jgood

Tried searching this subject, but most threads ended up deserted without resolution, or they didn't exactly apply to my situation here.

I have a 96 es300, and the ABS kicks in below 5mph while stopping, mostly with the wheels turned while pulling into a typical parking spot. It does it on occasion with the wheels straight as well. It only does it with the brake pedal applied. No other symptoms as far as road speed reporting, ABS functionality, etc... Pads and rotors are new, tires are new, wheel bearings all seem good, front axle ABS rings are decent (driver side has some surface rust, don't think it would be enough to impact the signal), front sensors seem to be in good shape.

I've never seen the ABS light come on (beyond the initial ignition-on check). I just did the DLC jumper test, the ABS light blinked continuously, which means I do not have any codes, as far as I know.

Any ideas/suggestions?

PFB

I know you got new tires, but are all your tires the same size, otherwise identical, and evenly inflated to the recomended tire pressure?

LeX2K

Another thing to check is for a loose wheel this will trigger the ABS at low speeds but you might not notice anything else wrong.

jgood

Yep, all identical name/brand/size/pressure, verified today. The problem began at least 3-4k miles after they were installed, which was 6+ months ago.


The wheels are torqued properly...

BDSL

Bleed your brake fluids.
Check your tire pressure.

lostape45

This happened in my grandma's 97 ES when she blew a rear brake line. Only the front brakes were working and when you went to stop, the abs in the front kicked in. Quite the scary experience. Went away after the brake line was fixed.

JetsonES

Wow, thank god she didn't lose all her brakes!

lostape45

It was actually while I was driving the car! Went to stop at a very yellow light and my foot went all the way to the floor. Quite the scary experience as the car only had about 25% braking capacity while my foot was on the floor. Glad it was while I was driving and not her.

JetsonES

Yes × 1000! Who knows how poor grandma would have responded?

jgood

Just wanted to put an update in here. I replaced both front wheel speed sensors with Dorman brand that I got off Amazon for $50/each. So far so good, I tested it to make sure the ABS works as it should, and I haven't yet had the ABS kick in while coming to a normal stop.

I noticed one of the sensors I removed was OEM, the other was a Dorman brand. Not sure which one was failing, since I replaced both at the same time.

speedkar9

I had the exact same problem on my Solara. The ABS would kick in as I rolled into a parking spot on the front right wheel.

I replaced that sensor with a junkyard pull and I don't have the problem anymore. The old sensor measured only slightly different from the replacement, and it didn't throw any ABS codes.

asoko

I know this is a dead thread but I just got an es300 yesterday so i'm a little late to the party.
brakes great until sub 5mph and then some slippage or abs or something. @jgood - you replaced the abs sensor or the speed sensor? @speedkar9 - how do you know which side is causing the problem? maybe ill just get abs sensors for both sides.
are there sensors in the front and back or are just one pair good enough? look forward to solving this problem.