NHTSA Complaint #10122318 — 2000 CHEVROLET SILVERADO

2000 CHEVY SILVERADO Z-71, 4WD, V-8 EXTENDED CAB 31,000 MILES. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED ON JUNE 24, 2004. IN SEPTEMBER, 2004 I NOTICED THAT THE ABS BRAKE SYSTEM WOULD ACTIVATE AS I SLOWED (< 10 MPH) TO A STOP. THIS ISSUE BEGAN INTERMITTANTLY BUT WORSENED AS I CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. BY JAN, 2005, THE ABS WOULD ACTIVATE EVERY TIME I APPLIED THE BRAKES AT SLOW SPEEDS (< 10 MPH). NO TROUBLE LIGHTS CAME ON. I DID NOT HAVE ANY ACCIDENTS WITH THIS ISSUE BUT HAD ONE VERY CLOSE CALL IN A PARKING LOT. THIS INCIDENT CAUSED M TO INVESTIGATE AND FIX THE PROBLEM. IN LATE JANUARY, I HAD A GM DEALER INVESTIGATE THE ISSUE AND THEY RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE LEFT FRONT HUB ASSEMBLY. GIVEN THE HIGH PRICE THE DEALER WAS GOING TO CHARGE FOR THE REPLACEMENT PART AND THE LABOR, I ELECTED TO PURCHASE A REPLACEMENT FRONT HUB ASSEMBLY FROM A LOCAL AUTO PARTS STORE (AUTOZONE). I REPLACED THE LEFT FRONT HUB ASSEMBLY PER THE VEHICLE'S SERVICE MANUAL DIRECTIONS. AND THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY. THE HUB I REMOVED WAS HEAVILY CORRODED WITH SIGNS THAT THE SEAL ON THE INBOARD SIDE OF THE HUB WAS CORRODED WITH A PORTION OF THE EXCLUDER LIPS MISSING. I STILL HAVE THE HUB ASSEMBLY THAT WAS REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE AND WOULD BE GLAD TO PROVIDE IT FOR TEARDOWN INSPECTION. IN ADDITION, I AM A DEGREED MECHANICAL ENGINEER THAT WORKS FOR A LEADING AXLE AND DRIVESHAFT MANUFACTURER AND WOULD BE GLAD TO DISCUSS THIS SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE FURTHER. I BELIEVE THAT SEAL FAILED AND THIS ALLOWED DEBRIS / CORROSION TO ENTER THE HUB ASSEMBLY WHICH THEN SUBSEQUENTLY CAUSED A SIGNAL INTERUPTION BETWEEN THE TONE WHEE AND SPEED SENSOR. THUS, THE ABS SYSTEM BELIEVED THAT THE LEFT FRONT HUB WAS NOT ROTATING AND CAUSED THE ABS SYSTEM TO ACTIVATE. MY ISSUE IS VERY MUCH LIKE THE ISSUE DESCRIBED IN THE MAY 27, 2005 ISSUE OF THE DETROIT FREE PESS TITLED "GM TRUCK OWNERS INSIST BRAKES ARE A PROBLEM".