Feeling weird when braking hard

[cs1044]

When I brake hard while going about 40-50MPH, it feels like something is pushing against my feet. I also hear a weird grinding noise under my feet in the same situation. Is that supposed to happen?

[cablemn]

thats the antilock kicking in.

[thesaintjim]

Actually, the brakes on the solara are awesome. I was driving on the interstate doin' around 80 when some grandma was drivin' around 40 in a 65..came up fast and had to slam on them brakes. my car actually was like at a 11 oclock position going foward, heh.. Let off the brake and boom, back to normal driving position! I love my solara and would pick it over a lot of cars..unless it was a ferrari of course

[Jai_Jai_Binks]

OEM brakes are are good. But when compared to upgraded brake lines, bigger roters and good quality pads - even a econo car can have better braking than us...

[dvdchris45]

My brakes have a rumbling noise sometimes when I let go of them lightly (from a complete stop). But all Toyotas do that, even my 99 camry

[Mandarinsolara]

sorry to be a smartass
but i think its the brake pedal that is pushing against your foot
newton's laws baby

[TW85]

The grinding and pulsating is the ABS. It will feel like a jackhammer is on the opposite end of the pedal. If you need maximum braking, do not let up (common mistake).

[Down2TheC]

I felt the ABS in earlier models with rentals and such and I love the Solara's ABS. Old ABS felt like big violent hits, newer is that nice small taps. Almost a vibration.

But I must admit, the first time I felt ABS in a rental it freaked me out too.

[drglitch]

Actually, get your front brake pads checked out - they are probably about to need replacement.

Let me guess what you are feeling:
When braking smoothly or from < 40 mph speed, everything is fine.
When braking from highway speeds, you feel the pedal is stiffer than usual and there is sort of grinding noise coming from somewhere up front.
Your car is around 20K miles?

I did huge search, but ended up going to dealership to do my brakes - they were the cheapest! And if you dont cut rotors [i did anyway to reduce possibility of noise] first time around, it will be even cheaper!

[mmcdonald]

No, the grinding is under your feet... it is not really grinding. It is more of a chattering right on the sole of your foot. That is the brake line pressure chatter caused by the ABS regulating brake fluid pressure.

STOMP - STAY - STEER when that happens. Hit the pedal, keep your foot on the pedal, and steer normally. Don't slam 'em and ram 'em.

Here's a BRAKING tip, which most motorcyclists know: When you do emergency braking, or panic braking, DON'T LOOK AT THE OBSTACLE! Look at the way out. You will drive towards the way out. Lotsa bikers brake right into the obstacle if they don't know this. Car drivers should do this too.

If the "grinding" IS coming from the front wheels, then that could be a rotor/pad issue, but I don't think that was going on here.

[Down2TheC]

Hey CS... lock 'em up on a wet asphalt road and if that's what you're talking about... that's the ABS. If that's different from your main complaint, the see above.

[drglitch]

Good point about braking hard on wet/loose surface [sand, gravel, snow etc] to "feel" the abs!

When pads start to go bad, braking hard [which means braking quickly,not slamming] from highway speeds caused grinding for me [not abs-like when it pulsates against your foot]

Let us know!

[Down2TheC]

Forgive me if I'm behind the times but the latest model I've had before this was a '92 Camry. So is that what I have to look forward to? Grinding at high speed when the pads are low? Or is there still the warning tab that makes 'em squeal like hell to tell you that? (Like the pre-ABS pads.)