Why are the RABS systems so hated?

[tx3nc]

I've seen a lot of posts about how useless the Rear Antilock Brake System on earlier Rangers is. I'm just wondering, why? What is it that is being expected of the system? What is it not doing? How could it be improved?

I have a '93 Ranger and I've already had one go-round with the RABS. Seems to me that with the tribal knowledge that has been gained here through experience, the most common failures should be able to be rooted out and solved.

 

[JoshT]

Good question but I haven't seen any of those posts.

 

[martin]

They have a tendency to leak and anything that likes to leak is not a good thing on any hydraulic system, especially brakes.

 

[tx3nc]

They have a tendency to leak and anything that likes to leak is not a good thing on any hydraulic system, especially brakes.

You are talking about the RABS hydraulic control valve mounted on the frame. Right?

I agree, something prone to leaking isn't good to have in a hydraulic system. When you say leak, do you mean externally, or is it an internal leak?

 

[tx3nc]

Good question but I haven't seen any of those posts.

I was thinking about posts like in this thread:

http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=36107

 

[Captain Ledd]

I dislike mine because it's never worked.

 

[martin]

externally.

 

[sblake01]

Haven't had any problems with mine (yet!)

 

[AllanD]

Because when it works at all (rarely) it even more rarely works "right"

My truck legally an 87 doesn't have it, (Never did) and I don't miss it.

the ONLY vehicle I've ever had where it worked was on my '94 Aerostar.

Right up to when it blew a brake line between the fuel tank and the "frame"
I'll bet money that sitting dry for a year has killed it D-E-A-D.
So when I (eventually) get around to re-plumbing the brake system
that I'll delete the RABS valve.

it is an unnecissary complication



AD

 

[wlewis379]

Heck I hate them front or back.

 

[CHKNFKR]

Heck I hate them front or back.

I'm with pc1 here!

 

[bobbywalter]

i love real abs.....as long as i can turn it off for certain 4x4 adventures


but allan put it just like it is.


these things can be disassembled and cleaned though.

for doing burnouts in the waterbox they are very handy....or just brake bias so you dont need a front locker for mild situations...

great for anything but rabs

 

[Will]

My Chevy has a mechanical brake proportioning valve--the more weight that is in the bed, the lower the rear suspension sinks and the more braking power is sent to the rear axle. It works okay, usually. The only problem is, if you are expecting to drive without trailer brakes and the trailer tongue weight isn't enough to get the proportioning valve going good--those big 13x3.5" wide rear drums aren't worth shit. A RABS is much better--it it works. You don't want those rear drums engaged full-on all of the time or you'll skid the rear everytime you touch the pedal.

 

[tx3nc]

externally.

Thank you for the informaiton.

 

[tx3nc]

I dislike mine because it's never worked.

Could you help me understand what you mean by explaining 'never worked'?

Do you mean that the rear brakes have locked up on you and caused a skid?
Or is it that you've never felt the pedal pulsing when the ABS should be working?
Is it that you feel it causes the braking distance to be longer than it should be?
Or is it something else that it's not doing that you feel it should?