Chevrolet Repair: antilock brakes always on, brake pads and rotors, whole shebang

Question
I have a 2005 Equinox with about 65000 miles. 1 1/2 years ago I had the front pads, rotors and struts replaced. Last winter my antilock brakes just started working occasionally even when I was on dry pavement. Now they make this groaning sound and come up and go back down virtually every time I apply heavier pressure (like coming to a complete stop) all the time. I took it to my mechanic and he charged me $200 to take the wheels off and look at it. He said it was "probably" the sensor and would cost between $700 and $800 to replace the antilock brake system. Firstly, I'm concerned about spending that much money on a "probably". Secondly, if it is the sensor, why do I need to have the whole shebang replaced? Can't they just replace the sensor? And thirdly, if I just keep driving it this way, am I doing damage to my brakes? Thanks for your help!

Answer
HI PENNY,WOW $200.00 IS ALOT TO DIAGNOSE A ANTI-LOCK PROBLEM..WE GET 1 HR LABOR DIAG TIME.[$80.00]WE SCAN THE SYSTEM AND TELL OUR CUSTOMER WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. YOUR MECHANIC DID NOT HAVE TO REMOVE THE WHEELS TO CK THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM,BUT HE DID TO MAKE SURE THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS ARE OK. WHICH THEY SHOULD BE IF HE JUST REPLACED THEM A YEAR AGO..TO GET TO YOUR QUESTION. WHEN A CUSTOMER BRINGS THERE CAR TO US FOR A PROBLEM LIKE YOURS WE HOOK UP OUR SCAN TOOL AND DRIVE THE CAR AND WATCH WHICH WHEEL SPEED SENSOR IS ERRATIC. THIS IS MORE THEN LIKELY YOUR PROBLEM THAY WAY YOU ARE EXPLAINING IT TO ME. [JUST BEFORE YOU ARE TO A COMPLETE STOP THE ABS SYSTEM ENGAGES..  ONE OR MORE SENSORS ARE SENDING THE WRONG SIGNAL BACK TO THE ABS COMPUTER TO RELEASE THAT BRAKE,THATS WHAT CAUSES THE GROANING SOUND. THIS FOR SURE IS A WHEEL SPEED SENSOR. YOU HAVE THEM ON ALL 4 WHEELS. AS FOR THE COST OF A SPEED SENSOR.THIS IS TRICKY,BECAUSE SOME MODEL CARS YOU CAN BUY JUST THE SPEED SENSOR ITSELF WHICH IS ABOUT $ 50.00 TO $80.00.HOWEVER SOME MODELS YOU NEED TO BUT THE ENTIRE WHEEL BEARING HUB ASSEMBLY WHICH HAS THE SPEED SENSOR IN THE BEARING ASSEMBLY,THESE ARE NO CHEAP ROMANCE. PART $250.00 PLUS 1.2 HOURS TO INSTALL,STILL LESS THEN YOUR TECH QUOTED YOU...YOU CAN CALL YOUR LOCAL PARTS STORE AND ASK THEM TO GIVE YOU A PRICE ON 1 FRONT AND 1 REAR WHEEL SPEED SENSOR FOR YOUR CARS ABS SYSTEM AND THEY WILL TELL YOU IF IT IS JUST A SENSOR OR THE COMPLETE WHEEL BEARING ASSEMBLY. THIS WAY YOU WILL KNOW FOR SURE..USUALLY  THE CAUSE IS 1 SPEED SENSOR..IF YOUR TECH DOES NOT HAVE THE PROPER SCAN TOOL TO CK THIS,GO ELSEWHERE. NO GUESSING,WE CALL THEM PARTS CHANGERS IN MY LINE OF WORK..FOR YOUR LAST QUESTION, YOU WILL DO [ NO HARM TO YOUR CAR OR BRAKING SYSTEM WITH THIS PROBLEM]JUST ANNOYING..NOW TO STOP THIS WITHOUT REPAIRING [IF YOU WANT] YOU CAN REMOVE THE ABS FUSE OR ABS RELAY IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FUSE BOX.[THE FUSE BOX COVER WILL BE LABBELED AS SUCH] [BY DOING THIS THE ABS AND RED BRAKE LIGHT WILL BE ON THE DASH] THIS WAY YOUR BRAKES WILL WORK CORRECTLY BUT WILL [NOT ANTI-LOCK], SO CAR WILL SKID IF YOU LOCK UP THE BRAKES. NO GROANING SOUND AFTER THIS.. IN NY STATE THIS IS LEGAL. ALOT OF OUR CUSTOMERS HATE THERE ABS SYSTEM AND WANT US TO REMOVE IT FROM THE BRAKE SYSTEM..JUST REMEMBER ON SNOW AND ICE THE BRAKES WILL LOCK UP AND SKID !!!!LIKE A OLDER CAR ALWAYS DID. I HOPE THIS HELPS YOU AND IF YOU NEED MORE INFOR PLEASE GET BACK TO ME. .ALSO IF YOU ARE DONE WITH ME, PLEASE RATE MY ANSWER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH,,,TOM..