ABS Sensitivity

Hey all!

I’m currently tossing the idea around of getting back into a Tacoma. In the past, I had an a 2015 SR5 (totaled due to black ice), and a 2015 TRD Sport (replaced the SR5). In the 2nd Gen forums, there’s a pretty substantial thread discussing the ABS being overly sensitive on loose surfaces (mainly snow), which after totaling my SR5 likely due in part to this, lead me to not trusting the brakes in the TRD Sport and therefore selling it.

Has anyone experienced similar issues with 3rd Gen Tacomas? Obviously, tires are everything in less than ideal conditions, and ice will always be slippery, but I can’t seem to find any discussions of ABS sensitive with 3rd gens, and a lot of discussions for 2nd gens. For reference, I’m looking to get into a 2022 TRD OR.

 

I would expect the ABS system to be sensitive to tire slip during braking.

Kinda worthless if the ABS can't sense tire slip.

The system monitors the individual wheel speed by rpm via an encoder wheel. When the system detects wheel speed differences it will actuate the ABS pulsers.

Remember, a sliding or spinning tire has 0 (zero) traction......therefore no control.

 

Toyota has a fairly intrusive ABS system, but it works.

Honestly Tacomas aren't amazing for bad weather. You really need winter tires, not just all terrains rate for winter.

I hate driving customers 3rd gens when they are not equipped with winters. It's awful.

 

Ideally one should be applying brake just short of causing the ABS to kick in when on very slippery conditions.

 

Question... do you fully understand how ABS works? All vehicles work the same and the only "sensitivity" is when the ABS keeps the tire from locking up. It pulses like 60 times a second. You smash on the brakes and the ABS keeps you from locking up the tires. It's on-off...no sensitivity adjustment.
With that said, my Tacoma did just fine.

 

Being a 2nd Gen owner. I know what OP is saying, but I think he worded it wrong. It’s not that it is too sensitive. It that the ABS on (at least the 2nd Gen) kind of sucks. It literally takes the truck forever to come to a stop. You’d be better off skidding the tires.


You’d have to experience it in a 2nd Gen to understand it. Nothing like having your foot vibrate and the truck just keep rolling. That about all it does.

Like @Bishop84 said, tires is the best fix.
Along with engine breaking/ gearing down.

 

Absolutely agree, however, the fast changing weather/road conditions of Northeast PA don't always warrant that.

I have a full understanding of how ABS works. All vehicles with ABS work the same in theory (wheel speed sensors reading off of tone rings), however vehicles like 2nd gen Tacoma's have much more active systems. Reference TnShooter's response below:

Much better than my explanation. The best way I can describe it is one or more tire loses traction while lightly braking, ABS activates and continues until the truck is just about stopped. It's the only vehicle that I've driven to date that would slide through a stop sign in light snow conditions, low speed, and early braking (edit: with snow rated tires).

 

So much this. I had to wire in an ABS kill switch for when I go wheeling/snowy conditions because otherwise, that ABS would put me in a ditch.

 

And before this devolves into a thread about the merits of ABS, no it does not help you stop faster.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_99dN4dVkc

 

Many caveats in that video to support his position.

Believe as you wish.

 

Holding the traction button for a few extra seconds to disable the systems too inconvenient for everyone.. or…?

I’m in and out of the tractions modes all the time. Truck is super fun to drive in the the snow/weather both in 2WD and 4Hi.

Learn to adjust to the vehicle and maybe you’ll have a better driving experience.
I also agree with having dedicated winters.

 

What do us guys do that don’t have any traction control or buttons do?
My tuck has 3 buttons, - Power Inverter - Fog Light - E-Locker

Ok, I’ll answer my own question. We (2nd Gen guys) pull the ABS fuse.

My truck doesn’t even have Traction Control. I’m a full Open Diff, one wheel spinner, until I’m locked.

Giving you are hard time man.
I should make my way back over to the 2nd Gen section. Lol
I do wish I had ATRAC

Nice truck BTW

 

Changing weather conditions is pretty normal here, I run true winters for winter and all seasons for the rest of the year. I have only had vehicles with ABS in the last few years, so I have learned to modulate and threshold brake without the assistance of ABS. Driving my 2017 daily for the last 4+ years, I have not found the ABS to be intrusive. It has come on in icy conditions but I adjust my driving to match the conditions and it waits to be needed. I have no experience with 2nd gen ABS to compare too... but I think my system is fine.

 

ABS, like a lot of "safety features" was developed for the "average driver" who might slam the brakes every time they think they need to stop fast. I don't know about now days, but when I learned how to drive in the pre-ABS days, I don't recall gentle, non-skid braking being mentioned/taught even then. It was stuff I read or saw on TV (internet wasn't around then either), but I was in to racing (track and drag) so learned it as part of those "hobbies."

I even remember that there were debates about how ABS could make you stop better "if the wheels are still spinning while you're slowing down." A lot of people thought skidding was actually better without understanding that the objective was controlled stop.

 

I get what you're saying, but you can't disable ABS with the push of a button in a 3rd gen.

ABS sensitivity is the subject of this thread.. but yes, I get that ABS is used in the nanny systems you refer to.

 

Pre-ABS days. We learned about pumping the brakes during icy skid prone conditions.

The ABS will "pump the brakes" quicker and with more control than a human.

Remember, a rolling tire has much more friction with the road than a sliding tire. This is basic friction physics. The goal of the ABS or brake pumping is to keep the tire rolling, not skidding, so the driver can maintain control.

IMHO. ABS is one of the best safety features since the seat belt, energy absorbing bumper, steering column crush, air bags, side impact doors, shatterproof windshields, ..............numerous others. I'm not too sure about some of the nanny gadgets. Although, drivers are becoming lazy and dependent on systems to look for them. So the nanny gadgets are becoming justified and the norm.

 

I agree with this 100%. Remember, just because you may be the best snow/icy/foul weather Driver to ever grace a roadway and need nothing more then your lucky racing Speedo and a pair of vintage (always vintage) racing goggles the Tacoma was designed for the masses; the new drivers, for the wife, GF, son or daughter who is only driving your Taco because their Camry wouldn't start this morning. For that reason I'm fine with the newest truck in my driveway having all the Nanny features. I can drive around them or turn most of them off if I want to, but I'd be lying if I said that ABS hadn't saved my bacon once or twice.

ABS has made it's way into the MC world too. Even Honda's budget-beater Grom has ABS as an available option now. Both of my KTM's have it as well, however on those it's able to be turned-off as there are many situations (mainly off-road) where you want the rear wheel to lock-up.

 

I was sort of surprised in a good way how the abs works on my 2020 sr5....its pretty much normal braking till you really push the petal hard, then you'll get the abs kicking in. I've driven other brand vehicles with abs, and never liked it. The one in the tacoma works as well as expected.

 

I rode a little 125cc scooter with ABS while I was working overseas. I can definitely see the advantage on a 2 wheeler. Bad karma for the front to lock up or skid, a sure recipe for a pavement splash.

 

Good to know. Thanks for clearing that up.

I absolutely agree with this, to an extent. ABS certainly allows the average driver to have an assumption of controllable braking in less than ideal conditions. An over intrusive system, like the one discussed in the 103 page thread on the 2nd gen forums, minimizes control from the driver to the point that it becomes dangerous.

This is good to hear. So far, it sounds like this problem disappeared in the 3rd gens.