Hello Saab experts! Any ideas what is causing my 1990 900 with ABS to pull to
one side when I make a panic stop? I hear that it can be caused by a sticking
caliper, but I suspect that it is something to do with the ABS system. Is there
an easy way to "turn off" the ABS system and eliminate it as the cause of the
problem? Thanks! David N. in California
Dave Hinz - 24 Jun 2004 12:39 GMT
> Hello Saab experts! Any ideas what is causing my 1990 900 with ABS to pull to
> one side when I make a panic stop?
Any noises or pulsing when this happens?
> I hear that it can be caused by a sticking
> caliper, but I suspect that it is something to do with the ABS system.
Why do you think it's the ABS system? (related to question above)
> Is there
> an easy way to "turn off" the ABS system and eliminate it as the cause of the
> problem?
No. It also doesn't make sense for the problem you're describing.
Fred W. - 24 Jun 2004 15:43 GMT
> Hello Saab experts! Any ideas what is causing my 1990 900 with ABS to pull to
> one side when I make a panic stop?
Sure. It means that one of the front brakes (the one on the side that you
turn toward) is grabbing the brake rotor harder than the opposite one. This
could be because one is malfunctioning and grabbing too much or the off side
s not grabbing enough.
> I hear that it can be caused by a sticking
> caliper, but I suspect that it is something to do with the ABS system.
Sticking calipers tend to cause the brake pad to drag during non-braking
times which would cause the steering to pull when not braking. Left long
enough they overheat the rotor which then warps and eventually causes wild
pulsation whenever driving.
> Is there
> an easy way to "turn off" the ABS system and eliminate it as the cause of the
> problem?
Nope. But I really doubt that is the problem anyway.
-Fred W
Zon - 24 Jun 2004 18:11 GMT
> > Is there
> > an easy way to "turn off" the ABS system and eliminate it as the cause of
> the
> > problem?
>
> Nope. But I really doubt that is the problem anyway.
I'm not sure about Saab's, but in some cars you can simply disable ABS by
taking out ABS fuse.
BR:Z
Studecom - 25 Jun 2004 07:09 GMT
No, there is no strange noises and the car brakes fine as long as I'm not
really stabbing the pedal hard. I first noticed the problem when I had to hit
the brakes hard to avoid another car that had cut in front of me. The reason I
think that it might have something to do with the ABS is because I think that
I'm braking hard enough to engage it. David N.
Fred W. - 25 Jun 2004 15:07 GMT
> No, there is no strange noises and the car brakes fine as long as I'm not
> really stabbing the pedal hard. I first noticed the problem when I had to hit
> the brakes hard to avoid another car that had cut in front of me. The reason I
> think that it might have something to do with the ABS is because I think that
> I'm braking hard enough to engage it. David N.
Well, if you think about what ABS does, it reduces the fluid pressure to any
wheel which appears to be turning slower than the other wheel, it is
entirely possible that the pulling you are experiencing is somewhat
"normal". Perhaps one of your front wheels is approaching lock up before
the other. The modulating brake pressure from the ABS would reduce the
braking force on that wheel and you would then get pulling in the direction
of the non-locking wheel. The reasons could be the same as what I mentioned
before for unequal brake foirce between wheels on the same axle. Could also
be a difference in tire condition or pressure.
-Fred W
Dave Hinz - 25 Jun 2004 15:29 GMT
> No, there is no strange noises and the car brakes fine as long as I'm not
> really stabbing the pedal hard.
ABS makes a dramatic pulsing in the brake pedal when it's working,
are you feeling that?
I first noticed the problem when I had to hit
> the brakes hard to avoid another car that had cut in front of me. The reason I
> think that it might have something to do with the ABS is because I think that
> I'm braking hard enough to engage it.
It isn't logical that it would be ABS, a stuck caliper is much more
likely.