1992 Chevrolet Suburban

THE BRAKES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN MUSHY. I UNDERSTSAND THAT ABS WILL RESPOND DIFFERENTLY TO EMERGENCY BRAKEING THAN "NORMAL" BRAKES BUT THIS THING IS A REAL ADVENTURE TO DRIVE WHEN YOU'VE GOT TO MAKE PANIC STOPS.IT SEEMS TO RESIST YOUR FOOT THE HARDER YOU PUSH THE LESS BRAKING YOU FEEL.THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL BEARING MODULE WENT OUT WHICH CAUSED THE DISK BRAKE TO GRAB AND BOTH FRONT TIRES TO WEAR VERY BADLY. THE ELECTRIC WIPER CONTROL WENT OUT BECAUSET THE CONTROL BOX IS IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND GOT WET. DAH! THE DRAG LINK BUSHING RUSTED OUT BECAUSE THE GREASE FITTING WAS APPARENTLY INACCESSABLE TO SERVICE AND NEVER GOT ANY GREASE. THE RADIATOR BEGAN LEAKING AT 90000 MLS. AT WHICH TIME I RAN A STOP LEAK PRODUCT IN IT WHICH STOPPED IT SO FAR. THE WATERPUMP WENT OUT AT 110,000 MLS AND THE ALTERNATOR AT 95000 MLS. BRAKES ARE BIGGEST CONCERN!!!!!

THE FIRST BRAKE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MARCH 30, 1999 AT THE INTERSECTION OF AL 150 AND I-459 IN HOOVER AL. I TRIED TO STOP AT THE LIGHT BUT THE SUBURBAN JUST WOULD NOT STOP. THE ANTI LOCK MECHANISM DID NOT ACTIVATE AND THERE WAS NO SLIDING OR SKIDDING. I RAN INTO THE BACK OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AT ABOUT 5 MPH. THERE WAS RAIN PRESENT, BUT IT WAS LIGHT RAIN ITH NO WATER STANDING ON THE ROAD. THE SECOND OCCASION WAS IN HOUSTON TX ON MAY 28, 1999. MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE SUBURBAN ON THE SAM HOUSTON TOLL ROAD WHEN SHE WENT TO CHANGE LANES. SHE DISCOVERED THAT SOMEONE WAS OVERTAKING HER FROM BEHIND AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED IN THE LANE THAT SHE WANTED TO BE IN. SHE PULLED THE WHEEL IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, SAW SOMEONE IN THE ADJACENT LANE, PULLED THE WHEEL IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION AND APPLIED THE BRAKES, HARD. THE SUBURBAN'S REAR WHEELS LOCKED, AND THE SUBURBAN MADE A 180 DEGREE TURN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, AND EXITTED THE ROADWAY BACKWARD AT ABOUT 20 MPH STRIKING A CONCRETE BARRIER. I HAVE SPENT ABOUT $1000 MAKING THE SUBURBAN DRIVABLE, AND I HAVE NOT GOTTEN INTO THE BODY WORK YET. I FEEL THAT BOTH OCCURANCES HAVE BEEN CAUSED AT LEAST IN PART BY FAILURE OF THE FOUR WHEEL ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM. THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL THREW THE TREAD SIX DAYS LATER ON THE WAY HOME. I DON'T THINK IT WAS DESIGNED TO GO SIDEWAYS.( DOT NUMBER: AN11LX1127 TIRE SIZE: LT24575R16 )

ABS DOES NOT STOP MY SUBURBAN WHEN SYSTEM ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE TAKES A LOT LONGER TO STOP. I HAVE TALKED TO THE DEALER AND SEVERAL BRAKE SHOPS AND THEY CLAIM THIS PHENOMENON IS NORMAL. THIS PROBLEM HAS CAUSED 4 NEAR MISSES AND ONE ACCIDENT. I JUST WANT TO KNOW HOW TO GET IT CORRECTED BEFORE WE GET IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *AK