2007 ABS Removal?

[ns_red7]

Does anyone here know of a non-permanent or reversible way to disable my abs on a 2007 4x4 5spd ranger?

I don't want to void my warranty but abs has almost caused a collision 2 times now. It's gotta go. Thanks guys appreciate any help!

[metalmacguyver]

a switch that would interupt power to the ABS solinoid would be the easiest way. i think it would make your abs light on your dash turn on though. it would be as simple as turn on/turn off.

[MAKG]

ABS "almost caused a collision twice?"

Really.

If this really were a risk of this, how do you explain the lack of safety recalls, lawsuits, and so on?

It's either broken, in which case the correct action is to FIX it, or the DRIVER is broken. You CANNOT "threshold brake" more than 10 times per second, regardless of how good you think you are. You might be able to interfere with the ABS if you tried to threshold brake over it. That's serious driver error.

One other common error is to assume you lose steering with ABS. You don't, and panic turns can cause spins. This is also not the fault of the ABS; it's driver error again.

It's STUPID to disable a safety feature, rather than repair it. Even if it requires new training for you.

[Evan]

MAKG, in gravel and deep snow, ABS actually increases stopping distances, sometimes considerably. ABS makes very little difference on dry pavement.

ABS isn't really a saftey feature, it's a failed attempt at a saftey feature that's turned into a marketing feature. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that the net effect of ABS on fatalities and property damage is around 0.

It's entirely possible that ABS could have resulted in an accident, especially in deep snow or on a gravel road.

I have driven many cars with ABS and many without, and sympathize with those who wish to disable their's. Is it stupid to disable a saftey feature? Sure it is. Is it stupid to disable ABS? Absolutely not.

[Robin Hood]

Disable? How about take out the relay? Keep it in the glove box and when you want it, pop it back in.

[pickup]

I completely agree with disabling ABS! 86Ford told me to pull the plugs at the wheels (which did the trick!) on my 04. I love the comments about how you can still steer the truck with ABS, who cares? Under that mentality, if you are in traffic, it must be better to run into someone or something beside you, instead of whats in front. I want to STOP, not turn.
Since unplugging mine last week, I'm finally back to stopping the way it should in the foot of snow we have around here.

[MAKG]

MAKG, in gravel and deep snow, ABS actually increases stopping distances, sometimes considerably. ABS makes very little difference on dry pavement.

ABS isn't really a saftey feature, it's a failed attempt at a saftey feature that's turned into a marketing feature. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that the net effect of ABS on fatalities and property damage is around 0.

It's entirely possible that ABS could have resulted in an accident, especially in deep snow or on a gravel road.

I have driven many cars with ABS and many without, and sympathize with those who wish to disable their's. Is it stupid to disable a saftey feature? Sure it is. Is it stupid to disable ABS? Absolutely not.

OK, you quote NHTSA. Here is what NHTSA says about ABS (emphasis mine):

When used properly, an antilock brake system (ABS) adds an important measure of safety to your driving, under all conditions. ABS lets you maintain vehicle stability and directional control, and may reduce stopping distances during hard braking - particularly on wet and icy roads. But to work properly, you have to allow your ABS to do its job. So it's important to understand how ABS works.


That the net effect on fatalities is near zero is a conclusion of the Insurance Institute, and is not under dispute. But they blame it on driver error. Insurance companies don't care about the reasons -- having ABS by itself does not reduce losses, so there is no ABS discount anymore.

The point of ABS is to maintain control of the vehicle, NOT to decrease stopping distance (though that is a side-benefit under some conditions).

[Evan]

OK, you quote NHTSA. Here is what NHTSA says about ABS (emphasis mine):


That the net effect on fatalities is near zero is a conclusion of the Insurance Institute, and is not under dispute. But they blame it on driver error. Insurance companies don't care about the reasons -- having ABS by itself does not reduce losses, so there is no ABS discount anymore.

The point of ABS is to maintain control of the vehicle, NOT to decrease stopping distance (though that is a side-benefit under some conditions).

Yes, but it can increase stopping distances (sometimes considerably) which is dangerous. If I'm on a gravel road and a guy pulls out in front of me and I can't stop in time because of some "safety" feature, you can be damn sure I'll want to remove it.

The Insurance Institute is far from the only org to analyze ABS-related stats and conclude the net effect is 0. The NHTSA did their own analysis back in the 90s.

Here's the bottom line: give whatever reason you want, but the net effect on fatalities and damage is 0. ABS can increase stopping distances which can be fatal. I think it's a bit of a stretch to call someone stupid for removing it!

[Simple_serf]

Good buddy of mine almost got killed when his new truck (18 wheeler) decided that the ABS was going to cycle at the end of a gravel road. No matter what he did, it would always cycle when he tried to stop. ABS ran it out of air, maxi's kicked in. 50K lbs skidding is bad. Dealer said nothing was wrong. He got his old truck back.

I personally don't like abs, try driving a 2wd ranger in a foot of snow and you will understand why. Being able to control your sliding is good. Add to that the fact that you can't fix the system yourself, and that you are screwed if air gets into it, and, well, you get my idea. I have driven my 98 with disabled RABS (It's broke and so am I) and a 01 with full abs, and I can get my 98 to stop with less braking distance on the dirt and gravel roads in my area than the 01.

What I want to figure out how to do is disable the "stability control" that is going to be federally mandated on new cars soon. I'm sorry, I just don't like having a computer controlling when and if my truck decides to brake.

I personally think it's bad when Idiot lawmakers decide to "mandate" anything, as they generally don't know what the real implications of their schemes are.

[Evan]

I know that in Houghton, MI where we got over 250" of snow annually, I really enjoyed NOT having ABS. I could really notice the decrease in stopping distance in deep snow when I disabled it.

