Can ABS be turned off?

[Blakers]

Is there any way to turn off or temperarily disable the ABS brake system?



My truck is really super for going through snow - this morning I drove most of the way home from work (50 miles) through 12 - 20 inches of snow on the road - and it never missed a step. The truck is super, even with the marginal Rugged Trail tires.



The bad thing is that it is terrible to stop! The ABS will not let me apply enough brakes. I almost hit someone and almost drove through an intersection because the brakes would not grab - and it was not that slippery. I know I could have stopped faster without antilock brakes.



Has anyone else had this problem? I wonder if there's something wrong with my brake system?



Thanks,

Blake

 

[rbattelle]

There should be a dedicated fuse or circuit breaker for the ABS computer. Pull that (or even cooler, install a switch) and it should disable ABS. However, I'd bet the ABS light will come on and remain on as long as it's disabled.

 

[dan.poitras]

Correct me if I'm wrong but as I understand it the ABS is dissabled when in 4x4 mode

 

[Bertram65]

ABS works in 4WD, mine has been great. Most of the time it does not come on when I am driving in the snow, I would think it must have been very slippery for the ABS to be coming on so much. If you disconnect it let us know how it works, I would think you would have problems with the rear locking up if you are running unloaded.

 

[TCDiesel]

ABS

With ABS in a emergency stop PUSH MUCH HARDER the ABS will sense that this is a emergency stop and apply more pressure. Example when some one cuts out in front of you and you hit the pedal hard and fast the vehicle stops more quickly.

 

[JHardwick]

Blake,



I'm not trying to be a smart ass here, but have you ever had a 4X4 before?



The reason I ask is most people driving a 4X4 in bad weather conditions for the first time get a false sense of security. The truck goes good, feels secure and you end up driving faster than you probably should in said road conditions.



4X4 will GO better than 2X4, but it won't STOP any faster!



This could account for you blowing stop lights!?

 

[rbattelle]

Originally posted by JHardwick

Blake,



I'm not trying to be a smart ass here, but have you ever had a 4X4 before?



The reason I ask is most people driving a 4X4 in bad weather conditions for the first time get a false sense of security. The truck goes good, feels secure and you end up driving faster than you probably should in said road conditions.



4X4 will GO better than 2X4, but it won't STOP any faster!



This could account for you blowing stop lights!?

Ditto. And I think ABS is disabled in 4x4 mode, otherwise you're risking snapping a driveline component (such as the transfer case chain) if some wheels are locked and others aren't. Am I wrong?

 

[Eric_77]

Originally posted by rbattelle

Ditto. And I think ABS is disabled in 4x4 mode, otherwise you're risking snapping a driveline component (such as the transfer case chain) if some wheels are locked and others aren't. Am I wrong?

That would be backward ABS is Anti-lock Brake System it keeps one or all wheels from locking up like it will without ABS. SO you would want ABS more so in 4X4 mode if damage was possible with one wheel locked.

 

[TAdamsCT]

I had an unfortunate experience with my ABS as well. I was in 4WD on a back "road" in PA hunting... . okay a dirt trail through the woods. It had snowed overnight and I was following my friends truck when he slowed down on a 10% grade because he started spinning on ice. I stepped on my brakes and stopped but then found myself sliding backwards no matter how hard I applied the brake... I could feel the ABS pulsing but it wouldn't hold me on the hill. I finally got stopped about 5 feet from a drop off and about 2 feet from my friends truck behind me (luckily he saw me sliding and put his in reverse.



I know ice is tricky but I know I could have stopped by "sliding" the truck with the brakes applied without ABS... . sliding it towards the other edge of the road where there was snow... not a cliff. I'm lucky my truck is in one piece.....

 

[rbattelle]

Originally posted by Eric_77

That would be backward ABS is Anti-lock Brake System it keeps one or all wheels from locking up like it will without ABS. SO you would want ABS more so in 4X4 mode if damage was possible with one wheel locked.

