I was driving home last night, and although not speeding I was trying to make a light (long red if you get caught). I ended up braking pretty late, not thinking about the train tracks just before the intersection. As my wheels went over the tracks I heard a 'clunk' from the front of the car and felt it through the brake pedal (maybe more felt than heard since my wife didn't comment). It wasn't a rapid series of clunks, just one, but only one track is a big bump, the other is quite smooth. I also noticed the pedal go a little soft and move more further to the floor. I still came to a safe stop but the sound/feeling scared me :eek: . I thought that something was wrong, but after giving it some thought I figured that I never had a car with ABS, so maybe this was it. The brakes seemed fine the rest of the way home. My car is all stock other than some WRX rims instead of the stock steelies.

Any ideas?

TIA

JNaubur

Yes, that was probably the ABS working. As an experiment, take you car out to a deserted road or parking lot (closed course disclaimer here) and try to lock-up the brakes from 30-40mph. It won't hurt anything, you learn what normal op. feels like, and you will learn how much braking can be had before it works.

you probably got one of the rear end tire to lock for a second that why you probably felt it.

some ABS systems sounds like the rotor scrapping on bare metel while others sound like something cluncking at your rotors.

i've heard it before and have felt it when i illegally at a young age drove my sister's Camary LE. heheee "don't tell anyone i-clubbers"

FuJi K

Maybe your front end got air? That'd probably make the brakes behave a little differently. ;)

Sounds like it to me! I remember the first time I felt/heard it, scard the crap out of me. Thought I was having break failure.

On the flip side, I remember the first time I felt traction control kick in on snow, crazy :)

go for a test drive, you really should KNOW what the ABS engagement feels like. yes it's very possible for it to trip while braking and going over a bump.

anyway, just go out to a quiet road and get going maybe 30-40 mph and STAND on the pedal until you feel ABS engage. ride it until you're stopped, then let up. you need to know this feeling in case it's every REALLY important!

you won't hurt anything on the car from this single test... do it.

like some suggested, test it out. for me, most of the time it's harder to get the abs to act when going straight, but a lot easier when in turns...