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NoLegs
Dodge Dakota
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11/23/2003
23:08:44
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 Subject: My first Dodge
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I just bought my first dodge about 4 days ago, it's a white/tan interior 2000 Dakota Sport 4X4 w/4.7 and 38k on the odometer. I love the truck so far, except for...you guessed it, the brakes. After extensive reading on this site, it looks like I'm going with powerslots and Hawk pads to cure my braking woes. I do have a couple of questions though:
1) How do I know if I have ABS?
2) If I do, what would be a good sign that it isn't working properly?
My brake pedal goes down a lot farther than I think it should (probably the pad/rotor combo there), but then all of a sudden the brakes will lock, this probably wouldn't be too much of a problem if it wasn't icey out right now (Rapid City, SD). I also have this wicked low frequency squeal coming from the brakes too when it is barely rolling. I believe this will all get fixed from my rotor/pad swap, but just thought I'd ask.
Thanks in advanced and reading on this site has taught me alot about my new truck.
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Vic
Dodge Dakota
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11/24/2003
01:03:42
| RE: My first Dodge
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Have your master cylinder checked; it could be leaking down. Have him look at the brakes too while you're there. Squealing is quite common with disk brakes, don't worry about that.
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01Motorsport
Dodge Dakota
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11/24/2003
09:46:30
| RE: My first Dodge
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Check your brake fluid level NOW. If the pedal goes to the floor, and then grabs after pumping, you probably do have a pressure leak.
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NoLegs
Dodge Dakota
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11/24/2003
19:11:44
| RE: My first Dodge
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I checked my fluid, it looks good. I should explain the brakes a little better. I don't have to pump them to get them to work, nor do they go to the floor. I just meant they work more like my '77 K10, where they aren't "instant" when you tap the brakes. When I test drove the truck, the brakes pulsated a bit, so I had the dealer turn the rotors, they don't pulsate anymore, they just don't feel 100%. I believe after I change to the new rotors, new pads, and check the rear drums, I'll be ok.
Can anyone answer my other question about the ABS? I've never owned a vehicle with ABS, so I don't know what they are supposed to feel like. I think my wife's '01 Jimmy has ABS, I know her brakes work a whole lot better than mine do.
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jonesy
Dodge Dakota
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11/24/2003
20:32:45
|  RE: My first Dodge
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Great choice by the way on the brakes. I just put some on my truck about a month ago. Anyways you should have ABS on your truck most of the Dakotas do. Um... I really couldn't tell you for sure how to check except ask the dealer you bought it from or test it in the snow in 2WD. If it makes a grabbing noise them you have ABS. I'm sure you might know that though. Hope that helps a little. PeAcE, have a blast dude!
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flatfishfool
Dodge Dakota
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11/24/2003
20:33:47
| RE: My first Dodge
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If you have ABS and it is icy and you push hard on the brakes you should get a very weird vibration on the pedal and intermittently a very hard brake feel as the ABS pump works the brakes and you slide. Hard to describe, but nothing like a soft regular brake feels. I guess feel comes from the ABS doing a rapid pumping of the brakes.
I believe that rear ABS was standard on a 2000 so that makes it a bit harder to figure out whether you have front ABS. On my 2001 with 4-wheel ABS it specifically says something like "4-wheel ABS" on the sticker that shows the options and model details. This sticker is in the glove box -- pull out all that stuff and see if it is there and maybe that will help.
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Kowalski
Dodge Dakota
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11/25/2003
16:11:17
| RE: My first Dodge
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Good description of ABS feel, but I think its a mistake to claim most Dakotas have it or that its standard on 2000s. My 2000 4x4 sport does not have ABS.
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Lurkin
Dodge Dakota
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11/25/2003
16:40:57
| RE: My first Dodge
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Kowalski, are you sure? I thought that all the 2000-up had rear wheel ABS standard?
Nolegs, I have a 2002 4x4 and I believe that what you are seeing/feeling is the standard operation of the Dak brakes. The brakes, in my opinion, actually feel almost dangerous due to the fluffy feel and the early rear lockup on the 4x4's. The new rotors and pads may not help as I believe that the problem is in the weight transfer on a quick stop and the balance between the front and rear when that happens.
The only things that I've done that seemed to help some, were stiffer shocks (controlled the weight xfer some) and adjusting the T-bar on the front to raise the front end by about 1.5 inches. Note though that I have not replaced the rotors and pads.
Good luck.
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