I'll be driving along and my front brakes just start engaging for no apparent reason. It use to only do it when I turned left. Now it does it all the time. Why are are brakes being applied? This is gonna get me killed. And it seems to disengage my power steering to. Real hard to turn, then I get a "Stability Reduced" message on my screen.

Please help. Thanks.

Brad

Have you pulled the DTC's?

DTC's??? Nope. How do i do that? Nevermind. I just found the link to pull dtc's. But it's not specific.
I'll try and pull them tomorrow.

But what would make my brakes engage? Any ideas?

The only thing that should make your brakes engage is stepping on the pedal, unless your car uses a traction control system that selectively applies brakes to reduce wheel spin. If the sensors or traction control system have gone completely stupid I guess its possible for the TC to apply the brakes whe it shouldn't. This is the DTC link: http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums/cadillac-tech-tips/55172-how-pull-codes-got-codes-warning.html

I agree with Chubby. Can't imagine anything else that would or could apply the brakes without you stepping on the pedal.

Brad, I had this exact problem. In my case it is the steering wheel position sensor.

Try parking with your steering wheel pointing exactly forward--not turned--from now on. How frequently does it happen? Do check the codes. I had a myriad of Stability System error codes, wheel speed sensor codes, accelerometer problems etc too. I thought it was the EBTCM, so I spent time cleaning the contacts... the fix was temporary and not consistent. It wasn't it.

I then read about the steering wheel position sensor from some post on here (it's in the steering column inside the car), and the suggestion to try different positions of the wheel when u park.

You see, the car learns the steering wheel position every time it turns on. If the sensor is worn, the car may think your steering wheel is pointing to the side when it's really pointing forward and it assumes you've lost control. Freaky feeling, let me tell ya. I was driving about 45 when the corner brakes started applying, making the car difficult to keep in its lane. It would happen to me after reversing out of a parking spot, as I had left the steering wheel turned.

Good luck and report back. I haven't had the problem in about six months, since I started parking with the steering wheel pointed perfectly forward.

I always do park my car with the wheel straight. You are right though. it's a freaky feeling when out of nowhere the brakes are on. Damn dangerous if you ask me. over engineered crap AFAIC. It also kinda feels like the brakes are pulsing when it happens. I can hear it to.

Brad

This may sound stupid, have you checked to see if the sliders are siezed. I had almost the same problem. Brakes seemed to be locking up and pulsing. I replaced the pins and regreased the sliders never had a problem again.

I always do park my car with the wheel straight. You are right though. it's a freaky feeling when out of nowhere the brakes are on. Damn dangerous if you ask me. over engineered crap AFAIC. It also kinda feels like the brakes are pulsing when it happens. I can hear it to.

Brad


Try parking with the wheel turned then--be consistent. The sensor usually wears in one spot (in your case center?).

Do try the slide pins--check the pads for abnormal wear. I looked into that too.

Great ideas guys, thanks. I'll start turning my wheels consistently and will check the brakes when I get a chance. I can't work on my car where I live now. Maybe I'll just get the front brakes changed just for fun and see what happens. Thanks much.

Brad

Well I took it to the shop. They said I had a bad wheel bearing. It was out about a 1/2 inch????? And the steering wheel sensor is bad. Total, $1256.08.

I'm getting robbed. How much does a wheel bearing and sensor cost??? Thanks.

Brad.

After doing some searching I find out that a front wheel bearing/hub complete with sensor is only $132. McCann Motors in Fife is charging me $500 to put the bearing in and $700 to put in the steering wheel sensor. I've already paid $500 of it so I can drive my car till the steering wheel sensor comes in on Wednesday. I have a really bad feeling that I'm being horribly ripped off here. Or am I imagining things?

Brad

That sounds like too much money. The steering wheel sensor is no biggie, according to the Factory Service Manual (FSM), the only issue is you need a Tech II to program/calibrate it.

My puzzlement is how both parts could've been out at the same time. It was either one or the other, I guess it could be both but hard to believe.... Maybe you should start a thread called "wheel hub and steering sensor $1256?!"

$1256 :eek:

At least you're keeping the economy going...

Thanks guys. I knew I was being ripped off. For that price I could rent a garage, buy the tools and do it myself and still have money left over out of my $1256.08. The service writer (Con Artist) at McCann was gonna give me a loaner but I don't have insurance at this time cause my insurance comp that I've had for 15 years tried to rip me off so I cancelled and I haven't gotten new insurance yet. Good thing. I think he wanted to keep the car there so he could rob me. My car ran fine after the $500 wheel hub I had installed.

I had no probs driving home. Car ran fine. I think I'm gonna call him when I get to work and ask him if he really thinks he can steal from me, which is exactly what he's trying to do IMO.

I'm a mechanic my self. Been working on cars and equipment all my life, and right now I'm repairing airless paint sprayers and I know what retail mark up is like. But McCann has taken it to a whole new level.

Brad

$1256 for a hub & bearing assembly is out right robbery, even with labor. Sometimes they will bend you over if you let them. Knowledge is power.