"ABS Inop" light and "Brake"

[RAF7789]

SO when i am coming off the freeway or downshifting to slow down, both the ABS INOP light and BRAKE light come on. The brake pedal feels much stiffer and the car pitches forward more than usual when i come to a complete stop (which confirms that the FRONT brakes ARE working???) The E-Brake is still functional but i do not know if that is just for the rear brakes or both fr and rr?

Where should i start to diagnose the problema?

Thanks my f-brothers!

[1slo_camaro]

if you have drum in the back pull the drums and readjust the brakes. mine did the same thing on my v6 and i replaced the rears shoes and hardware and it went out. and check your brake fluid try popping the bleeders (re-bleed) them. and see if it will go off. just my two pennies. good luck

[Injuneer]

The "BRAKE" light is used for two purposes: 1) To indicated the E-brake is in use; 2) To indicated there is a pressure imbalance between the front and rear braking circuits. That imbalance could be due to low fluid, air in the lines, a leak in any component in the system, leaking between the two pistons (front and rear) in the master cylinder.

When the "BRAKE" light activates due to pressure imbalance, the ABS computer (EBCM) turns on the "ABS INOP" light to indicate the ABS can not function correctly, since it modulates pressure in the braking circuits.

The brake system needs a complete, professional inspection to determine the cause of the problem. You might want to check the brake fluid reservoir, to insure it is not low, allowing air to get into one of the lines. If you have air in the lines, the system must be bled, starting with the bleeders on the ABS system. Sometimes, if the EBCM computer shows a "fault", the ABS motors must first be "homed" using a high end scan tool like the Tech-2, before the brakes can be bled properly.

[99Firebird3800]

That ^^^ is why I hate ABS. Give me some good old-fashoned normal brakes that don't involve the randomness of a computer.

[Jeff_in_Atl]

That ^^^ is why I hate ABS. Give me some good old-fashoned normal brakes that don't involve the randomness of a computer.

ABS has saved me more than once and it's when you least expect it. Even the best driver can benefit from them.

[Joshu]

ABS has saved me more than once and it's when you least expect it. Even the best driver can benefit from them.

X2 I almost slid under a raised 4X4.

[RAF7789]

I will take a stab at it when i get time, but it sounds as though it would be more effective to have a specialist look at it. i have a connection or two in town here.

Thanks for the help everybody!

[99Firebird3800]

ABS has saved me more than once and it's when you least expect it. Even the best driver can benefit from them.

And ABS almost killed me several times in my Grand Prix, and then the system failed and caused me to have an accident. I'll stand by my dislike of ABS.

[Jeff_in_Atl]

And ABS almost killed me several times in my Grand Prix, and then the system failed and caused me to have an accident. I'll stand by my dislike of ABS.

When the ABS system fails it returns to regular brakes. If you had an accident because of that you would have had it anyway and you became reliant on the ABS brakes to keep you from having an accident.