I just came back from trying ABS with 4x4 engaged, and the ABS was definetly NOT on. I slammed on the brakes (on a slippery snow-covered road) and got no pulsation from the brakes and all 4 wheels locked up.



Remember that ABS allows the wheels to lock up for a brief instant before modulating hydraulic pressure. To avoid damaging your transfer case, you want the wheels at both axles to function the same (either both locked, or both unlocked). ABS can cause a mismatch between axles, thereby causing severe bind in the driveline, potentially damaging the transfer case.



That's how I always reasoned it out. Am I totally wrong?

 

[rbattelle]

On second thought, I should have tried that same stretch of slippery road in 2wd to see if I could feel the ABS kick in. Bad experiment, I guess.

 

[Blakers]

Re: ABS

Originally posted by TWest

With ABS in a emergency stop PUSH MUCH HARDER the ABS will sense that this is a emergency stop and apply more pressure. Example when some one cuts out in front of you and you hit the pedal hard and fast the vehicle stops more quickly.

Thanks for your suggestions guys. I will try this one. Instict always told me to be easy on the pedal on slippery roads, but maybe this is how it's designed. I'll play around on a lonely slippery backroad and see what happens.



JHardwick: I'm 42 and I've had a 4x4 of one brand or another since I was 16. I've driven in every winter situation there could be and I get to know what the vehicle can and can't do. I was not going too fast for the situation - in one case I was going about 10 mph and the brakes would not stop me in packed snow - not ice.



All: YES, the ABS does work in 4x4.



I will play around with it using TWest's suggestion of pushing harder.



Thanks all!!

 

[MCummings]

with my Dad's 2wd D-Max, when I start loosing traction, I mash the brake all the way to the floor, adn teh truck stops WAY Faster. It seems as there are alot of different stages for how much pressure the ABS actually applies to teh wheels, ans how much pulsation takes place.



There should ba a dedicated Fuse in the relay box that will put the "brake" light and "ABS" lights on the dash, and your speedo, might not work, but your ABS will be no more.



Merrick

 

[Eric_77]

Hmm does the ABS work below 10mph on the new trucks? it did not on my 96 (equipped with 4 wheel ABS).



On the pulsaing of ABS through drive train I would think that could be bad but hitting something would be worse and the pulses would be there two or 4 wheel drive through the rear drive line.

 

[Blakers]

Originally posted by Eric_77

Hmm does the ABS work below 10mph on the new trucks? it did not on my 96 (equipped with 4 wheel ABS).

This one works right down to ZERO.

 

[rbattelle]

I guess I'm way off base on the functionality of ABS with 4wd. Oh well, learnin' is why I subscribe to this site!

 

[JHardwick]

I checked tonight out of curiousity, 10mph all 4 lock up on a snow covered parking lot. So there is now way ABS can function once the vehicle is stopped and starts sliding on an icey incline. I'm sure it is speed sensitive and probably presssure sensitive related to velocity ... ... ie, stabbing the pedal in a panic.



Also, the front end is open and the rear has "limited slip" ... ... emphasis on limited. If you were to do a "Lincoln Locker" on both front and rear axles, I'm sure the ABS and driveline would be fighting one another.

 

[rbattelle]

Originally posted by JHardwick

If you were to do a "Lincoln Locker" on both front and rear axles, I'm sure the ABS and driveline would be fighting one another.

What's a "Lincoln Locker"? Is that where you just weld the side gears together?

 

[JHardwick]

Yes Sir!! Oo.



Did many a Lincoln Locker on our off roaders! Weld the spiders and the effect is that of having a solid axle!

 

[2003Cummins4Me]

I personally HATE ABS! Its much more dangerous in snow and ice... unless your a complete moron and dont know how to control your vehicle. I drive slow in ice and snow and there are times that it takes me half a block to stop because the brakes NEVER stop, they just pulsate and keep on rolling.