E30 - '86 325E - ABS Question

[Scott Ruffner <jpr9c@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I've got an ABS "problem" - the ABS seems to be working just fine,
although I believe it is coming on when it shouldn't.  The brake pedal
feels "crunchy" or "brittle" like it's vibrating at a high frequency,
which I am guessing is what it feels like when the ABS activates.

I learned to drive on a farm jeep and a tractor, and so pumping and
breaking out of a skid are skills which I learned as a child.  I don't
particularly mind having ABS but I don't use it, and am likely to lighten
up the pressure on the pedal if I get into a skid/slide situation.  I
guess I just don't want to learn a new style of driving, so I've never
tried to slide with it activated.  In any case - can someone confirm this
is what I'm feeling?  I do believe I can hear a motor activating. If
indeed it is just the ABS activating, then any thoughts as to the problem
of false triggers would be appreciated.

I notice this most when the car is cold, and I'm making a low-speed turn
while braking.  It happens more often while backing up than going forward.
Typically it happens as I'm backing out of my driveway or pulling into a
parking slot.  The key is that the wheels are turned, so I think it's a
front-end problem.  Once the car is warm, the problem isn't apparent.  I
suppose I could just start replacing the sensors, or disconnecting one at
a time until I find the problem sensor, but I'm lazy, so I'm hoping
someone else has experienced a case of "the right front sensor always
fails prematurely on these cars," and can give me a shortcut.  Yes, I
could just disconnect the ABS, as I've noted others have done, but I'd
rather keep everything working on this car rather than start the
inevitable slippery slope.

Thanks!

Scott

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Scott Ruffner
Computer Systems Senior Engineer       Computer Science Department
ruffner@domain.elided                University of Virginia
(434)982-2219                    http://www.cs.virginia.edu/~jpr9c

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