Hi,

I have a 1998 1500 4x4 with rwal (no front abs just rear). In the 17 years I've owned this truck I've never noticed the rwal kicking in. Last week I had the rear drums turned to eliminate shuddering during heavy braking. I was doing some high speed stops to make sure the shuddering is gone (it is) and noticed what I think is the rwal kicking in. Basically mid stop it feels like the rear brakes stop engaging and the fronts are providing all the stopping power. On my wife's car with front abs you can feel the brakes going on/off, On my ram you can feel the rears brakes turn off but they don't seem to turn on again. This causes the stopping distance to be considerably greater than prior to turning the drums. My thought is the finish left from turning the drums is causing the rears to lock up much easier. Does this sound like normal rwal operation?

Thanks, Jim

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That doesn't sound normal to me, and the result of turning the rear drums should not in any case be reduced stopping power.

 

The RWAL on these trucks is pretty useless anyway......

 

Is there click noise or something that lets you know Rwal is operating?

 

Probably, but, whether you can hear it or not is open to debate. All the RWAL is is a dump valve on the rear brake line. I am not even entirely sure how it decides to engage.... The only clue it has how fast things are going is from the VSS, or rear wheel speed sensor...... Maybe it looks at how quickly speed changes.... who knows.

 

Its working correctly if you slam it on slippery surfaces and you feel the brake pedal pulsing. Almost like it's trying to push up into the not braking position.

 

The 4WAL guys will do that, but, the RWAL guys don't. RWAL just bleeds off some pressure to the rear brakes via the dump valve. 4WAL actually has a pump.....

 

Oh lol so it's useless in other words?

 

Exactly.

 

I don't feel any pulsing just the rears stop braking. I'm hoping once the drums smooth out it will happens less.