Strange brake lock and release issue

Are there warning lights being displayed on the dash, or any obd2 codes worth posting?

 

You might try jacking up the front to see if the noise continues, or is able to be found. This may require a second person, and jack stands.

 

Try using the brakes hard on dirt road or gravel- a place where you know that the ABS will have to work. When you do that, see if the amber "slip" indicator on the dash lights up. (looks like a car with wavy lines under it).

The idea is to see if that indicator works or not. If the ABS or traction control is "falsely" activating, then the indicator should flash on when it does.

Assuming that is what's happening, then I would be looking at one of front wheel speed sensors. Maybe one has an intermittent open circuit when the wheels are turned away from center.

If you have a capable scantool, then another test would be to unplug any wheel speed sensor. There will be warning lights on, but this will prevent ABS function. Test drive the car and see if your symptom is still there.

If it goes away, then look at those speed sensors.

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Congrats!

 

Thanks for the update!

Interesting, usually bad CV joints on an axle will make noise (a metallic click-pop) on turns when applying throttle -torque on the axles in forward or reverse.

I never associated "noise on braking" with bad CV joints. I hadn't considered that regenerative braking also puts "reverse torque" on the axles.

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