Did they have this as an option? The reason I ask is that I was just under the impression that I only had rear ABS. I cannot locate any type of sensor wire to the front brakes.

Well, I was on a long straight stretch of road and it was raining and no one around. I got up to around 50 mph and stomped on the brakes. (have never done this in the 6 months I've owned the rig). No lockup on the rear or the front. Actually, I would get a very small lockup and release from the front and rear and the pulsing pedel you always hear about, but only for a split second every 10 feet or so until the truck stoped. Worked very well, and I could turn the wheel and still direct it anywhere I wanted.

Is there anyway to find the build sheet for the rig from the VIN?

Thanks

 

I believe the 4 wheel anti-locks was an option. Standard was rear wheel only.

Quite honestly, I hate having rear wheel only. Trust me, on snow and ice it is very easy to lock the fronts, have the anti-locks kick in the rear, and have no steering control until you let off the brakes and pump them. I never know what the hell to do with these brakes. I know with non anti locks, you pump the brakes to come to a stop. Anti-locks, stomp on em until you stop. With these, I never know. So, I end up pumping like I was always tought to do to maintain steering control when needed. Just a little frustrating... Kind of gets rid of the need fpr the anti-locks on the rear in the first place doesn't it?

 

Thinking about it more, you are right. What is the point of having only rear ABS. Kinda defeats the whole purpose of it, if the fronts are just going to lockup anyway. Even under dry conditions, I bet the fronts will lock up pretty easily.

I'm kinda glad I tried mine out. If I only had rear ABS, I'm sure my fronts would have locked up. Gonna be hard not to want to pump 'em however. I was trained to pump as well. This is my first ABS vehicle.

 

it is easy to find out. Check the front brake hoses. There are white clips there. is there a wire there? If so, you have the 4wheel ABS. If not, rear only.

The reason there is rear only is because of the light weight of the back end of a truck and weight distribution. When you apply the brakes, the weight distribution moves forward in the truck, lightening the rear wheels even more. So they will lock VERY VERY VERY easily compared to the fronts.

In snow and ice, you want to disable the ABS. causes more problems then it helps. That is why when you engage the 4wd system in the Fords, it disables the ABS.

 

Matt-

Are you absolutely sure about 4wd disableing the ABS? That doesn't sound right to me.

And why do you say ABS is not good in ice and snow? I have never heard anyone say that and frankly I disagree.

 

Yeah. I know my 97 still does that. Most all Fords do it. check the owners manual. Maybe the new ones have changed, like the 99 and newer.

The reason being is that the sensors are not sensitive enough. there will not be enough resistance to the wheels when you start skidding and the ABS will not work. It will just keep the brakes locked.

Does that make sense? Really what happens is that it gives you a false sense of security there and you do what you learn with ABS - keep the pedal down. You do NOT modulate the brakes like you should. Thus you just end up skidding.

Remember a spinning or skidding tire is a loss of control.

 

I know a heck of a lot of people who would disagree that antilocks are bad on ice and snow. If they were, again, we've defeated the purpose of having anti-locks in the first place!

I understand the reasoning for the rear anti-locks given the light back end, but trust me, they are a PITA in the snow and ice! Quite honestly, in all my years of driving, I've never locked up the rears in a panic stop in many non ABS pickups and cars (excluding snow and ice). Just doesn't seem to be that big of an issue to me.

Oh, and even if 4wd disengages the anti-locks, leaving you without the benefits of the system in snow - it wouldn't matter to me. 4wd is for wimps ! Try driving a 2wd in the snow and ice!

 

this is not a grudge match.

But how many of those people have Fords that are in 4wd and think that the antilocks are working?

I prefer to have them disengage with 4wd. That way when you are in the clay mud here in the northwest, you can stop on a downhill! If you do not lock up the wheels on some trails, you will slide like a hot knife on butter! You need the wheels to lock up to create a little mound of dirt to help you stop and dig the tires past the surface of the mud.

 

To answer your original question, it was an option and my 97 4X4 has 4-wheel ABS. I haven't noticed a problem on snow or ice, but I can't recall any panic stops which would've tested them either. I tend to drive more carefully in the winter. The limited slip rear gan be exciting on slick roads. Both tires spin and the rear end goes left or right.

 

My truck came factory equipped with 4 wheel ABS. I believe it was standard on the Lariat for that year and an option for other models.

I have been unfortunate enough to have used this option and can tell you that it wont stop worth a $h!t (long stopping distances). From asking around here I've been told that the poor braking can be greatly improved by mounting better performing tires with different compounds.

I might be a relic in terms of automotive technology, but I liked it better when my own foot did the pulsing. I enjoyed the false sense of security I got from hearing the squealing tires.....I knew they were working at least..

 

i bet you cant pump the brakes pedal as fast as abs lol

 

ROTFL! Maybe not, but the few times that I've had to rely on them left my heart pumping just as fast if not faster!!

 

Hey Matt - No grudges! Never intended to be, and I'm not sure where I stepped on anyones toes. Just stating some opinions, nothing more. Always intersesting to hear peoples feelings on the anti-locks. I know plenty of people in both camps, and they all have pretty legitamate reasons for theor opinions.

You do bring up a great point about the anti-locks and 4wd. If they do disengage, how many folks realize it? After seeing so many idiots barrel by going way too fast for the conditions, only to see them in the ditch a mile or two up the road - I thnk I know the answer!

Be safe!