scary high speed moment

[DamoM]

The reason the ABS warning light came on, is because your wheel seized and now the speed reading from that wheel was lower than from all the other wheels.

Very simple.

Check indeed for a mechanical problem. The bearings etc...

Simple indeed but what would have caused the seizure? The bearings are fine which only leaves the cv joint. Garage are checking that now.

[prj]

Well, I am quite sure it's not your ABS.
If you want, disconnect the ABS ecu or pull the fuse. I am almost completely sure you will have the issue re-occur.

[DamoM]

Well, I am quite sure it's not your ABS.
If you want, disconnect the ABS ecu or pull the fuse. I am almost completely sure you will have the issue re-occur.

I think you're right. I just don't want to actually test it as it's dangerous!

[prj]

Not if you drive sensibly

EDIT:
Oh... yes, driving with a such condition is dangerous.
I thought you said driving without ABS is dangerous.

Yes, I agree, you should not drive the car until the issue has been found.

[driftin jo]

did this have a split cv boot or anything? clicking on turns? or completly unprovoked?

The CV boot wasn't split but when I took it apart all the ball bearings were loose inside the boot.
The CV joint was making the characteristic clicking sound on full lock prior to the incident but I have heard worse than the noise it was making from other ones in the past. It is possible that one or more balls had come out prior to it letting go completely when I tried to reverse it up my drive.
It has made me think about noisy CV's from then on as before this I never realised they could have
done such dangerous thinks as pulling the steering one way suddenly. I would advise anyone with a noisy CV joint to change it asap.

[A80Avant]

that is indeed scary stuff..

is there a specific amount of mileage that the cv joints should be replaced regardless?

[spink]

I had a cv joint seize years back on an old belmont exact same as what you describe.

[Pirvu Eugen]

PRJ is right...the ABS is designed to UNLOCK the brakes...not lock them...is locking the brakes at the cars with the ESP...to keep the car on the road..but RS2 dosint have that.
Is an CV joint or wheel bearing.
Scarry stuff...dont drive untill you find the culprit.
Regards!
Eugen

[4WheelDrifter]

As said previously, this has to be a mechanical problem, not an ABS electrical problem. How does an ABS unit generate brake pressure?
For some reason the outer CV's ABS ring isn't being picked up by the sensor, hence showing a fault. Either the CV is stopping or seizing, or it is moving away from the ABS sensor somehow.

[prj]

It doesn't mean it's not being picked up.
It's enough if one wheel rotates slower than all the others to get an ABS fault.

[s2_wot]

Could there be a fault with the diff lock switch or diff lock actuator. If the rear diff locked at high speed the car could go anywhere. Isn't that switch wired to the abs light on some cars.

[driftin jo]

Could there be a fault with the diff lock switch or diff lock actuator. If the rear diff locked at high speed the car could go anywhere. Isn't that switch wired to the abs light on some cars.

Why ? The rear being locked would not cause the car to do anything drastic, just scrub the tires a bit in the corners.
The fact that he was on the gas at the time would mean the diff lock could not be engaged, you have to back off for the diff lock to engage and the electronic lockout would have to be disabled also as he was above 15mph me thinks.

[Acidburn]

Out of interest how much is a new cv joint for a s2?

[driftin jo]

Out of interest how much is a new cv joint for a s2?

About the same as the average down payment on a mortgage .

[Acidburn]

About the same as the average down payment on a mortgage .

Ah sounds like the problem ppc magazine was having buying roller bits, came down to what part of upmarket london etc you could buy for each bit.