Does anybody else feel like the 1500 Av has less than desirable brakes? I thought the discs in the rear would help but maybe not. We also have a 1997 Suburban, after driving it for a while getting in the Av the brakes just feel like crap. Is this a common problem with all Av's or just mine? I traded in a 99 Chevy dually for the Av so obviously the brakes are different and I expected a change, but not this much. Any thoughts?
-
If you currently own, previously owned or want to own an Avalanche, we welcome you to become a member today. Membership is FREE, register now!
Not So Great Brakes
- Thread starter Rescue_1
- Start date
Wiki
Full Member
I think the brakes are a little on the soft side as far as feel but let me tell you...the brakes are really good for stopping you!! 
I was messing with my phone (mistake #1), driving along the strip when a car stoped in front of me. I looked up and couldnt see her tires...thats how close I was before I NAILED the brakes. Was doing about 25 and the AV stoped within 10ft or so. I didnt stop to measure the distance...
Just to change my underwear!!
My Dodge would have hit her I know.
I was messing with my phone (mistake #1), driving along the strip when a car stoped in front of me. I looked up and couldnt see her tires...thats how close I was before I NAILED the brakes. Was doing about 25 and the AV stoped within 10ft or so. I didnt stop to measure the distance...
Just to change my underwear!! My Dodge would have hit her I know.
For 5,800 pounds going from 60 to 0 in 142 feet is damn impressive in my book considering the average passenger car at half the weight can do the same thing in about 125 to 130 feet. So for the big heavy truck that it is - nope, I'm very happy with the brakes. As a matter of fact with GM saying that they are better in the 2003 I'm not sure how but gads - maybe they're putting aircraft brakes on the thing!
marc_w
Full Member
Mine have been crappy, up until a little while ago.... We got the first rain in the area since I picked up the truck, and the braking performance seemed to improve a bit. ?I think the dealer sprayed on too much tire treatment stuff and got it on my rotors....... ?the stuff was collecting brake dust all various sections of my rims.
Just this afternoon though, before the rain, I was pretty upset at their performance. ?I had to make a quick stop for an undecisive driver ahead of me - the brakes had no initial bite at all - they felt wooden... ?within about a second or two the came on fairly strong, but still not very confidence inspiring. ?A second or two is a bit too long for a panic stop, in my opinion......
If they don't improve too much more, I'm going to be looking into upgrades. ?
Just this afternoon though, before the rain, I was pretty upset at their performance. ?I had to make a quick stop for an undecisive driver ahead of me - the brakes had no initial bite at all - they felt wooden... ?within about a second or two the came on fairly strong, but still not very confidence inspiring. ?A second or two is a bit too long for a panic stop, in my opinion......
If they don't improve too much more, I'm going to be looking into upgrades. ?
I was kind of surprised to see this listed as a problem.
I don't have the stopping power I had in my Maxima SE - but for the weight of this truck I am very impressed with how quick it will stop.
My brakes had started to get a light sweak and my dealer said it was brake dust and to take it out and stop them down hard a couple of times at 50 mph - let me tell you the AV surprised me and stopped very fast.
Just my 2 1/2 cents
I don't have the stopping power I had in my Maxima SE - but for the weight of this truck I am very impressed with how quick it will stop.
My brakes had started to get a light sweak and my dealer said it was brake dust and to take it out and stop them down hard a couple of times at 50 mph - let me tell you the AV surprised me and stopped very fast.
Just my 2 1/2 cents
marc_w
Full Member
My ZR2 had the best brakes I've ever felt (aside from my sportbike!)... I could lock them up at the pressure it usually takes me to get the Av slowing at a good rate.
Granted, the Av has about 1600lbs more weight to it - even towing 1500-2000lbs with the ZR2, the brakes just had much better fell to them.
Odd.
Maybe I'll try to manually bed them in... if for whatever reason they haven't already.... (just clicked over 1,000 miles on the clock)
Granted, the Av has about 1600lbs more weight to it - even towing 1500-2000lbs with the ZR2, the brakes just had much better fell to them.
Odd. Maybe I'll try to manually bed them in... if for whatever reason they haven't already.... (just clicked over 1,000 miles on the clock)
I have a z66 with 17" Goodyears - 1500 and my ABS kicks in all the time on dry pavement. I have not had the occassion to slam the brakes at high speeds but in several instances in parking lots and at low speeds I have needed to stop quickly and the ABS comes on.
Now this is a little un-nerving as there is no screeching of tires but a pulsating brake petal and the AV does not stop quickly but continues to move forward. So when the ABS comes on I start to look to drive around the obstacle - this has happened over a dozen times and I am getting accustomed to this - first time was a little scary.
