, shoes and hardware. I cleaned and adjusted the rears then checked out fronts and found that someone had ran the pads into the rotors and just slapped pads on it. I installed new rotors and pads and cleaned and lubed all the slides.

So now I'm at the same problem w/o the low pedal. Rears still lock up WAY BEFORE the fronts even think about it. Possibly the ABS control valve that feeds all the wheels????? I don't know much about this system so I can use all the help I can get!!!

Thanks,
NJJ

Did you bleed the system after installing the new brakes in the front? Also, how close did you bring the rear pads to the drums? Should be until they start rubbing, then back them off a little, then let them adjust themselves while you are backing up. If none of this helps, then I would see if the front calipers were ruined from being pushed out so far. They are probably sprung, and need to be replaced.

Did you bleed the system after installing the new brakes in the front? Also, how close did you bring the rear pads to the drums? Should be until they start rubbing, then back them off a little, then let them adjust themselves while you are backing up. If none of this helps, then I would see if the front calipers were ruined from being pushed out so far. They are probably sprung, and need to be replaced.

Well I don't think the system needs bled, the pedal seems fine. Nice firm pedal but still WAY TOO MUCH rear brake bias. Rear brakes are adjusted just fine as I would always do, just bearly dragging and going to town......

I think the calipers are fine, no apparent damage to them. No leaks, rub marks....etc....etc...

I still think it's either in the ABS block/valve or ????????

This is not an abs related issue normally, scan the abs for codes with an appropriate scanner, lets see whats what there, but unless the rear shoes were grabbing this sounds like a proportioning valve probelm or the wrong master cylinder.

I have not had time to go get the code scanned. We got about 10" of snow Friday so today was catch up. Yes before, and now that the rears are properly adjusted, the rears grabbed really bad. I agree with you, the ABS is very possibly another issue. I'm going to try to get the codes scanned and go from there. Do these GM body style cars have proportioning valve issues?

Also, yesterday it was really cold and I noticed that the drivers heat was not near as hot as the passenger. The car doesn't have dual climate control. Are there still two different temp zones so that GM could have easily controlled it with driver and passenger controls?

Thanks for the help!!!

No 2 zone as you can see, never had a bad prop valve on a fwd car.

No 2 zone as you can see, never had a bad prop valve on a fwd car.

I know I wrote it doesn't have dual zone but did GM set all these cars up so that they could? I'm guessing the heating/cooling system is set up on all of these body styles with dual zone under the dash yet you either got single heat control, dual or automatic.......this way GM could save money and only use one style heater/AC under the dash.

Going to get the code for ABS scanned here in a few on my way home from work. Hopefully I can get some insight on this matter. PEORIA ILL ROAD SUPERVISOR SUCKS!!!!!! 4 days later and the roads are still in CHITTTY shape!!!!!! Kinda a bear driving a major bias in the rear car right now!!!!

NJJ

There are no seperate controls but there are floor outlets for the lt and rt side, is that what you mean?

There are no seperate controls but there are floor outlets for the lt and rt side, is that what you mean?

No that isn't what I meant. What I meant is GM probably put two different blend doors beyond what you can see from the outside. This way you could control both doors (LH & RH) from either one control, dual control or automatic. I think what I am going to find is that one door motor or door is damaged/weak.

Back on the subject of the wheel lockup, I tried to have the code scanned at O'riley and thier scanner wasn't up to snuff. I'll have to hook up with a GM buddy or one that has an appropriate laptop scan tool..... My Cuz works at a Chevy/Pontiac dealer in a small town here from Peoria and he thought the problem probably lied in the ABS valve/block. I don't know yet but it might just be a lame relay.....

We'll see and I'll keep you all up to date........

:cheers:

NJJ

I was having a problem with the ABS light staying lit, and yesterday when I started the car the light went off. So I was amazed, and yet weary cause I have not done anything new to fix the problem. Anyway, while the light was off, I had to make a quicker than usual stop. When I hit the pedal hard, the brakes in the rear locked up on me so hard that the car made an almost dead stop, and the pedal made a loud humming noise. Then the ABS light came back on and is still on. I don't know of this is similar to your problem, but maybe this can help in figurin this out for you.

My 94 88 is doing the same thing, no ABS and the rear brakes grab hard and lock easily. Had to replace a brake line yesterday, blead the brakes and pedal is good. Will have to diagnose the ABS and see what the prob turns out to be.

My 94 88 is doing the same thing, no ABS and the rear brakes grab hard and lock easily. Had to replace a brake line yesterday, blead the brakes and pedal is good. Will have to diagnose the ABS and see what the prob turns out to be.

Sorry but please check the date and do not resurrect old threads. Make a new post addressing your issue and someone should provide assistance. Thread closed.