Has anyone had problems with the 4 wheel ABS in these trucks?? The other day the roads got atrocious here (atleast the back roads iced over...main roads were warm enough to melt and just stay wet, back roads melted the snow, but when nightfall arrived it was cold enough to freeze) Anyway, I just tapped my brake pedal and the truck skipped sideways, get back straight, tapped brake again...truck skipped the otherway sideways. Got it back straight and decided I was going to blow the stop sign. Now, I don't know if the ABS just didn't have time to kick in or what, but every dodge with ABS I've ever owned the ABS worked flawlessly (can't say that for all of my dad's company vehicles that were Fords)

Also on a side note, (maybe I should start a new thread, but I'll see if I get any response first) the same night, earlier, I pulled 2 people out of the ditch, and it took forever and some fiddling to get into 4 lo. If I remember it used to always work in P and N. But I was in N and it just flashed and flashed. I tried in P too, same thing. I put it in 4 lock and it kicked right on, then had to turn it back off then back to 4 lo and i started clicking like normal and locked in then. Is there an issue, or just some fluke?

 

the trucks only have RWAL (rear wheel abs)

 

my truck has 4 wheel ABS and it works great, sometimes i wish i didn't have abs but it seems to kick on right away

for 4 low i believe you have to do 4 hi first then rolling (2-3 mph) in N, switch it to 4 low, i have the manual shift lever

 

They have rear abs standard, but 4 wheel abs as an option, but mine does have 4 wheel, cause it says it on the window sticker

I've never had issues with abs before, and the light isn't on or anything. But the second I touched the brakes it kicked sideways, like the truck didn't even slow down the slightest bit other than deceleration from letting off the gas. And as soon as the truck skipped I let off the brakes, so I'm hoping I don't have issues, and that I just didn't allow enough time to kick on...was just wondering if anyone else had simliar experiences, to help verify that I don't have anything wrong and that this was a fluke thing

And thanks for mentioning you have manual 4x4, I forgot to mention that mine was electronic. And I've never had to "roll" into 4 lo before so they must work a little differently

Thanks for the replies and ideas guys, keep 'em coming

 

Mine has electronic switching, I beleive you need to engage 4lock fully first so the transfer box engages, then at a standstill engage 4 lo in either N or P, I've never tried going straight over from 2wd to 4Lo though.

With the ABS, on some vehicles you need to go over a certain speed (about 20mph) before the ABS will become active, so that may be why you didn't see it work.

I've tested the hill descent control this week in 4Lo, it's a strange feeling going downhill on ice and snow covered roads at less than 5mph without braking!!

 

I think you might be right about the 4 lock-lo cuz once I did it I think just like you described it locked in. As far as ABS speed, I was going 50 when I hit the brakes and nothing happened. Please, More info on this hill descent you are talking about, I never heard of it before

 

look on your right side of your engine bay below your brake master cylinder and see how many brake lines are coming out of your abs pump. if nothing happened you probably have rear wheel abs.

 

I have the electronic 4wd too and I found sometimes you have to do the roll to get 4low to engage. Rolling in neutral just gives everything a chance to relax and find a spot to mesh and engage. As far as ABS im not really sure but have noticed some things before. I have 4 wheel ABS in my truck, but noticed if your on ice (like solid ice) to the point that when you hit the brakes its so slippery all tires lock up, ABS isn't going to work. Like I said im not totally sure on all that but its just what I've noticed before myself.

 

black ice is a **** and hard for ABS to work against it

 

Living in AZ, i don't get much opportunity to drive on ice. After all that is why I live here. At any rate, when I did live in Rochester, I experienced squirrely behavior from my abs. My car guy suggested that I take the truck out to a parking lot and experiment a bit. In my case, light braking seemed to confuse the abs, while more aggressive braking resulted in straight stops.
Mike