Just got a 98 Cavalier, something in the front end makes a repeated clicking when braking, only when turning left. Probably the ABS due to a wheel speed sensor, but I can't tell which side the noise is coming from and I don't have a scan tool. I'm guessing left because that wheel would be moving a bit slower, a bit closer to stopped, and so it would be a bit easier for that sensor to think it was locked... But that's just a guess. With this type of problem, is it the inboard or outboard wheel sensor that is failing?
It's a low speed only as well, which lends to the thought that the WSS is only a little funky and thinks it's locking up.
Anybody? I'd like to get this fixed. The brakes are pretty "grabby" and the rears want to lock without the ABS.
the clicking is the ABS working, i would assume its the wheel speed sensor as you indicated.
Dude! Give us time to respond before you double post. We're not online 24x7 just to service everyones questions immediately.
Is it a clicking noise or is the ABS engaging? You should notice a significant decrease in braking while ABS is going off. Any noise from ABS should seem to be coming from just on the engine side of the steering wheel. If the clicking is farther up, closer to the wheels it is probalby something else.
C.T.S wrote: ... Any noise from ABS should seem to be coming from just on the engine side of the steering wheel. If the clicking is farther up, closer to the wheels it is probalby something else.
It's hard tell exactly where it's coming from, but I would say that's it. I'm sure it's the ABS engaging, although it should NOT be engaging at such low speeds with the gentle braking I've been doing. The ABS light is on, and it sometimes doesn't click, and the rear brakes usually grab very hard meaning that the system has disabled the ABS feature due to some type of failure. I can easily lock the brakes on pavement... too easily with the rain lately and crappy midwest fall/winter coming soon.
Is there any way to know which wheel has the bad sensor? I heard that scan tools can tell you, but the guy who pulled my engine codes said that was impossible. Are the wheel speed sensors interchangable, by any chance, so I could order one and try it on both wheels? It would be an idiotic design if they weren't the same...
The right scanner can tell. Those cheap scan tools that pull codes will not do it. I would first try cleaning the connectors on the ABS sensors. They're behind the brake rotor on the rear side of the knuckle. If that doesn't work, post back here and I"ll give you instructions on testing ABS sensors.
Also, sounds like your rear brakes need cleaning, and maybe adjusting. A can of brake cleaner will do wonders.
what i'm confused about is-if the abs light is on, doesn't that normally signal a failure and the disabling of the abs therefore making the clicking something other than abs? also, is it just clicking or can you feel it in the pedal like you would with abs activation? if it's just clicking around a turn that's NORMALLY caused by a constant velocity joint. hard to really diag a car that i can't drive.
I had my brakes click before. I'm assuming that you've aready check this but what happened to me was that my pads was worn right down to the metel and had started making groves in the rotor. and this only happened to 1 rotor, the rest were fine
It seems like the ABS light starts out being off and there is sometimes a clicking during braking. After driving for a while, the ABS light comes on, the system apparently disables itself, I don't hear anymore clicking and the rear brakes start getting "grabby". I'll try cleaning the brakes again and cleaning the ABS sensor contacts the next time I drive it, and then post back here. Thanks.
I currently have the same problem on 03 z24 .... clicking when cruzing at low speeds in trafic WITHOUT pressing the brake pedal.
Pads are fine, new rotors and calipers, 1 new hub/bearing and 2nd remanufactured cv joint... as i thought it would be it..... unless i got 2nd one thats bad.
If anyone find the reason please let me know
As I suspected, my problem was a failed wheel speed sensor, left front wheel. Fortunately it was just a corroded connection that a little cleaning took care of. I haven't had any ABS lights since, and it also somehow cured my TPS engine code problem. Weird.
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Slawcio Gos, I'll send you a PM in case you don't get an auto-reply to this thread....
According to Click and Clack from
Car Talk (can be heard on National Public Radio), if it's your CV joint is bad it should click much worse when turning. Eventually it would make horrible noise when taking off from a stop. Your problem doesn't sound like a CV joint issue to me...
If it's a wheel speed sensor issue like mine, you should get the "(( ABS ))" light coming on. Of course, you wouldn't see this light if the bulb is burnt out or has been taped over, so you need to make sure it's coming on during the "bulb test" when you first turn the ignition on. On J-Bodies, I believe it is supposed to flash exactly 7 times upon ignition.
If you have a wheel speed sensor problem, it should also be worse or more frequent when turning to one side... that will be the problem side, as I guessed in a previous post above... because the wheel on the inside of a turn is moving a bit slower, it's closer to being stopped while it's turning this direction, and more likely to give a faulty signal when turning that direction as opposed to the other direction or going straight.
Also, have you double- and triple-checked your pads for proper seating? They could be rattling around because they fit a little loosely, or have bent mounting clips, or maybe they need some brake anti-rattle goop.
Hope this helps. If you need to get ahold of me, email or something because I'll forget to check back on my post
