Hi, I have a question for people that have slammed on the brakes on ice or snow. What did it sound like.

I slammed mine on the other day and was horrified by the clacking clunking sounds it made. In dealership now, but they tell me this is normal. I've had anti lock brakes before and never heard anything like this. thanks.

 

I have driven Chrysler cars for many years now and a number of them have
had ABS and yes the clunking is NORMAL as far as DC cars go.
The ratcheting or clunking sound you hear is the ABS computer turning the
individual wheel cylinders on and off rapidly to keep you in a straight line
while allowing you to continue steering the car to avoid any object you
maybe sliding towards.
Remember ABS brakes are not pumped-once you put them on leave them on-
that's the way they work.
They have saved me from collisions twice!!!

 

The crunching sound I came across as well on my Caliber. Must be normal. I drive a 2005 ford E150 Van and it does the same thing. Must be a brake thing.

 

I have the same sounds and feeling in mine as well. The ABS has saved me a couple of times. Once I was cut off the road into a small industrial area and the shoulders were bumpy gravel. I tried stopping but it wouldn't stopped me until I pulled away from the shoulder, than they engaged. If it wasn’t for them I would've re-ended at older model BMW ahead of me at 60 kms per hour.

 

I have the SE 2 liter w/CVT. I didn't know it before I purchased, but 2 sources have stated that the CVT comes with ABS brakes. Is this for sure, true? Thanks for any info.

 

That's the way the literature reads 2.0/CVT comes with ABS and that's what I got
when I purchased my SXT.

 

I read in our morning newspaper that DCX has issued a recall on 62,000 2007
vehicles covering all models including the Caliber.
It concerns software problems on all with ESP,ABS and the electronics brake
distribution program,so REARWHEEL and AWD models sound like they are
candidates for the recall notice.
I have not had any problems regarding brakes on my 2.0L/CVT SXT.