ABS Brakes on dirt roads ?

Dug,
Maybe my experience can help. I have a 1998 Prado with ABS. Each Easter I go to Fraser Is, and I unplug one of the power cords going into my ABS pump. The ABS light comes on on the dash. I do this because when descending a soft sandy track with the ABS enabled, I essentially have no brakes. The ABS detects all wheels slipping and does not allow any significant braking force to get to the wheels. Raised the ol pulse rate the first time it happened- zooming down a hill with the brake pedal buried and the ABS pulsing away merrily and almost no braking.
It did not happen when I was in low range, so I drove around in low range on the fiirst trip when on the inland tracks.
I unplug the ABS now so that I can drive in high range, and can brake merrily on soft sand.
I understand that later versions of ABS may be a bit smarter now and may not be so bad. Maybe others can comment.

A few years back there was a similar post, and I suggested by saying ABS is a problem on dirt roads. Nearly got my head ripped off from the responses.

At the risk of getting a lot of flack, no I don’t think ABS is appropriate on tracks, particularly where spoon drains or natural obstructions are concerned.

There are times when the driver is required to make a decision, rather than rely on an all encompassing gadget.

I think it’s a good piece of technology in certain conditions, but the driver should have the choice to either switch it on or off in the prevailing circumstances.

Regards

Kim

Does full time or part time 4wd make any difference ?

I do not have a vehicle with ABS and have not driven a vehicle with ABS to the point where I needed to use the ABS so I have limited experience in first hand accounts and I can understand Lenticular's reason for disconnecting it on steep tracks and the like, BUT

I cannot understand how anyone thinks they can outbreak an ABS equipped vehicle with a conventionally braked vehicle in normal road and driving conditions be that wet,dry,dirt,blacktop.

Am I missing something in regards to how they react or work in everyday driving conditions??

G'day Dug

There are a couple of ways of disabling the ABS one is simply a switch but for Insurance issues nothing is more simple as finding the ABS fuse and putting a blown fuse in its place when going off road.

I asked the very same question last year after I almost come unstuck on the Hay River last year due to the ABS going beserk and not allowing me to partially lock up the wheels, now for any touring on dirt I slide in a blown fuse to deactivate it....ABS light comes on dash so you dont forget.

Hope this helps

Ingo

Any (ANY) modification(s), unless approved to ADR standards, that change/alter/modify any aspect of your vehicle from the ADR standards/requirements that existed at the time of manufacture of your vehicle are ILLEGAL. Substantial penalties apply. I would be extrememly reluctant to suggest that anyone modify their vehicle's brakes by turning ABS off. Bad advice.

Thanks for all the info I think the obvious decision is to "Suck it and see" there are obviously differences in the braking systems between vehicles so there is no absolute right or wrong answers to this question.


Thanks for the input I will let you know how we go when we test it out . Given that we get home OK and in one piece :-)

Going by comments and bypass modifications on vehicles on other forums .....

Any computer control affecting wheel action / throttle control is making sand etc more difficult to traverse.

Read where one person was told by a dealer that their vehicle wasnt safe to leave the workshop coz the electronic suspension module was malfunctioning ..... pfffft ... the mechanic obviously needed to go for a drive in an old falcon station wagon to understand dangerous suspension ... LOLOL

Doug, the benefit of ABS isnt just shorter braking distance it is CONTROL of the vehicle as well. By not allowing wheels to lock you retain the ability to steer the vehicle under all driving conditions.

Before any one can reccommend if ABS is or isnt a benefit to your driving 'off' road...they would first have to look at the infinate amont of variables as to what ascertains 'off' road.

There are a very limited amount of times when ABS could be seen as a disadvantage to the vehicles control and low range is about the only time when you could agree that it could be turned off.

Hence why many maufacturers do just that.

On hard packed dirt roads, pea stone gravel etc...steering is still one of the most important factors and rather than relying on locking up the brakes and hoping to stop in time....ABS will stop you but in the meantime allow you to steer around the obstacle or bend or camber in the road.

Whats the point in locking the wheels to have the camber in the road steer you off into a tree....stopped quick though!!

I can show you ABS training videos in arctic ice road conditions where trucks are tested with and without ABS and while some vehicles can stop quicker without ABS the three 360 deg revolutions they did before coming to a halt would not be fun. The ABS trucks did stop in a long distance but were able to retain control and steer while braking to make a safe stop.

There are too many surfaces to say when and where the ABS should be used for but to keep it simple anything in Low Range should be the only exception to ABS if the vehicle is equipped and not disabled in manufacture.

Additionally ABS nowdays is also incorporated into the traction control and other vehicle stability systems. So by having the driver overide it...you might be in more trouble than you realise.

My opinon anyway.

Good luck
Matt.