Brakes Lock and Won't Let Go, 94 Grand Voyager - Help before they get me killed.

On wet days the rear brakes will make a loud clunk sound and lock up the
first few times they are applied. When the brakes lock, of course I
instinctively release the pedal, but the brakes remain locked until the
van comes to a complete stop. Sometimes they release immediately upon
coming to a stop. Other times, they won't let go for upwards of 30
seconds. I bought the van used and was told that the ABS pump had been
out for years. The ABS fuse had also been pulled. However, the dealer
says the ABS system cannot be fully disabled (whatever that means).

Everything I have read says that the first time the brakes are applied,
the ABS system does a self test (which may be accompanied by a clunk
sound) and can disable itself if the test isn't nominal, thereafter
working as a conventional brake system. If the ABS system can disable
itself, why can it not be permanently disabled? If, in fact, it is
disabled, then why don't the brakes release? The dealer attributed it
to the "front springs and 'something' in the ABS system," whatever that
means.

I've seen the following causes of brakes locking on this and related
vehicles (including the Dodge Caravan)...

1) Sticky Calipers
2) Sticky Pistons
3) Sticky Master Cylinder
4) Some kind of restriction in the brake fluid lines
5) Sticky ABS relay

Anyone seen these symptoms before or have any ideas?

By the way, the occurence appears to have more to do with wet roads that
any moisture in the system, since it is independent of whether or not
the van was in the garage or left outside, but I could be wrong on this.
Maybe it's both.

Thanks.

 

Jim,

Take this van to the dealer. That ABS system has a lifetime warranty.
My dealer replaced the ABS pump and some other thing (accumulator
maybe) to my 93 Grand Caravan with over 200K miles. This was a
thousand dollar repair job that kept this van from going to the scrap
yard.

 

Lifetime Warranty? Sign me up! LOL Good one! Lifewtme Warranty!

 

Not sure it applies to the 94.

From Lemonaid.com:

1989-91 Cherokee and Wagoneer; 1991-93 minivans; 1990-93 Dynasty, New
Yorker, Salon, Fifth Avenue, and Imperial; and 1991-92 Monaco and Premier.
Problem: Malfunctioning ABS brakes.
Warranty coverage: Chrysler has extended the warranty to up to 10
years/100,000 miles (160,000 km.), except for the brake actuator piston
assembly and the pump motor assembly, which have lifetime warranties. Owners
will be reimbursed for previous

 

Umm...no..it does not....
Sorry.
SOME, IIRC, had a recall..but no freaking lifetime warranty..