Brake pedal vibration why?

JULIEALVERSON

MEMBER
2007 TOYOTA CAMRY
6 CYL
AUTOMATIC
95,000 MILES

When I press the brake peddle, usually going slow, such as creeping along in a parking lot or backing out of driveway, my peddle makes a clicking/clunking vibration sound. It happens about once a week or so, I took it to dealer and he couldn't get the car to do it. They could not find anything wrong with "brakes" however. I may have not explained the noise was more in the peddle, and it can feel it also. Any ideas?

5 Replies

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
109,885 POSTS

Does it feel like the ABS is being actuated?

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Tuesday, September 9th, 2014 AT 5:06 AM

JULIEALVERSON

MEMBER
3 POSTS

Yes, could be. Feels kind of like when that comes on.

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Tuesday, September 9th, 2014 AT 11:34 AM

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
109,885 POSTS

My GUESS is that one of the ABS sensors at the wheels is either going bad or it is dirty. How they work is this. It is called a hall effect. There is a magnet in the sensor which is stationary. As the wheel turns, there is a stater that turns with the wheel. When you have a magnet that passes over a conductor, it creates a current. Imagine the magnet being passed by several conductors as the wheel spins. The current that is produced tells the computer that everything is fine. When a wheel skids, the wheel stops spinning. Thus, the current is lost and the computer turns on the abs to release brake pressure to affected wheel. Since it only happens when going slow, my guess is there is something that is not allowing the current to be sent to the computer. It could be dirt or a faulty sensor. As a result, the ABS is actuated and you feel the vibration.

Did that make sense? Lol

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Tuesday, September 9th, 2014 AT 5:40 PM

JULIEALVERSON

MEMBER
3 POSTS

Thanks so much for your help. I took it in today to Toyota. I explained everything as I did to you. I mentioned that I thought it have to do with the abs since when this happens it feels kinda like when abs comes on. About an hour later he comes back and says I need new brake pads and rotors turned. I asked why a few weeks ago when I brought it in brakes checked out fine? He said because my complaint before was "grinding" brakes. He said front pads were at 38%, and that could cause vibration in the peddle. Does this sound right? I just find it odd that a few weeks ago my brakes checked out and now I need new ones. I don't disagree I probably do need brakes done, the car is 7 yrs old and I don't think brakes have been done. But. Would new brakes take care of the problem I came in for?

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Wednesday, September 24th, 2014 AT 1:08 PM

JACOBANDNICKOLAS