Any others have similiar experiences . . . ?
zzo2
Now this is a little un-nerving as there is no screeching of tires but a pulsating brake petal and the AV does not stop quickly but continues to move forward. So when the ABS comes on I start to look to drive around the obstacle - this has happened over a dozen times and I am getting accustomed to this - first time was a little scary.
Any others have similiar experiences . . . ?
zzo2
zzo2 said:
Are you saying you think the ABS is DETRACTING from your braking? I thought it would HELP with braking.
zzo2, what you are describing doesn't sound right, I would get to a dealer quickly, ABS should only come on when you stand on them, not the situations you are describing.
First, a question: What does everybody consider poor or bad brakes?
My final judgement is not only on the brakes but the chassis and tires as well. Once I am used to how much pressure the brakes require, just how fast can I slow down the vehicle? I think the AV takes more pressure on the pedal than many other vehicles I have driven and also the pedal goes farther down before any real brakeing occures. However, if you push them hard enough the AV stops very well. Its very un-nerving for my wife who only drives it on weekends. She hates the brakes. I was out of town all last week and she drove the AV, by the end of the week she felt that the brakes were much better. The tires on the AV are great for breaking on dry, wet, and snow, and the chassis behaves very well. I suspect Chevy only changed on the 2003 how soon the breaks activate and didn't change the rotors, etc. My '89 full size pickup had a great feeling pedal but the 265 Wrangler TDs were S*** on everything but deep snow. The AT/Ss are great (I later put them on the old truck).
My final judgement is not only on the brakes but the chassis and tires as well. Once I am used to how much pressure the brakes require, just how fast can I slow down the vehicle? I think the AV takes more pressure on the pedal than many other vehicles I have driven and also the pedal goes farther down before any real brakeing occures. However, if you push them hard enough the AV stops very well. Its very un-nerving for my wife who only drives it on weekends. She hates the brakes. I was out of town all last week and she drove the AV, by the end of the week she felt that the brakes were much better. The tires on the AV are great for breaking on dry, wet, and snow, and the chassis behaves very well. I suspect Chevy only changed on the 2003 how soon the breaks activate and didn't change the rotors, etc. My '89 full size pickup had a great feeling pedal but the 265 Wrangler TDs were S*** on everything but deep snow. The AT/Ss are great (I later put them on the old truck).
G
gregoryglen
GUEST
I must admit I feel the brakes are great for such a large vehicle. Recently on a trip to Louisianna I made the mistake of trying to go around one of those long bed dump trucks. The truck basically pulled out in front of me while I was traveling at 60 MPH on a two lane uphill stretch of asphalt. I could see past the truck on the left and thought that I could make the pass before the dashed lines turned solid. So I kept my speed constant. (Mistake) Just as I pulled out a car crested the hill and I releazied that with the oncoming car's speed and the length that I had left, I wasn't going to make it around the dump truck. The problem now was I was going 60 MPH and the dump truck is doing 35mph. I needed to get back into my lane and slow down enough to keep from rear ending the dump truck. I was able to nail the brakes and steer back into my lane without incident. The only injury received was to my right shoulder where my wife punched me for being an idiot.
I asked about the brakes on the test drive since the pedal moved so much, seemed soft and the AV didn't feel like it was stopping. What I was told is that in the recent past Chevy had problems with Suburabans burning up/using up the front brakes at about twice the rate as the back brakes. They put the fix for this on the AVs. It seems that they preferentially have the rear brakes either engage a little early and/or apply more pressure than the front brakes. I feel this effect in that I don't have this nose down feel to the AV when I have to brake hard. So between this "adjustment" and the soft feel, I don't get any of the expected physical feedback that it is braking as well as my other trucks and cars. For a 5600 lbs truck, its braking distance is very good.I am inclined to agree, that brakes seem pretty adequate for vehicles that weigh this much. Having said that, after my gear swap, my brakes are substantially better - I asked the mechanic and he didn't know why, but the are.
steelheadchaser
Staff Member
Administrator
Moderator
Charter Member
PM 2024
PM 2023
PM 2022
PM 2021
PM 2020
PM 2019
PM 2018
PM 2017
PM 2016
PM 2015
PM 2014
PM 2013
PM 2012
SM 2011
SM 2010
SM 2009
SM 2008
SM 2007
SM 2006
SM 2005
SM 2004
SM 2003
Full Member
gandolphxx said:... after my gear swap, my brakes are substantially better - I asked the mechanic and he didn't know why, but the are.
