Anti-Lock brakes...useless

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I know, it's my fault: I ordered ABS.
These things are useless; almost rear-ended
somebody this morning while I was braking on a bumpy road.
They really insult my abilities with threshold-braking.
The question is: How to correctly disable them without damaging anything.
Coming into Winter soon, I don't want to deal with them on patchy roads.
Thanks!
Jacko


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'01 2500 QC ST 4WD SWB, Patriot Blue/Agate.
DEE/ETH, Trailer-Camper-Plow, 3. 54 LSD, rear-slider, cab-lights, 265's.

 

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See this post https://www.turbodieselregister.com/ubb//Forum4/HTML/003079.html - I put up a response at the very bottom that may work.



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-Steve St. Laurent - President of the Great Lakes TDR
'98 QC LB (CMNSPWR), 4x4, ISB, 5sp, 4. 10 LSD, TST Powermax, 275hp RV injectors, SW fuel pressure gauge, BD exhaust brake, Isspro turbo temp monitor, front Draw-Tite receiver, rear Draw-Tite class V receiver, BFG 285/75R16 AT KO's, (all the common stuff clipped)

 

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Welcome to a small but apparently growing club of folks who DON'T believe ABS is the greatest thing since sliced bread. There are probably some great ABS systems out there, but I know the ones on my Chevy Suburban *u*k*d. (there - edited by me, not the profanity filter). With your story, I am once again thankful I got my 2001 before this became a "standard" on the 2001. 5 models. These things need an "off" switch for driver preferance or when on bumpy roads, gravel roads, or any of the other roads where ABS just doesn't cut the mustard. Passenger side air bags have a switch - why not the ABS system?

 

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I wonder if DC has improved the ABS on the new disk brake equiped Rams? I have only tested mine once, I slowed down to about 30 MPH on slick packed snow about two weeks ago, and then just planted my foot. Very quick and straight stop. I didn't think it was that slick out, but just letting the clutch out (maybe very light throttle) got me sideways in the road, it took a little while to be able to build up enough speed to try it again. My experience says that the new models, at least seem to work very good on slick surfaces. Have not tried it in gravel, yet.

Shelby

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2001 2500 QC LB 4WD, ETH, DEE, 3. 54 gears, Laramie SLT, Camper Special, Trailer Tow, Travel Convenience Group, Power Driver Seat, Alarm System, Remote Keyless Entry, Fog Lamps, Cab Clearance Lamps, HD Transfer Case, Bright White with a Gray Interior. Built 09-15-00, took delivery on 10-06-00, 1749 miles as of 11-25-00. Custom aluminum work body / flat bed.
Coming soon: E-Brake and gauges.

 

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Because the insurance companies are all hyped up about them. Less banging in the rear of the guy in front of you and more control of vehicle if you need to turn wheels while braking, so you don't run into any thing. You see the less accidents you have the more money the insurance companies keep in their pocket.
When you have just rear anti-lock on the rear you can't steer the car because your front brakes are locked up. This is because most common folks don't know the difference between the two.
The fastest way to stop a vehicle safely is to lock up all four wheels at the same time. You have to hit the brake quick and hard to do this. No they don't teach you this in high school drivers ed, but if ever watched(tv) them measuring how fast a(skid test) vehicle will stop(no abs or rwal) the tires are always locked up (pro-drivers).
They say abs/rwal stop almost as fast.

 

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Because the insurance companies are all hyped up about them. Less banging in the rear of the guy in front of you and more control of vehicle if you need to turn wheels while braking, so you don't run into any thing. You see the less accidents you have the more money the insurance companies keep in their pocket...

Yes, I agree in theory that is how it should be working. But like early generation air bags, the benefit we should be seeing is not there. Even the NHTSA is scrambling right now to explain this. The following is quoted from their own web page at nhtsa. dot.gov (search on "abs" for some fun reading):
A number of statistical analyses of accident databases have been performed during the last three years. These analyses suggest that the introduction of ABS does not seem to have reduced the number of automobile accidents where they were expected to be effective.
If you have an ABS unit that works well, then you are lucky and may in fact experience the full benefits that everyone talks about. But statistically, enough units are not working well enough to reduce the overall accident rates, for reasons that are not yet fully understood.

 

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Before I bought my truck I talked to a friend who has been a brake and front guy for years. He recommended that I not get the four wheel ABS. His reasons were: big expense to fix and get right, a good driver doesn't need it, and if you get in a situation where ABS might help you are probably in deep yogurt anyway and it's too late. Maybe ABS built since '95 might work ok, but from what I read I got my doubts!

