LT1-LT4 Modifications 1993-97 Gen II Small Block V8

Low Trac Light

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 21, 2010 | 02:10 PM
  #1  
nik1703's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Resident
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 966
Likes: 0
From: Redondo Beach, CA
Default Low Trac Light

So - lately this has been happening every time I drive, it used to just be on occasion.

(93 LT1) I'll be driving along and the Low Trac light will come on - I'll step on the brakes and it will feel like there's something stopping the brake pedal from moving, but I'll push harder and it will eventually brake. Also - I'll notice some sort of rubbing noise from the drivers side of the engine bay. Shortly after, the light will turn off and the braking will go back to normal and the noise will go away.

What is this??
Reply
Old Mar 21, 2010 | 03:05 PM
  #2  
1995blacktattop's Avatar
TECH Junkie
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,452
Likes: 3
From: somewhere that doesn't get snow
Default

does the abs inop come on after it happens 3 times? something similar happened to me (the hardness of the pedal when stopping and then it braking normally) and it turned out i needed new pads/rotors.
Reply
Old Mar 21, 2010 | 03:29 PM
  #3  
blk6speed's Avatar
Staging Lane
 
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
From: Savannah,Ga.
Default

sounds like a brake / abs problem to me..in-pending crash if not fixed..
Reply
Old Mar 21, 2010 | 03:41 PM
  #4  
nik1703's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Resident
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 966
Likes: 0
From: Redondo Beach, CA
Default

Originally Posted by 1995blacktattop
does the abs inop come on after it happens 3 times? something similar happened to me (the hardness of the pedal when stopping and then it braking normally) and it turned out i needed new pads/rotors.
Originally Posted by blk6speed
sounds like a brake / abs problem to me..in-pending crash if not fixed..

The ABS light has been on/flashing since i bought the car two years ago.

I don't see it possible being the pads/rotors. Idk, I guess I could take the wheel off and have a look?

Edit: also, my brake booster went out about a year ago. Never replaced it.
Reply
Old Mar 21, 2010 | 04:08 PM
  #5  
blk6speed's Avatar
Staging Lane
 
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
From: Savannah,Ga.
Default

i know they say brakes just slow you down but not replacing the brake booster..come on man..and yes pull the wheel and at least look..
Reply
Old Mar 21, 2010 | 04:27 PM
  #6  
1995blacktattop's Avatar
TECH Junkie
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,452
Likes: 3
From: somewhere that doesn't get snow
Default

Originally Posted by nik1703
The ABS light has been on/flashing since i bought the car two years ago.

I don't see it possible being the pads/rotors. Idk, I guess I could take the wheel off and have a look?

Edit: also, my brake booster went out about a year ago. Never replaced it.
well after i bought my car in 04 i found it had an intermittant low trac/abs inop problem like you described (although there was no weird noise) and then i had a blowout on the front right tire and the ABS problem went away for a month or so. I took the car in for a tuneup and had them check the brakes and they said the front rotors were a bit warped and the pads were down to 20-30% life. i changed all 4 rotors and pads and haven't had that problem since. The rotors had all been turned before so they had to be replaced.

My car would throw the low trac light during stopping in the last 5mph or so and the pedal would get really hard and then it would jump pretty far down and then come back up and after doing this 3 times the ABS INOP light would come on. it was kind of scary actually because you'd have to assume it was going to happen and brake early cause it usually took a few extra feet to stop.
Reply
Old Mar 22, 2010 | 09:20 AM
  #7  
DAVE00's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
15 Year Member
iTrader: (10)
 
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,739
Likes: 2
From: Houston, TX
Default

Check your hubs in the front as I had a similar issue and it turned out to be a bad wheel speed sensor on the hub. If the ABS system senses one hub is turning faster then the other or it has a problem it will throw the low trac light and turn on the ABS.
Reply
Old Mar 22, 2010 | 02:48 PM
  #8  
nik1703's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Resident
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 966
Likes: 0
From: Redondo Beach, CA
Default

Originally Posted by DAVE00
Check your hubs in the front as I had a similar issue and it turned out to be a bad wheel speed sensor on the hub. If the ABS system senses one hub is turning faster then the other or it has a problem it will throw the low trac light and turn on the ABS.

where are the sensors? can they be cleaned or do they need replacement?

cant find anything on SHbox
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-5

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-9

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Mar 22, 2010 | 03:15 PM
  #9  
DAVE00's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
15 Year Member
iTrader: (10)
 
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,739
Likes: 2
From: Houston, TX
Default

Originally Posted by nik1703
where are the sensors? can they be cleaned or do they need replacement?

cant find anything on SHbox
The sensors are part of the hubs, here look at my pictures of one I took apart:





All it's made of is a basic magnetic pickup and unfortunately there is no way to tell if it's bad. On mine, I found after I removed it that the outer shell was slightly pop'd out from the hub (kinda like a lid not all the way on) and this was causing issues with the pickup being too far from the gear and therefore confusing the ABS into thinking the wheel was going a different speed. If you want to go this route pick up a hub (they are universal from side to side) and put it on one of the wheels and drive it to see if it make a difference. If not reverse the install and put it on the other wheel to see if the problem is there. You can always take it back to you local AP store and return it if you cannot solve your issue and you can get these off pretty fast (takes me 10 mins). Let me know if you need any help.
Reply
Old Mar 22, 2010 | 03:43 PM
  #10  
nik1703's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Resident
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 966
Likes: 0
From: Redondo Beach, CA
Default

Originally Posted by DAVE00
The sensors are part of the hubs, here look at my pictures of one I took apart:

All it's made of is a basic magnetic pickup and unfortunately there is no way to tell if it's bad. On mine, I found after I removed it that the outer shell was slightly pop'd out from the hub (kinda like a lid not all the way on) and this was causing issues with the pickup being too far from the gear and therefore confusing the ABS into thinking the wheel was going a different speed. If you want to go this route pick up a hub (they are universal from side to side) and put it on one of the wheels and drive it to see if it make a difference. If not reverse the install and put it on the other wheel to see if the problem is there. You can always take it back to you local AP store and return it if you cannot solve your issue and you can get these off pretty fast (takes me 10 mins). Let me know if you need any help.
awesome post man, thanks for the pictures/advice! i will take a look this weekend.
Reply
Old Mar 22, 2010 | 03:47 PM
  #11  
DAVE00's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
15 Year Member
iTrader: (10)
 
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,739
Likes: 2
From: Houston, TX
Default

Originally Posted by nik1703
awesome post man, thanks for the pictures/advice! i will take a look this weekend.
Make sure to check all the connectors first to make sure one is not loose or freyed/shorted somewhere. Also, don't forget the single sensor mounted ontop of the rear diff and make sure it's plugged in as well and the connector is in good shape (3 sensors total - 2 front and 1 rear).
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:10 AM.

story-0
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-2
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-5
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-6
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE