okay I have a 96 cavalier!! And there is a funny smell like something is burning comin from all four BRAKES i'm guessing something from the wheel anyways!!!! And the reason i figure its the brakes is cause the ABS light is on!!!!! It has been raining here alot if that could help with any thing but anyways any help would be nice and very much appreciated!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks!!!!



L!L C@VI

First, your front ABS wheel sensors have most likely built up with brake & rotor dust. The sensors are magnetic and attract the metal from metallic/semi-metallic brake pads and from the rotors. They're attached with one bolt and have one plug connector. Remove the plug and bolt and pull the sensor out toward the inside. Use some brake cleaner and rags and clean the sensors. That should clear up the ABS light.

As for the smell, have you changed any brake system parts recently? Cleaned them? New or different wheels? Any debris from the water or rust build-up on the rotors or in the drums?

The ABS and related valving will only release pressure from the wheel cylinders or calipers. It shouldn't be applying any fluid pressure to the system. They stop wheel lock-up by releasing pressure from the system in short bursts, as controlled by the ABS module. (The difference would be if you have the 4T40E/4sp automatic with traction control, which applies pressure to the front wheel that is spinning, till the fronts start turning equally.) When the ABS light comes on, as long as the hydraulic system is in good condition, the brakes work like standard non-ABS brakes.

MadJack wrote: The ABS and related valving will only release pressure from the wheel cylinders or calipers. It shouldn't be applying any fluid pressure to the system. They stop wheel lock-up by releasing pressure from the system in short bursts, as controlled by the ABS module.

Jack, I don't think you're entirely correct. It's true that the ABS valves stop wheel lock-up by releasing pressure from the system. But, the ABS system includes a pump that supplies pressure back to the system to provide braking to the wheel once it starts turning again. It's not all supplied by the foot pedal. The decisions to release/restore pressure are made (many times per second) by the ABS module as you say. The ABS pump very definitely supplies pressure to the system and I can envision a scenario where a malfunction in the pump and control valves could result in pressure to the brakes causing them to drag (and then smell). He needs to get the car to a knowledgable shop and find out what codes turned the light on. (I had the pump go out in my car with expensive results.)

There's a good non-technical overview of how a basic system works here...

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/auto-parts/brakes/brake-types/anti-lock-brake1.htm

!!!!!!!!!!!!....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Working on obtainting an M-Class license... ?? Hint: 2 wheels.