How to disable ABS?

[fordboi415]

Try fuse #14 it worked on my 01

 

[Evan]

ABS takes longer to stop on gravel, deep mud, and deep snow than non-ABS. Therefore there are a few scenarios where it's ok to disable the ABS system.

I pulled the ABS system on my truck because it sees some hardcore offroad action. Try descending a steep, muddy hill in an ABS truck. Scary. I simply pulled all ABS-related modules and sensors out of the truck. This will trigger the ABS light.

Where I went to college in Houghton, MI we got a couple hundred inches of snow a year, in a hilly area. The best way to stop in deep snow on a hill is to let the wheels lock up and "dig in". With ABS you just "float" and the vehicle can take a rediculous amount of time to stop. This would be another instance where you might want ABS disabled.

According the the insurance company I work for, the net effect of ABS on safety is 0. There are many opinions as to why this is, but it's the bottom line. ABS is not some miraculous safety system. It can help you, and it can hurt you depending on the situation. If you are a driver who knows how to use ABS (don't pump pedal), it will generally help you out. It can be tough to remember not to pump the pedal if you've been trained your whole life on a non-ABS vehicle. Pumping the pedal during a lockup becomes almost an instinct.

 

[therieldeal]

so you work for an insurance company, eh?!

would disabling your ABS cause you to automatically be at fault if you were ever in an accident? i have heard a rumor about this. my rear abs unit has taken a crap and i'd like to replace it with a $3 piece of brake line instead of a new $150 abs unit.

another thought, with rear abs do you pump the brakes or not? your fronts can still lock, but if you're pumping the brakes your rear abs wont be "working".

 

[Evan]

so you work for an insurance company, eh?!

would disabling your ABS cause you to automatically be at fault if you were ever in an accident? i have heard a rumor about this. my rear abs unit has taken a crap and i'd like to replace it with a $3 piece of brake line instead of a new $150 abs unit.

No, you would not be automatically at fault. DOT does not require ABS on cars. From a legal standpoint, if a party could prove the accident ocurred due to lack of ABS, you could be in trouble. VERY unlikely that this would happen, and I have never heard of it happening.

another thought, with rear abs do you pump the brakes or not? your fronts can still lock, but if you're pumping the brakes your rear abs wont be "working".

Generally, you would pump the brakes. You can't steer if the front is locked up.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

According the the insurance company I work for, the net effect of ABS on safety is 0.

very clever wording...you should divulge the whole story.

according the the IIHS, all of their studies have found that on-road vehicle accidents have been reduced in vehicles equipped with ABS as compared to non-ABS equipped models. the "net effect of zero" comes from an increase in off-road vehicle accidents due to the effects you mentioned.

being that most peoples trucks spend the majority of their time on pavement, completely disabling the ABS is a bad idea. pulling the fuse is alright, as long as you remember to put it back on for daily use. even easier would be a simple on-off toggle mounted on the dashboard.

 

[Evan]

being that most peoples trucks spend the majority of their time on pavement, completely disabling the ABS is a bad idea.

Agreed. It's a bad idea for MOST people.

It looks like your "source" considers ABS to be a bit safer. However, when most insurance companies underwrite auto policies, they do not take ABS into account. So if there is any net safety gain, it's quite small.

 

[thegoat4]

For the OP, plowing the gravel off the hard-pack below does not let the tires then stop by scrubbing on the hard-pack below. It's the plowing through the gravel itself that slows you down.

On surfaces that you can readily deform with your wheels and plow, non-ABS wins since you now have the option of locking your wheels and instantly turning them into shovels. On any other surface, slick or not, ABS helps most drivers.

Big semi trucks all use ABS these days. They have for years, and so have the trailers. If it has a bright green electrical cord instead of the black one between the tractor and trailer, it has ABS. You'll also see an extra "running light" on the driver's side of the trailer, usually at the rear, where the driver can see it with the mirror. That's the trailer ABS light and often even has "ABS" written on it. None of the truck manufacturers have stopped using ABS. And with the ground pressure those rigs have (generally 90-110psi) if the surface is firm enough to drive on without sinking in, it's firm enough to benefit from ABS. Plus it's nice to keep the dumbass variety of drivers from squaring the tires.

And one other thing, ABS can and does interfere with a tire that has not yet locked up. Put your truck on jack stands, put it in high gear, and wind it out. Then stand on the brakes and see how long it takes to stop the wheels. Do it again with the ABS unplugged and note the difference.

RABS might as well not be there as far as stopping is concerned. For the most part it simply reduces drive tire skidding when you don't have anything in the back by keeping the wheels from locking. Drive as if you have no ABS.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

If it has a bright green electrical cord instead of the black one between the tractor and trailer, it has ABS.

never knew that. ill have to pay more attention on our next road trip.

 

[jax4bangin]

ok fuse #14 now i know they're not numbered(or r they?) so do u count till u get to the 14th one? and where do u start the count from?

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

the fuse numbers are on the fuse box cover.

 

[jax4bangin]

i pulled #14 and went to test it and it still has anti lock?? another dude said its the 17th fuse so i pulled that and it was the blinkers lol.. any ideas? i dont plan on disabling for highway use, just for off road or tryin to get crazy in a wet empty parking lot.

the truck is a 2007 regular cab, short bed, 4 cylinder manual tranzz

 

[jax4bangin]

i was pullin the fuses in the cab.. shud i have been under the hood?

 

[westonoto]

Interesting thread. My ranger is a 99 and I have to say it has the most dangerous 4wheel ABS of any vehicle I have owned. Both my Rodeo and Toyota truck performed much better. The first year I had my Ranger (bought it new) I actually thought there was something wrong with it and had it to the dealership twice only to be told it was fine.
I live in northern Maine and we don't have bare pavement for at least 4 months of the year on my road. Mostly packed snow turned to ice by traffic. I can't even safely get down my 300ft driveway with my truck without putting it in 4wd to equalize braking. The ABS completely negates the front brakes on ice in 2wd. The only thing that has saved me a few times is flicking the 4wd on and hoping everything engages fast enough that I then have braking power.
I may just try taking the fuse out for the winter months. It can't be any worse. I have had two slow speed accidents because of the ABS on this thing. Both times I was travelling less than 20mph due to icy conditions and slid into objects that were quite a distance from me.

 

[firefighter]

What about trying the ABS Relay

 

[cr_the_machinist]

ok fuse #14 now i know they're not numbered(or r they?) so do u count till u get to the 14th one? and where do u start the count from?

Look it up in your owners manual. It will map out each fuse box in there.

Interesting thread. My ranger is a 99 and I have to say it has the most dangerous 4wheel ABS of any vehicle I have owned.

Sounds like you have a common case of crappy wheel sensors. I ended up picking one up from the dealer and it solved that problem.

I used to hate my ABS system until I set aside a day and just inspected the whole system. I cleaned all the sensors and replaced them as needed. The coil on one of my front sensors was shorting so it was always thinking one wheel was faster than the other. I wouldn't mess with disabling your abs, if it wasn't proven to be a good system it wouldn't be oem standard.