Another thing I've found is that when I get into a non-ABS vehicle like my Explorer, I have the tendency in slippery conditions to mash on the pedal and count on ABS kicking in like it does on my 07 Focus.

I'm going to leave the ABS enabled on my Focus, but when it breaks someday there's no way in hell I'm paying money to fix it.

[4x4RangerGuy]

I personally don't like ABS...I've never had good experience with it. I like to control my sliding and know that the vehicle isn't taking things into its own hands. ABS came into play because people can't drive, really. It's just another idiot feature that insulates us from paying attention and focusing on driving safely.

Also, it is such a ripoff to fix. You need special diagnostic equipment which is insanely expensive, and even the ABS modules in the cars are expensive. A typical late model Volvo ABS module (they are famous for failing) is about $400, rebuilt. Sorry, but that's ridiculous.

[blkmazda90]

wtf. have any of you driven through snow. Try controlling a vechile with locked up tires and see where that gets ya. The DITCH. ABS does slow you down faster in snow if you think sliding all over the place with locked up tires is better. Haha have fun

[pickup]

blkmazda90-As for driving in snow, I'm from the prairies in Canada! I see more snow in one winter than you'll see in your lifetime. I also drive a lil over 150,000 miles per year in big trucks, 6 mths of winter, thru the Rocky Mountains, plus 20-30,000 in my pickup (yeah, I know I don't stay home much) and have for over 20 years, and all that, without abs, and without an accident.
So, I guess, as you say "Haha have fun". Thank you. Us older, experienced drivers, who know how to drive, will!

[Simple_serf]

wtf. have any of you driven through snow. Try controlling a vechile with locked up tires and see where that gets ya. The DITCH. ABS does slow you down faster in snow if you think sliding all over the place with locked up tires is better. Haha have fun

I live south of buffalo. We usually get about 2-3" each night in late jan, early Feb. When the Lake Effect starts up, well, then you get the storms that we are known for. As I said in my post, if you have ever had to drive a 2WD ranger in a foot of snow you understand why abs is bad. You CONTROL your sliding, both by spinning tires and by using the brakes. You make turns by sliding the rear end one way or another. You don't drive 50 MPH and just slam on the brakes. When you turn the wheel, nothing happens. A little bit different than driving a 4wd ranger in a foot of snow, wouldn't you say?

Try reading the previous posts.

[ns_red7]

It's STUPID to disable a safety feature, rather than repair it. Even if it requires new training for you.

This is my 1st vehicle with working abs. I've been driving for over 10 years with absolutely no accidents. This also includes a few years on a sportbike. (I've crashed dirtbikes numerous times, but in all fairness I don't think they should count.)

You might be able to interfere with the ABS if you tried to threshold brake over it. That's serious driver error.

Threshold braking is accomplished before the wheel locks up, therefore if the abs is cycling, you've already lost traction, and are not braking at the threshold of traction.
You can always use just a little less than what traction is available to brake. My problem is, like the other day, I was going downhill at apprx 20km/hr and slowing to a stop, being cautious as there was a slushy mess present on the asphalt. I was stopping and in full control of the vehicle, and the abs came on. The truck actually accelerated down the hill, even though I had floored the brake pedal in vain attempt to not hit a maxima. Thankfully I managed to get stopped with the curb.

wtf. have any of you driven through snow. Try controlling a vechile with locked up tires and see where that gets ya. The DITCH. ABS does slow you down faster in snow if you think sliding all over the place with locked up tires is better. Haha have fun

Uh I live in Nova Scotia. I'm no stranger to winter's nastiest. And not to be a dick but if you're old enough to drive you're old enough to know how to spell "vehicle".

So thanks for the advice but I'm not interested in being told what I already know. I just want this abs crap gone, preferably in a way that doesn't illuminate my abs light, throw a code, void my warranty or eliminate my front/rear proportioning, which I guess is controlled by the abs module.

[MAKG]

If your ABS came on without at least one tire slipping (differently from the rest), it's broken. It is NOT supposed to do that.

[ns_red7]

If your ABS came on without at least one tire slipping (differently from the rest), it's broken. It is NOT supposed to do that.

I'm pretty sure it's not broken. The truck is only a few months old and has 15000 km on it. I just think it's a really piss-poor idea, and like many others stated, is only useful if you can't drive.

[MAKG]

And how would you be "pretty sure" it's not broken?

Age alone? You're fooling yourself. It's not THAT unusual to find inoperative parts on parts-room shelves.

[Evan]

wtf. have any of you driven through snow. Try controlling a vechile with locked up tires and see where that gets ya. The DITCH. ABS does slow you down faster in snow if you think sliding all over the place with locked up tires is better. Haha have fun


Re-read all the posts on this thread.

Thanks!

[Evan]

And how would you be "pretty sure" it's not broken?

Age alone? You're fooling yourself. It's not THAT unusual to find inoperative parts on parts-room shelves.


+1

[ns_red7]

Well Ford replaced my tie rod ends the other day in an effort to remove the nasty clunk (they failed). I also asked them to look at the abs (I'm not convinced they did). They say it's A-1 top notch operational. The problem is still there.

I noticed I can make the abs behave differently when I take the truck out of gear. Perhaps having drag from the motor on the rear wheels only (slowing down / going downhill in 2wd) is causing a perception of speed difference between the front / rear. Would this somehow cause abs to fire and remove all my brake power?

[MAKG]

I suppose it might, but if it is, it means you're in imminent danger of a spinout. It means your rear end is sliding due to engine drag.

It doesn't explain a dang thing if you're in 4WD.

[ns_red7]

I try to stay out of 4wd unless it's necessary. I don't use it on the street, maybe sometimes to get out into traffic if the road is covered in snow.