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Joe George
Eureka, CA

'95 2500 CC auto 4X4,3. 54,Combo EGT/boost guage,custom switch panel,PacBrake,TST #5,BD valve body,Automatic motorhome steps on both sides,Foldacover hard bed cover,Cummins chrome kit,Black steel grill guard,Front hitch receiver

 

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Mule, I cannot agree with you about the fastest stops being when all four wheels are locked up. A tire which is atleast turning slightly has more traction than one which is locked. Large aircraft have anti-lock brake systems for that very reason. I'd rather have a wheel that isn't sliding so I can control the vehicle. Dave

 

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MULE, you are very wrong on this one. The fastest way to stop is NOT to lock all 4 tires up. The fastest way is called threshhold braking. That is where you modulate the brake pedal to keep the brakes an the brink of locking up. When you lock up a tire, the rubber that is scrubbed off forms tiny rubber balls, between the pavement and the tire. This acts like hydroplaning. I have been through many high speed driving and emergency braking courses, and have learned. As far as ABS brakes go. I hate them too, the reasons are the bumpy roads. Several times I have tried to come to a stop at intersections that have potholes or are very bumpy. Thoses situations cause the ABS to engage. This shot me halfway into the intersection, right in front of oncoming traffic. They stopped, but is was very scary. IMO abs is generally good for the public at large, because ABS works very good for the lock-em-all-up crowd. It is also very useful in rain and snow. It saved my but* a few times at work with a slick road.

[This message has been edited by sdalton (edited 11-30-2000). ]

 

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I had a Toyota Camry that I put over a 100k on with ABS. That was my first vehicle with them on and I liked the way they worked. You could feel the pulsation and while it sometimes felt "hairy", it would stop. On my 97' however, you feel this big shudder as they release but they don't return very quickly. Then the shudder again. Next thing you know, wham, out in the intersection.

Takes a lot of weight on the back to stop the bumps from activating the ABS. The real fun is when I pull my empty 5400 lb gooseneck on a wet road. Then I have to plan on the trailer pushing me.

 

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PS, the topic on how much weight we can pull always generates comments about how safely you can get stopped. I think the stopping when empty is the scary part.

 

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ABS front or rear(if working right) and the rear tires of RWAl vehicle will not lock up.
But before these came out if you ever read or watched (on TV)the Skid test it is brake test to see how fast(the distance in feet) a vehilce will stop at set speed to complete stop.
When I mentioned pro-drivers I meen the ones that race or test vehilces to their max. The same ones that do the Skid test.
I have read this in Car and Driver several times " the fastest way to stop (straight away in a straight line) a vehicle is to lock up all four wheels at the same time" note as pointed out in Car and Driver "all" "four" "same time" they also had many disagreements with this. If you don't hit the brake quick and hard enough they won't lock up at same time. Than you have vehicle that will pull to one side mainly because back drum brakes are not always evenly adjusted.
Don't try this at home, it takes alot of pratice.

Never brake hard when in curve you will loose it. If you enter curve to fast back off the go pedal(not all the way you want to maintain traction=power to rear or front wheels) the engine and physical forces will slow the vehicle down.
If your in curve or entering and have to slow/stop/steer around because of unseen problem Brake lightly to firmly letting your wheels roll to maintain control(traction), you mite call this feather braking.
Since I read these tips I've used them many times on curves and never skidded or lost contol(never lost control before I read them just took cuves slower).
Have a nice day and drive safely. #ad

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Bill Thomas
Missouri Mule - 96 Wht 4X4 ST CC,5 spd, 3. 54, 8 ft bed, 1 ft high cheater boards.
99 Freightliner bl/wht FL60 ISB-5. 9 24v,215 hp,520 tq,6 spd, 3. 59 nsr,16 ft box, 19. 5 tires,Wt/gvw 11,000/23000

[This message has been edited by Missouri Mule (edited 12-03-2000). ]

[This message has been edited by Missouri Mule (edited 12-03-2000). ]

 

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See this post from a year ago. https://www.turbodieselregister.com/ubb//Forum4/HTML/000995.html
Marco posts a solution to the problem. I don't know if it works, but I would like to try it. The RW ABS on my 97 seems to release and never come back.

Brian

 

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Not sure if this will work or not, but on a Jeep Grand C, heard of a ABS problem while on an icy trail. In 4 low, the brakes would not stop the Jeep due to slippage from ICE (Less than 5MPH), Pulled the parking brake lever just enough to energize the parking brake light, but not enough to engage. ABS disengaged and thus allowed a full and timely stop. Ask any of those Jeep Jamboree Folks about that one.
Don't own one, but just heard of that problem. Since DC makes bothm who knows...

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99' Qcab, 4x4, auto, chrome nerf bars, VA, Boost elbow, DiProcal Pillar mount gauges,

 

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i don't know , either i'm a bad driver #ad
#ad
or i got a good one , but this is my first with $WAL and except when i hit a bump with brakes on they work well , a couple of panic stops , ie: clown in front of me decides to stop in fast lane at 70mph , they have actaully worked pretty well at keeping the front on my ram out of their back seat #ad

 

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I-4 down here in sunny Florida is like that all the time Mopar-muscle especially around the tourist attractions. I have no dents in my front end. My RWAl must be working too.
Saves on buying back tires every time I have to do panick stop.