Chrysler Repair: When brakes applied van surges forward, brake caliper, grand caravan

Question
I have a grand caravan 2003. Whenever I stepped on my brakes my vehicle surge forward. Can you please explain the cause.

Answer
Hi Tamba,
That is very interesting. I never heard of something like that. I would be wondering whether it is related to the brakes' mechanical function or to the electrical actuation of the brake pedal feeding back into the engine control system.
Why don't you try this? When moving at moderate speed, say 25 mph, put the transmission in neutral and then step gently on the brake pedal and observe whether the van's engine rpm increases or not.
Also try another test: while coasting in neutral observe whether the van seems to slow down LESS rapidly when you step very lightly on the brake.
If the engine revs then there is something feeding back electrical information to the engine controller to increase the engine rpm when you step on the brake.
If it doesn't increase rpm, and when you observe that van to coast better (slow down less rapidly) with a light application of the brake then there may be a mechanical malfunction of the brake caliper such that when you aren't using the brakes a brake pad is dragging on the rotor, but when you slightly apply the brake it stop dragging. If that were the case a wheel would be hot even though you were not using the brakes. So feel the wheels after driving for a while without using the brakes and coasting to a complete stop without using the brakes. The wheels should all be equal in temperature and cool.
Let me know what you learn from these test, please.
You might want to go to an Autozone Parts store and ask if they will do a free readout of your car's powertrain memory for the presence of any fault codes. Get the number and name of any code and ask what it means. Then write back and we'll see if that might explain why the van would surge.
Roland