ABS brakes how to sitch off for dirt roads

[castellan]

Just bought a new car with all the latest ABS, EBD, EBA not to mention ASC, ATC, all this maybe fine, but on dirt roads it's the biggest load of total rubbish not to mention down right full on dangerous garbage I have ever driven.

I want to be able to turn it off with a switch on the dash, how can I do this and would it be ok to do so, as not to harm the system in the future.

On loose gravel dirt roads it's totally unacceptable and way too dangerous to have total rubbish like that, it's madness and people could be killed with such backwards tec so easily that I would have to sue because of such garbage as it makes the car totally uncontrollable like you are a moron behind the wheel that's totally useless and can only steer the car as such.

I want to be able to switch it off, so I can control the car in an emergency.
If a roo or 2 jumps out I have little to no hope of dealing with such.

It's much worse than my old 2003 ABS rubbish on dirt roads and I thought that was bad.

[Franco Cozzo]

Pull the fuse out for it but you'll get warning lights and beeping.

[Jastel]

Is it a Ford?

Most systems have a switch to turn it off, you often have to hold for 5 seconds or something and a big light warning comes on the dash.

If all else fail read the owners manual.

[Top_Ghia]

What car is it?

[Top_Ghia]

Buy an Aussie built Ford and it all works brilliantly on all road surfaces. The stability control in my Territory is incredible in the dirt.
Jap cars suck. A few years back Wheels magazine rolled a Toyota Kluger trying to test their stability control. Toyota blamed them saying they didn't test it correctly.

[XB GS 351 Coupe]

I have a 2015 hilux 4x4 with those systems in place and drive over 100km dirt road at least 3 to 4 times a week.

Works perfectly, best invention ever IMO.

What car are you talking about, and it might be your lack of ability or driving style not the car.

[EDManual]

There are never abs off switches, only TC and Stab control switches. Some 4x4s may disable abs when in low range.

I hate it more than you! :-D!

Once It (ABS) nearly stacked me pretty bad on a slippery muddy track.

Was doing maybe 80, then there was a tree across the road! Stop Stop!! No chance at all! So what did I do? Pulled the handbrake and slid sideways right up to the tree.

I pull fuses when on dirt.

[XR Martin]

Dirt road calibration of Falcon and Commodore ABS is some of the best in the World... Be sadly missed when they go.

[Qwerty321]

This may be a stupid question, but why would you want to turn off your ABS on dirt roads? I thought the point of ABS/TCS/ESC etc. were to help on surfaces with bad grip.

[Smoke Pursuit]

What vehicle.

[EDManual]

ABS stops and starts your wheels while braking as it gets grip, on slippery mud/or dirt tyres dont get any grip (sometimes) so you have to just lock it up completely to get the car to stop by getting the tyres to dig into the surface.
Abs is great for ashphalt where its slippery though.

[Top_Ghia]

Originally Posted by Qwerty321

This may be a stupid question, but why would you want to turn off your ABS on dirt roads? I thought the point of ABS/TCS/ESC etc. were to help on surfaces with bad grip.

Because people think they are awesome drivers who can drive better than any stupid computer. These same people believe seat belts and air bags kill people.

[Bill M]

Switching off electronic safety systems would more than likely show up in ECU data dump which would leave you high and dry from an insurance company perspective.

[tranquilized]

Half way through reading the OP I had to check the date it was posted, thought it might have been a thread mine from 1989 or something. Would also love to know what kind of car he's driving.

[XR Martin]

Originally Posted by Top_Ghia

Because people think they are awesome drivers who can drive better than any stupid computer. These same people believe seat belts and air bags kill people.

On dirts roads a car with poorly calibrated ABS can actually be more dangerous than if the car didnt have ABS.

[XR Martin]

I cant remember what car exactly, I think it may have been a late model Camry where I was driving on dirt and had to brake suddenly - the car just skidded across the surface of the road and didnt slow the car down at all. I took my foot off the brake and the car actually became more controllable.

On dirt roads you need some locking of the wheels to dig into the surface.

[jpblue1000]

Bought the wrong car I guess, take it back get your money back and move into a 1976 falcon.
JP

[fps_grandma]

Mate I drove my apparently high-powered RWD on unsealed gravel and dirt roads for >100km making it back to suburbia and I'm still alive.

Originally Posted by Bill M

Switching off electronic safety systems would more than likely show up in ECU data dump which would leave you high and dry from an insurance company perspective.

