Hey all, 2002 Chevy Blazer - this problem started right before I had the brake lines replaced but still persists. At low speeds (like under 15mph) when I step on the brake, the pedal goes stiff as a board and the brakes just do not engage. Makes pulling into the driveway real exciting! Guy who did my brake lines said it might be an ABS sensor issue but I’m not getting any idiot lights at all, checked the OBD for any codes but nothing there. Anyone have any thoughts?

 

Not exactly the same issue - but the anti-lock module can do some weird stuff. I had the brakes off while doing other maintenance and could not get them to bleed correctly after. I tried a bunch of things, but the only fix was to get a rebuilt anti-lock module. I didn't have any codes. Not sure if that helps - but it can do weird things to the brakes. Good luck!

 

Man do I love modern cars; never know what’s going to happen! (Well, “modern” as in anything after 1994 lol.) I did a little poking around the forum and other sites and seems like it could be the brake booster going, a vacuum issue, or the ABS. Definitely above my Amateur Driveway Mechanic pay-grade so she’s gonna pay a visit to my professional mechanic to get this one sorted out; I’ll come back and post what the diagnosis and fix was in case anyone else runs into similar!

 

Annnnnd I’m back to report that you were correct, the ABS system is causing the issue! Mechanic said we could either replace both front wheel hubs or just pull the fuse for the ABS and come back to the job later - gonna go with that second option and then replace the hubs in the spring and go from there. She’s always a work in progress, but that’s life with an older vehicle!

 

Thanks for the update. I was wondering what could have caused those symptoms. Now you will have to revive those old memories of how to pump your brakes on the snow and ice!

Do you know how your mechanic figured out that it was the speed sensors in the hubs that were bad?

 

He said that they “tested both ABS/speed sensors and were getting different readings from each” - and I know from recent experience with my other vehicle that when one of those speed sensors went (or the tone indicator of the wheel hub), the ABS would randomly engage at low speed braking just like it did with my Blazer. That car didn’t have the pedal stiffening issue though!