Brake Question--ABS?

[DanDan]

You guys have been a great help in the past on diagnosing my 1995 Discovery issues and now I have another. Got an ABS question (at least I think that's what it is). When stopping on anything slipery (ice, wet pavement, downhill on loose rocks, etc) I get a fairly loud grinding noise and a pulsation in the brake pedal.

1. Is that normal and should I ignore it?
2. If abnormal, is it worth it to get it fixed or just drive it with the noise and vibration?
3. Can I just disable the ABS and drive like we used to before they invented the system? If that's a solution, how do I do it?

I bought it with about 143K miles--now has 147K and I have no hstory except one mechanics receipt for what appears to have been some front ABS sensor work at about 90K.

Thanks,
DanDan

 

[Spike555]

Yes it will make noise.
Yes the pedal will pulsate.
Yes it is normal.
No you cannot disable it. Why would you want to anyway? You dont like the added safety of anti-lock brakes?

 

[post]

pull the abs fuse you'll be alot happier, and the braking will be more predictable w/o the abs working.

 

[Tom in MD]

I pulled the fuse on my 96 over 4 years ago. Much happier since.

 

[DiscoveryXD]

Yes it will make noise.
Yes the pedal will pulsate.
Yes it is normal.
No you cannot disable it. Why would you want to anyway? You dont like the added safety of anti-lock brakes?

I can tell you're new to dweb also...

ABS makes a disco a rolling insurance claim on wheels. Disconect the pump.

 

[p m]

No you cannot disable it. Why would you want to anyway? You dont like the added safety of anti-lock brakes?

Was that meant as a joke?

 

[Spike555]

So you guys disconnect the airbags to huh?

 

[DiscoveryXD]

the airbags don't keep you from stopping.

obviously you don't know what it's like to 1. Have your ABS kick in while trying to stop (in a normal situation) and NOT being able to stop. That happened to me twice, and many others on here. or, 2. You've never gone down a steep, loose dirt (rock or whatever) trail and had the ABS kick in. That is scary as shit, just like not being able to stop on the street.


It's plain and simple... You can replace all the sensors and crap you want, but do you really want to find out the hard way when your ABS has a problem? It's not worth the risk..

 

[Spike555]

So does your ABS light come on on the dash when you pull the fuse?

 

[post]

So does your ABS light come on on the dash when you pull the fuse?

yes

 

[DiscoveryXD]

So does your ABS light come on on the dash when you pull the fuse?

yeah, you can take apart the dash (isn't hard) and remove the bulb. I left mine in and blacked out the "ANTI-LOCK" window so the light doesn't shine through.

I almsot entered an intersection when my brakes failed to stop the truck because the ABS kicked in. My "ANTI-LOCK" light wasn't on either, so I had no warning of it.

 

[post]

yeah, you can take apart the dash (isn't hard) and remove the bulb. I left mine in and blacked out the "ANTI-LOCK" window so the light doesn't shine through.

x2 on removing bulb, so much nicer not having that light shining at night.

 

[Spike555]

I would imagine that the bulb would just burn out eventually.
I have had my truck almost a year, put 20k on it and have not had a single problem with it stopping, on road or off.
So this is all news to me.

 

[post]

have you driven it in ice or snow? it seems to make the brakes almost inop in those conditions. at least without abs you know your brakes are going to be working.

 

[Spike555]

Yeah, we've driven it in a blizzard and just did 650 miles Christmas Eve-Day in a snow and ice. We even took the kids down some snowmobile trails so that we could go sleding.
12" of snow, up and down hills and no problems. Had to make several attempts to get up some of the hills, but no stopping problems.

 

[Tom in MD]

yeah, you can take apart the dash (isn't hard) and remove the bulb.

:rofl: Hell, my whole dash "potato-chipped" and fell apart. I just reached in and snatched the bulb.

I love that truck

 

[EJB90]

I can't tell you the amount of times my disco's ABS has totally wrecked the stopping distance of my car. I've almost rear ended a few cars because of it. It's such a pita and way way way way way too sensitive.

 

[gavinrobinson]

Should the ABS kick in when accelerating up hill on loose ground? I was driving up a small incline in deep snow and noticed that my ABS was going crazy and I wasn't even touching the brakes. This is on a '95 Disco.

Thanks

 

[DiscoveryXD]

Yuo SURE it was the ABS? that's wierd...

 

[gavinrobinson]

I'm pretty sure it was the ABS... I'll have to try it out again to make sure. my '95 DI wouldn't have any traction control, correct? I don't think it was ever an option for that year Disco.