That's right mate.
Here's a very good example:

http://www.bushwalkingholidays.com.a...BigBrother.pdf

[TheInterceptor]

In my Subaru, I found the ABS standalone fuse in the fuse box in cab. Pulled it, made sure it didn't mess with other systems and then left it out. Then used a thin spade connector soldered to suitable gauge wire , to an inline fuse holder (with the correct fuse in place) then to a dash switch then back to the fuse box with another thin spade end. Works mint.

Off-road test results were unarguable. ABS takes at least twice as long to stop the vehicle depending how loose the surface is and how fast you are going. I was driving just about every night for hours through bush and pines. Definitely worth having!!!

Just be mindful if you need to turn under emergency braking, you must get off the brake no matter how awkward it may feel haha. You get used to it if you are on dirt often enough. Also once the abs is off you'll more than likley have to restart the engine with the abs switch back on to reset it. If your car is manual then a quick flick of the ign switch off and on does the trick!

If the car is fairly modern well, you'll have to test what it does provided you have a stand alone abs fuse. It may or may not work... New cars are way too invasive.

[Ansimp]

I have a steep clay driveway that when dry is like concrete but when wet is as slippery as ice. In my older non abs Subarus you can pull up completely in a car length (sideways if you are reckless) but with the later model abs ones it can take up to 5 car lengths to come to a complete stop ( you will be nice and straight though). Many off roaders have come undone with abs in situations when you can't steer to avoid the obstacle ( single vehicle track with tree, washout or another vehicle/animal blocking your path ) especially with a camper/trailer hooked up so a disabling switch can be a necessity.

[blackf6]

Abs is useless is certain situations. Like braking harshly over ruts on dirt roads. The brakes don't work as expected as the wheels are jumping up and down. But abs is great usually. Especially in the wet.

[MAD]

Originally Posted by Top_Ghia

Because people think they are awesome drivers who can drive better than any stupid computer. These same people believe seat belts and air bags kill people.

And others think that because their car has 'any stupid computer', they can put their feet on the dash when cruise control is set.

Probably similar to the people that believe if you travel at the speed limit, you don't need to pay attention to anything because the government tells us it is only dangerous to exceed the posted limits.



It's a well known fact that for stopping ability, non-ABS is better on gravel than ABS.

[whitelion65]

LMFAO,
I love the way people are prepared to air their ill-informed opinions!
In the early days., the falcon abs was "better" than the commodore (and others) on dirt, due to the fact that it was not as sophisticated; it allowed a series of minor lock-ups, that bit through the loose surface; but not like a non-abs car.
Certainly, if you're used to driving on the dirt, with some attitude, then abs is NOT an asset.
My first experience with abs on the dirt was almost my last. I set-up to lock the brakes, and slide around the corner, but oh no, abs wasn't going to have that. The brakes bit, then immediately released, effectively launching the car. A valuable lesson learned that day.
Ultimately the problem is that there is not the demand to calibrate abs for dirt roads, and without doubt, for everyday driving, abs, stability control, ebd etc are fine pieces of technology.

[4vxc]

Originally Posted by DeJaVu GT

Abs is useless is certain situations. Like braking harshly over ruts on dirt roads. The brakes don't work as expected as the wheels are jumping up and down. But abs is great usually. Especially in the wet.

exactly,that's why modern motorcycles have switchable ABS

[Express]

Maybe ABS should come with a dial in the consol where you can adjust it from 0 to 5 to suit your needs like in Playstation’s Gran Turismo.

[MAGPIE]

Someone needs to stick to the bitumen

[whitelion65]

Originally Posted by MAGPIE

Someone needs to stick to the bitumen

I think you'll find he had no trouble in the dirt in a non-abs car.
The comment about selecting a "level" of abs, like gran turismo isn't as silly as it sounds!!

[Qwerty321]

Originally Posted by Express

Maybe ABS should come with a dial in the consol where you can adjust it from 0 to 5 to suit your needs like in Playstation’s Gran Turismo.

That's it! Why is this not a thing?! Car manufacturers need to have game developers help design their cars, that is how you sell to the masses. You sir, are a genius! Now if only you ran Ford

[castellan]

It's a new 2015 Lancer hatch GSR 5 speed manual 2.4L.

I thought my SS commodore ABS was bad on loose gravel roads, but this is even worse.
It sure does needs a switch off ABS button to make me feel I can drive it safely
with confidence, I can't drive flat out fanging it like it is.

I thought I would try the ABS out before I got on a real good loos dirt road lucky I did, it just totally hopeless, without it I could pull it up less than 4 times the distance for sure with out ABS.

[xxx000]

So take them, Mitsubishi, to court. You seem confident you have a case.