ABS Issue is starting to bother me.

I've had a very random ABS issue from some the start owning my truck. It only happened maybe once every couple months, IF that. Now its getting more frequent.

Occasionally, when coming to a stop, you can feel the ABS doing something. My pedal gets a littlle squishy and brake performance decreases, very much like when the ABS goes off in a skid condition.... however I am on dry pavement in the middle of california. Its starting to bother me because I am worried that I'm about to get in trouble if I really need those brakes one day and I don't have the full braking power.

I am a pulse braker, I do not 'ride the brakes' to a stop like some people do. I could disable ABS, but I'd rather have it. Brakes have been bleed multiple times over this vehicles history and haven't affected it. I can only suspect this might have something to do with the vaccuum system. I still get the 'squishy brake pedal' tacoma lurch thing when the AC kicks on, and I hate to think that this is related, but I believe it is.

 

Probably need the system recalibrated. ask sierrahsky about it. he went through some problems with his.

 

Are you lifted ?

 

^^ It could be getting confused b/c of your 33s

 

If your lifted, I think your problem is that your trying to stop a massive rotational force(big tires) with such a small unit(aka the brakes), so I believe your fluid pressure is expanding so fast in your lines from the increased work it has to do..the squishy feeling is your lines expanding and contracting. Try stainless steel lines? Braided?

 

I wont dispute that it probably has to do with my tires to some extent. The brakes have been bled many times throughout this trucks history, always been an issue.

If I was to slam on the brakes, they've always seem to be there. I only notice it when I come to an easy stop, usually when I get down to about 20 mph, you can feel the pedal pulsing a bit, and drop somewhat to the floor. If I really needed to stop at this point, I probably wouldn't be able to. The first time it ever happened to me a few years back, I was coming down a hill and actually rolled out into the street a little. Extremely bothered by it then, but it never happened again afterwards, for a long while that is.


Christian, you say you have the A/C lurch but you dont feel it in your brakes. I wonder if this is because you don't have the same size tires as I do.

I remember awhile back, someone added an extra vacuum canister or something to that extent and solved the A/C lurch issue for them. Does anyone know where this thread went?

 

Brian, are you actually hearing/feeling the ABS kick in? There are situations when you're coming to a stop that the pedal gets softer and drops a little as if you lost some pressure in the lines or some vacuum. It's the same feeling as when sitting at a stop and you feel your pedal sink some but instead happens when driving and using the brakes. I know of two places I drive where it does it regularly, but nowhere else. Mine's done it for years (I've read a few threads years ago where people experienced the same thing and we all figured it was normal). Are you describing this or something else entirely?

 

I'm not hearing the springy sound of the ABS, but I'm feeling the pulse in the pedal. As you describe it, losing pressure in the lines, its EXACTLY how it feels. Honestly, if I didn't feel the pulse in the pedal, I would think my brakes needed to be bled. I've heard the lurch issue so many times, but I've never heard of it happening while on the move. It does feel similar.

 

I don't think when I lose that little vacuum while braking that it pulses. It's more of a situation where the pedal is firm for awhile, then suddenly it sinks another inch (probably only half an inch but feels like an inch) and then is firm at that lower point. If yours is pulsing that does sound like ABS.

I know at least the fronts work independently from the rear (have that happen in the snow in winter depending on how fast I try to stop), and when that happens it's not the loud ABS grinding sound nor does the pedal do it big pulsing like when all 4 tires are getting ABS. So now it just occurs to me that I bet all 4 wheels are independent in that regard. Could it be that you have a bad contact on one of the connections on one wheel? Have you tried unplugging all 4 sensors and plugging them back in again?

 

Jim, if you ever come down this way, call me, I'll let you go for a ride and see if we can reproduce it.

 

My truck does that at the same two places in town almost every time. One spot has a piece of steel in the road where the road meets with a bridge. I have not yet figured out what's so special about the second spot. It's definitely a disconcerting feeling, but I have never felt like it's not going to stop, just feels like I'm not the one deciding that. I think that if the ABS didn't kick in, the tires would just lock up and the truck would slide. I have had similar situations in other brand vehicles. I don't think there's anything wrong with my truck.

 

Our 2010 has done this at least once.

Slowing for a red light, truck started slowing, without excessive pressure or locking the wheels, normal braking, suddenly the pedal dropped what seemed like a lot and braking was diminished. The anti skid did not pulse or actively engage.

For some reason or luck, the location and traffic in the opposing lane was just right and we stopped next to the car that was stopped in front of us. Yes we would have rear ended the car in front of us.

Took it back under warranty, no faults found or defects noted.

I accepted it as a fluke (assumed I had screwed up) after the dealer releasing it from service.

Problem being I did feel the pedal drop, at which point I applied more brakes with minimal results. Did not panic, just reacted and avoided a collision. As you phrased it, it felt as if braking pressure was just dumped suddenly.

This is with stock oem tires and no lift.

I realize this is no answer or help. Sorry. I now just allow more than a reasonable amount of stopping room, in an emergency stop not sure what too expect. Posting this, maybe I should find a section of road where I could try a hard panic stop and see what to expect. Kind of practice it a few times per say.

Best of luck with it.

PK

 

My 2007 had this problem, I switched my pads over to ceramic, it didnt seem to help. So I can save you the expense there. My pedal felt like it was hard, almost like you felt like you had to put a lot of pressure to stop vehicle. I never did get it fixed.

My 2011 feels like a completely different braking system. Not sure if its just the earlier models or what.