Quote Originally Posted by rnrn
Is this normal? If I happen to hit the brakes hard here in Chicago with the few inches we have and slide I can feel the pedal almost make some "violent" shakes. No other braking problems although it may happen going over severe bumps while braking in dry conditions too.
When four wheel ABS became standard on most cars...people were releasing their brakes when they felt the "ABS chatter" or pumping the brakes... like before ABS became a standard feature and where getting involved in more accidents. There was a national public annoucement campaign to STOMP/STAY/STEER.

Here's a couple of statements:

1. When stopping a vehicle with ABS in slippery conditions, apply steady pressure to the brake pedal. The ABS automatically pumps the brakes to keep the wheels from locking up. Do not take your foot off the brake pedal if you hear or feel it chatter. That means that the ABS system is working properly and you should continue to steer the car normally. If you don't have ABS, you can achieve the same effect by gently pumping the brakes, pumping more rapidly as the car slows down.

2. Driver Ed students are taught to "stomp", "stay" and "steer". This means "stomp" on the brake, stay on the brake, and steer away from a possible collision. ABS isn't meant to stop you faster. It's for steering control when you really need it. And, remember, when using ABS brakes, you can expect to hear loud metallic sounds emanating from your brakes and you will feel the brake pedal pulsating.