Brakes scared me to death!

[MSHappyCampers]

On a recent trip someone in front of me bowed up and stopped without warning! I jammed on the brakes and the entire coach was jerking before stopping! The brakes seemed to be OK with normal stopping for the rest of trip.

When we got home I talked with my diesel mechanic, who also has a large DP, and he said I had been given a demo of how the ABS system works! He says that what I experienced was perfectly normal! I had no idea that the ABS would be that violent (at least it seemed that way at the time)

Anyone else had this enlightening experience?

[Harley1994]

Joe, I drove school bus for years and we had ABS, yes it can certainly wake you up.

[aschuh53]

glad you are ok Joe but that is how they work to help us keep in control to steer out of danger

[ladagobago]

Same here Joe, you can really clean the cupboards with good breaks. We too had an idiot think our space was his/hers totally tromped the pedal.

[NLOVNIT]

As others have said, perfectly normal. If you haven't experienced ABS before, I can be nerve-wracking & a bit panic causing. I test drive a MH the same as my car....get up to about 40mph then slam on the brakes so I know how it will react to a sudden braking situation.

Lori-

[wa8yxm]

There are several different ABS systems but yes, that is how they tend to work.. Also if you have a tag axle it can add to the jerks on a panic stop.

Be glad they worked.

[jdoc]

Joe, so glad the ABS worked for you. If it had not been working you would have been in a sliding situation, which I'm sure you know is not good. The results of which would not have been good.

Jerry

[Mody n Domy]

We have a 08 Workhorse gas and I got to experience ABS it is a scary sound but I'm glad I had them.

[Pigman1]

Everyone who buys a new vehicle (to them) with anti-lock brakes should take it out and do a panic stop at least once so they know what to expect when the anti-skid activates. This can seem very violent, loud, and startling for those who are not expecting it. I'd recommend this for all new vehicles, be they cars, trucks, RV's or anything else with anti-skid brakes. I do it on a dealership demo ride and many times the accompanying salesman gets an education as well.

[JFXG]

I've never panic stopped my DS, but I have had occasion to activate the anti-skid on cars, shuttle buses, and on aircraft that weighed 20X my coach, and I have never encountered an anti-skid that actually jerked the vehicle. Yes, you feel the pedal vibrate, and yes you can sometimes feel the tires grab and release (if you're on dry or slightly slippery pavement), but I've never experienced anything I'd call violent shaking. Maybe coaches are different.


John & Diane, fulltiming since '12
'02 DS, FL, 3126, '04 Element

[Arch Hoagland]

I've had three panic stops which engaged the ABS. All three times it was a nitwit cutting in front of me to take an exit.

[powerboatr]

Originally Posted by ladagobago

Same here Joe, you can really clean the cupboards with good breaks. We too had an idiot think our space was his/hers totally tromped the pedal.

yep...i cringe hearing things move about....

but the abs was doing its job,

[jdoc]

Experienced it once in my 1999 Dodge Laramie 3500. Sounded like the rear end was coming out from underneath it.

Jerry