1997 GMC Suburban

WHEN BRAKING AT SLOW SPEEDS, THE ABS KICKS IN AND INCREASES THE STOPPING DISTANCE NEEDED. AFTER 3 TRIPS TO DEALER (AND OVER $500 IN REPAIRS) FOR BRAKE PROBLEMS, THEY TOLD ME THAT THE WHEEL SPEED SENSORS WERE MALFUNCTIONING. THEY CHECKED THE RECALL, BUT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT LISTED. I HAVE SINCE SEEN THAT THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM WITH ALL OF THEIR VEHICLES AND THAT HUNDREDS OF OTHERS HAVE COMPLAINED THAT THE "REGIONAL" RECALL DIDN'T COVER THEM. IT SEEMS OBVIOUS TO ME THAT THERE IS AN INHERENT PROBLEM WITH THIS BRAKING SYSTEM AND THE WHEEL SPEED SENSORS AND GM SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRING THIS BEFORE SOMEONE ELSE GETS HURT (OR WORSE). *JB

ABS BRAKES DO NOT AND HAVE NOT WORKED PROPERLY SINCE THIS VEHICLE WAS FIRST PURCHASED (STILL ORIGINAL OWNER). SPEED SENSITIVE STEERING DOES NOT AND HAS NOT WORKED PROPERLY AS WELL. THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS $$$ HAVE BEEN SPENT AT THE ORIGINAL DEALERSHIP AND AT QUALIFIED AUTOMOBILE SERVICE REPAIR CENTERS CONTINUALLY REPLACING PARTS AND SOMETIMES THE SAME PARTS OF THE YEARS, THIS CONTINUES TO THIS DAY EVEN THOUGH THE SUBURBAN IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION AND WELL TAKEN CARE OF. THIS INCLUDES MASTER CYLINDER, BRAKE PADS, CYLINDERS, ETC. THIS BRAKING DEFECT SEEMS TO BE EXPERIENCED BY MANY OWNERS OF THE 1997 GMC SUBURBAN C1500. WHY HASN'T SOMETHING BEEN DONE BY GM ENGINEERS TO LOCATE AND FIX THIS PROBLEM? *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED AT SPEEDS BELOW 5 MPH, THE BRAKING DISTANCE WAS THREE TIMES AS FAR AS IT SHOULD BE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO DEALERSHIP AND THE ABS SENSORS WERE REPAIRED. THE PROBLEM RETURNED 6 YEARS LATER. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 05V379000, REGARDING THE ANTILOCK BRAKES. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER, IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. UPDATED 03/09/06. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT STATE THERE IS AN NHTSA RECALL, CAMPAIGN 05V379000 REGARDING THE SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: ANTILOCK. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER, IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE MODEL YEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP.*AK THE BRAKE LINE WAS LEAKING DUE TO RUST. UPDATED 02/07/06. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 GMC SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT WAS CALLING IN REFERENCE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN RECALL 05V379000 CONCERNING ABS BRAKES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS RECEIVING A FALSE READING WITH ABS BRAKES, AND HER STATE AND MODEL YEAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT HAS BEEN HAVING THIS PROBLEM SINCE EARLY SUMMER OF THIS YEAR AROUND MAY OR JUNE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC, AND THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE FRONT HUB. THE CONTACT DISCONNECTED THE ABS SYSTEM FROM BOTH OF THE FRONT TIRES AND WAS NO LONGER HAVING THIS PROBLEM, BUT IT WILL NEED TO BE REPAIRED BEFORE WINTER. *AK THE ABS WOULD ACTIVATE WHILE BRAKING AT SLOW SPEED WHICH RESULTED IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *NM

I HAVE OWNED THE SUB FOR ABOUT 5 YEARS NOW. FIRST OFF I REALLY ENJOY DRIVING IT. I NEED TO SAY MY VEHICLE IS MODIFIED AND NOT STOCK. 9 INCH LIFT 38IN SUPER SWAMPERS, AND A COUPLE OF ENGINE UPGRADES. I CAN VERIFY HOWEVER EVEN BEFORE I INSTALLED THE LIFT AND TIRES I HAD A COUPLE OF PROBLEMS. #1 ALWAYS HAD UNEVEN WEAR IN THE FRONT BRAKES, 1 CALIPER (FRONT) WOULD ALWAYS BURN UP THE BRAKES FASTER. I MADE SURE I USED GM PADS FROM THE DEALER. I ALSO MADE SURE THE CALIPERS WERE MOVING FREELY AND GUIDE BOLTS LUBED WITH GM SUPPLIED GREASE. #2 POOR BRAKING PERFORMANCE EVEN WITH VEHICLE UNLOADED, I GUESS I FIGURED THIS ONE OUT BY MYSELF. NOT TO BE RUDE BUT WHY WOULD GM EQUIP A VEHICLE WITH A AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION THAT IS RATED AT APPROX 7,300LBS WITH A TINY BRAKING SYSTEM. IN MY OPINION SMALL PADS+SMALL ROTORS=LONG STOPPING DISTANCE. #3 DETONATION, GOING UP SMALL INCLINES 1/4-1/2 ENGINE THROTTLE. THIS HAS ALWAYS HAPPENED. EVEN THOUGH THIS MAY NOT BE GM'S PROBLEM I JUST WANTED TO GET MY 2 CENTS IN. I UNDERSTAND ALL GASOLINE IS NOT CREATED EQUAL, I HAVE TO USE 92-93 OCTANE WITH A FUEL ADDITIVE TO GET RID OF THE NOISE. IS THIS NOT A FUCTION OF THE KNOCK SENSOR? I MAYBE WRONG BUT SHOULDN'T THE KNOCK SENSOR BACK OFF IGNTION TIMING VIA THE ECU WHEN DETONATION IS PRESENT. #4 DOOR HINGES LOUD/NOISY BREAKING.

WHILE DRIVING THE SERPENTINE BELT TENSIONER BROKE FROM ITS MOUNTING AND RESULTED IN LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND OTHER COMPONENTS INCLUDING CHARGING OF THE BATTERY. THE ALTERNATOR ALSO SHORTED OUT. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER WERE NOTIFIED. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE WARRANTY NOT LONGER COVERED THE BELT. THE BRAKES SHUTTERED WHILE BRAKING FROM 60 MPH. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKE PADS AND RESURFACED THE ROTORS. *NLM