G-2X, you're getting increased engine braking due to the gear ratio change.
Fair enough, that had crossed my mind, like it - another reason to have 4.10'sSteelheadchaser said:
I read ZZ02 post and agree with gophx. This is abnormal. Sounds more like the brakes I had on my 88 DeVille. Mine seem to do a very nice job. The ABS does not engage as fast as other GM vehicles I have had in the past. The tires lock up pretty good before the ABS come on. I've got no complaints in the brake department. Oh yeah, I have 4.10's too
G-2X - what gear did you have / do you have now?
I had the 3.73 ratio - quite inappropriate for the 2500 - now have the 4.10 - verry nice, much better match to the 8100 engine.half-breed said:
Really wish I had ordered and waited
So the concensus of the group is that the brakes are good, but has bad pedal feel. Is there any way to change this? Any body with some inside GM info know what they changed on the 2003? Is it something we can do to the 2002? I guess my complaint is not with the brakes but the amount of effort required to stop this beast...
R
Reade
GUEST
During an emergency braking situation, the weight of a passenger vehicle, light truck, van, etc., has very little to do with the stopping distance.
For example, you could have a Volkswagen, a Crown Vic, and an AV lined up side by side on the same driving surface.
Have all vehicles speed up to the same speed and at the same point, slam on the brakes. As long as all three vehicles are equipped with similar braking systems (ABS vs. Conventional) and skidding on the same surface, they will stop within feet of each other.
The only difference in braking distance comes when there is a lack of braking, faulty brakes, or a change in the roadway's coefficient.
As well, if you are hauling a trailer which has no trailer brakes, or driving a tractor-trailer unit, your stopping distance will increase on the same surface as the other vehicles mentioined above. Why? Because of the dynamic weight shift in the heavier vehicles. For example, a tractor-trailer unit is only 70% to 80% as efficient compared to a passenger vehicle.
So, if you see a Big Rig in your rearview mirror following close, move over and let him/her by. If you both lock up at the same time, you can be assured a kick in the pants by the Big Rig.
ABS brakes are designed to Pulsate when they are nailed. This is normal. Although I have not tried this with an AV yet, there may be weird noises coming from under the hood. ?This too is normal for ABS operation.
Eventhough you may feel your brakes are failing at low speeds, they are actually working at their peak performance by allowing you to steer around any impending danger while braking at the same time.
ABS brakes generate higher braking coefficients than do conventional brakes. In other words, there is more gripping force for ABS brakes.
So don't be fooled. Your ABS brakes are designed to act/perform as they do.
Cheers,
Reade
For example, you could have a Volkswagen, a Crown Vic, and an AV lined up side by side on the same driving surface.
Have all vehicles speed up to the same speed and at the same point, slam on the brakes. As long as all three vehicles are equipped with similar braking systems (ABS vs. Conventional) and skidding on the same surface, they will stop within feet of each other.
The only difference in braking distance comes when there is a lack of braking, faulty brakes, or a change in the roadway's coefficient.
As well, if you are hauling a trailer which has no trailer brakes, or driving a tractor-trailer unit, your stopping distance will increase on the same surface as the other vehicles mentioined above. Why? Because of the dynamic weight shift in the heavier vehicles. For example, a tractor-trailer unit is only 70% to 80% as efficient compared to a passenger vehicle.
So, if you see a Big Rig in your rearview mirror following close, move over and let him/her by. If you both lock up at the same time, you can be assured a kick in the pants by the Big Rig.
ABS brakes are designed to Pulsate when they are nailed. This is normal. Although I have not tried this with an AV yet, there may be weird noises coming from under the hood. ?This too is normal for ABS operation.
Eventhough you may feel your brakes are failing at low speeds, they are actually working at their peak performance by allowing you to steer around any impending danger while braking at the same time.
ABS brakes generate higher braking coefficients than do conventional brakes. In other words, there is more gripping force for ABS brakes.
So don't be fooled. Your ABS brakes are designed to act/perform as they do.
Cheers,
Reade
This issue has been addressed by GM on the 2003 Av's.
http://media.gm.com/division/2003_prodinfo/03_chevrolet/03_avalanche/index.html
http://media.gm.com/division/2003_prodinfo/03_chevrolet/03_avalanche/index.html
Reade - I have to disagree with you on all vehicles breaking in the same distance. I think that tires have a lot to do with it. My old truck with Goodyear Wrangler TDs was very poor in breaking but putting the AT/Ss on really helped. Most of the Mudder type tires are poor.
G-X2 - what did it cost to swap gears, and the thing at the bottom of your posts still says 3.73.