Hey everyone

I have a 1997 Ford F-150, Ext.Cab, Short bed, 4x4, limited slip, 4.6L.

Anyone know if it would be possible to disable the anit-lock brakes ?

I have never liked them and really feel safer without them.

Someone cut me off the other day at 65 mph, and I stomped on the brakes pleanty hard & quick enough where it should have skid, but I guess the anti-lock brakes were working.

I have grown up driving without them, and would prefer not to have them.

Any suggestions would be great (what to do or not to do).


Stan The Man

 

Wow, that's a first...

Unless you are on gravel or snow, where a pile of material can build up a berm infront of a locked tire, ABS will nearly always stop better than a locked wheel, and you'll retain stering control. And when it doesn't stop better (a rare instance with a really good driveron some surfaces), it will stop no worse.

Skidding = lost traction = longer braking distances.

Pull the fuse.

Good luck getting your insurance company to pay for any at-fault claims if they discover it.

 

This is what happens when someone prescribes a cure before fully diagnosing the problem. I may be wrong but I'd guess there is some minor issue with his brake system (possibly air in the lines caused by sloppy bleeding) but this person has decided that the ABS is at fault. So naturally the next logical step is to disable the single best advance in braking systems in the last 20 years.

Please don't forget your sign, so the rest of us can identify you more easily.

 

Yup. Rear brakes will almost always lock first in teh unloaded truck, then the back-end swings around. Brake biasing must take into account a loaded condition, and a proportioning valve can only do so much.

Even stripped-down trucks have rear ABS at the least.

 

Thanks for the replies - that was what I was looking for (more feedback and ideas to work with).

I know why most people would want the anti-lock brakes. Actually much safer for most people in most driving conditions.

But, it is not the best for what I want and what I prefer.

I will probably take the truck in to have the brake system flushed and blead. That might help.

If I stomp on the brakes on dry pavement I want the best response - I want "skid" dammit. After what happened the other day, I would have it no other way.

If the trucks goes into a skid, if you know what you are doing you will get right off the brakes and then hit them again, etc, etc.

I know both side of the story and would never suggest people to disconnet their anti-lock.

We ordered our 2001 Honda Accord without the anti-lock and I would prefer the same on my truck. I have been driving trucks all my life, so I know the risks I would ba taking to disconnect the anti-lock brakes, and the benefit outweighs the risks for me.

Thanks for the input !

 

If anti-lock brakes are the best braking invention over the last 20 years, why arn't the million dollar race cars using them ?

Seems like when you watch the races on TV, the cars always skid ?


Just curious

 

Some series allow ABS, but most don't allow any traction aids, so that driver skill wins races, not technology. At least, that's the thought behind the rules.

So there's no:
- Stability Control
- Traction Control
- ABS

For a few years, F1 was allowing all sorts of traction aids, ABS, etc. The cars even shifted for themselves based on telemetry. That kind of racing = no fun.

Oh, and pumppng your brakes with your foot, you can maybe do it 2 or three times per second, after your brain processes & responds to the skid, which also takes time. ABS can pump your brakes around 100 times per second, with virtually no lag (the lag time would be a partial rotation ofthe wheels, so the wheelspeed sensor can get a reading).

Please don't follow me on the highway

 

I love ABS.
I've been driving for 32 years and in all kinds of road conditions. If I had ABS when I was younger I wouldn't have had the three rear end collisions I did have. In each one I slid due to locked brakes and didn't have time to respond by pumping the pedel.
Now, with ABS, I just mash the pedel as hard as I can and let the computer handle the rest. Plus I can steer around obstacles at the same time where locked wheels will only go straight, no steering unless you let off the brakes.

Didn't I read someplace that if the ABS system fails the computer will not allow the transmission to go into gear or come out of park?

 

I agree

just going to start with getting my brakes blead and take things from there.


most of the time where I live it is hot and dry (no snow, no ice, no rain)



just don't cut me off and I won't be running over you (laughs)

 

I started changing-out old fluid way back in the day on an old clunker I had. The brake fluid had to be 5 or 6 years old back then, on a car with nearly 200K miles.

At any rate, just changing the fluid on that car made a big difference in brake feel, though I never actually tested stopping distances.

These days, I change my fluid every year or so.

 

Originally posted by RockyJSquirrel
...
Please don't forget your sign, so the rest of us can identify you more easily.


LMAO Squirrel. Ooooh, that's funny!

 

I was wondering if anyone was gonna catch that one.

 

iyou want an easy non permanent way to disable the abs just unplug the wire harness on the control unit(the thing under the air filter with brake lines and a big wire harness on it)you have to pull this thing on the side of the wires as you pull it out to get it to come out.you can just pull it out until the abs light comes on or all the way off and tape it up so you won't damage the connection.i do this when playin in the snow.

 

What witey says works, have done that for playing and doing good burn outs.

Now if your brakes seem soft or not given you the stopping power you want then have them bled and install braided lines for at least the fronts.
If you have made even a couple full on antilock stops most likely the lines have been stretched and will deminish there effectiveness.
Being you have a 97 I would suggest when you take the truck for fluid replacement at the very least have the lines replaced with stock lines. For the best and most reliable brakes, upgrade to breaded lines.

Just my thoughts,, Sled...

 

Interesting thing about ABS brakes.. I have a brother in law that is a state trooper and national crash statistics that are coming in say that ABS breaking systems are not preventing as many traffic accidents and the automotive industry has hoped.

WHY?

The #1 reason is that people do not know how to use their ABS system properly. People interviewed in these accidents say when they had to hit the breaks they felt the pulsing in the peddal and hear that clicking sound of the ABS system engaging; they released the breaks because they thought something was wrong with the system (i.e. they were not used to the feeling of ABS breaks). Some of the automotive industry manufactures have thought about making ABS breaking systems an "option" instead of standard equipment.

I understand that ABS breaking is a great system, I believe in them for a few accidents they helped me prevent. I think the jury is still out on this one. But better education of drivers I think can help ABS gain better acceptance for people who dont like them.

As I have heard it about ABS breaks is "The 3 S's": Stomp on the breaks, Stay pressed down on the pedal, and Steer as needed (or Stomp - Stay - Steer for short).

Just my 2 cents worth on the subject. Thanks.