Awkward ABS?

BAC5.2 · Post by **BAC5.2** » Thu Jan 20, 2005 2:02 am

Ok, driving in the snow and hitting the brakes (wanted to see how Subaru ABS works)

What does normal BC-ABS sound like? It didn't seem to work very well, attributed to the foul weather (though I did a better job of stopping by threshold breaking), but the sound kind of worried me.

It was just a metallic clanking and it sounds horrible.

I just recently bled the brakes, and I don't show any symptoms of failing master cylinders or brake boosters.

I have the WRX front brakes.

Here's what I can think of:

I am running Axxis Ultimate pads up front. They are pretty worn down, and a little harsher than a compliant pad. So, when ABS is engaging, it almost sounds like the pads are clapping on the rotors. It happened all day, and I burned about 1/4 tank driving around.

It's just a metallic clank.

What do you guys think?

LaureltheQueen · Post by **LaureltheQueen** » Thu Jan 20, 2005 2:16 am

I've had trouble getting my abs to kick on, even at the track, it coulda been that I was just paying too much attention to driving though

mikec · Post by **mikec** » Thu Jan 20, 2005 2:20 am

I had trouble getting the ABS to activate on wet pavement during a driving course... It took me trying to bend the brake pedal and many attempts to get it to come on once.

As for the noise, whenever I hear it, it always sounds like something's not right. Definitely a metallic noise.

BAC5.2 · Post by **BAC5.2** » Thu Jan 20, 2005 2:31 am

I LOVE our ABS system in the dry. It's really unobtrusive. That was the first question I had for Jason when I rode in his car. How is the ABS.

I've never owned an ABS car before, so I prefer do do things myself.

I guess I just never paid attention to the noise before.

THAWA · Post by **THAWA** » Thu Jan 20, 2005 2:56 am

To me it sounds like a series of thunks more than clanks. It could just be how we precieve it though. I wouldn't worry about it too much.

Yukonart · Post by **Yukonart** » Thu Jan 20, 2005 2:59 am

Sounds perfectly normal to me, Phil.

Been driving in the snow many years now with various cars, some with ABS and some without. From the ones that DID/DO have it, that is the universal sound of "HEY! We're not stopping so I'm engaging!"

Nothing to worry about. Your car is simply doing what it's supposed to do. Consider it a good thing that you don't hear it engage more often.

BAC5.2 · Post by **BAC5.2** » Thu Jan 20, 2005 3:01 am

Cool, thanks Hardy.

It sounds like a crunching kind of noise. ABS doesn't seem overactive.

In the snow, I use my brakes very little to the point that ABS needs to be called upon.

BAC5.2 · Post by **BAC5.2** » Thu Jan 20, 2005 3:06 am

Well, I'm not so much worried about the horrible noise and feel that ABS causes. It just seems like the Legacy's ABS is significantly more audible than any other ABS car I've ever driven, and the noise is different than all other ABS bits.

Odd, but whatever. It should be fine.

Brat4by4 · Post by **Brat4by4** » Thu Jan 20, 2005 3:12 pm

Yeah, that's the only way I can tell that the ABS is working - by the sound. It is a different sound than I've heard on other cars. But at least it doesn't affect the brake pedal like other cars that lock up an axle at a time. I love how unintrusive it is, and how it seems hard to engage sometimes.

On the other hand, WRX owners complain it goes off unneccesarily.... So I think we got the good end of the deal.

legacy92ej22t · Post by **legacy92ej22t** » Thu Jan 20, 2005 4:16 pm

Mine is a loud clunking, crunching, kinda grindy noise. It sounds horrible. It's sounds like you have severly warped, rusted rotors or something. It's also totally normal.

Mmm, I can't wait to get Subarina back on the road. I only hope it's before the snow stops.

BAC5.2 · Post by **BAC5.2** » Thu Jan 20, 2005 5:40 pm

Ok, good. Glad it's normal. Or normal enough that it's not going to effect braking performance.

What happens to the pedal when ABS engages? Mine is just rock hard, like the pedal just stops traveling.

mikec · Post by **mikec** » Thu Jan 20, 2005 6:32 pm

Yeah, I don't think mine does the usual ABS pulsation. From what I remember (it comes on so rarely), it feels pretty firm.

I may be able to find somewhere to test it today, if you'd like

LedJetta · Post by **LedJetta** » Thu Jan 20, 2005 11:01 pm

i was very curious about the noises as well. i have never owned an ABS car until i got this one 3 months ago. we just got our first snow of the year so i was testing it out, and i thought something was SERIOUSLY wrong. the grinding noises only happened when i would try to lock them up in snow though, like zero traction situations. when i stand on the brakes in wet or dry it doesnt make any noise. not sure if the ABS is even activating...

my pedal does feel strange though, it pulsates and almost feels like its pushing back. i know this is normal for ABS cars, but several people have posted here that theirs doesnt do this...

BAC5.2 · Post by **BAC5.2** » Thu Jan 20, 2005 11:38 pm

Good, LedJetta. Mine doesn't make much noise in the dry if I can ever get it to activate. It just sounds like something is breaking when it activates in the snow.

Good, glad that it's settled.

Note, though, that I do get feedback from the pedal, but the pedal feels rock hard, and I don't get as much feedback from it as I do feedback from my mom's Buick, or my sisters Nissan.

I think it has a little bit to do with the non-stock front brakes.

mikec · Post by **mikec** » Thu Jan 20, 2005 11:59 pm

Tested mine a couple of times. Same results - some feedback, but not anywhere near as much as other cars. I've upgraded my pads only.

And your description of the sound is what I think of now - like something's breaking.

BAC5.2 · Post by **BAC5.2** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 12:22 am

Sweet, thanks Mike.

mikec · Post by **mikec** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 12:39 am

No prob

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Awkward ABS?

Awkward ABS?