Does anyone have any info on disabling the antilock breaking on my 01 Tacoma 4x4 (non-TRD). I have seen the write up for the 4runner however, my system appears to look different.

 

question. why would you want to disconnect your ABS system?

 

I would like to be able to disable for/during offroad use.

 

i dont see why disabling them would do anything offroad... but if i were you id get a book on it and follow the electrical diagrams and wire it up to a switch.

 

not sure about this , but couldn't you just remove the fuse for the ABS system, and that disable it? like i said though, i'm not sure...

 

Remove the fuse or unplug the speed sensors and the ABS will not work anymore. ABS sucks offroad and is just about pointless in SoCal. It doesn't freeze here.

 

I would like to install a switch. Next time I'm out in the dirt or sand I will try the fuse. Thanks.

 

Why? Can't think of any instance where I would want to lock the brakes ... well, any instance where you should be using the brakes (not the transmission) to slow/stop the vehicle...

 

Anyone who has ever had to use the brakes hard with ABS on a dirt road will agree that they do not work worth crap and you won't be able to stop fast. I think the reason is because on a non-ABS equipped vehicle, when the wheels lock up in the dirt the weight will transfer to the front wheels and dig in to the dirt, stopping you faster. On ABS since the wheels will not lock up so you will not get the weight transfer or the wheels digging into the dirt. If you have never had to use ABS on a dirt road I don't recommend you to try it. The only advantage of ABS offroad would be if you were driving on a surface with a lot of traction (like rock).

 

Sitting atop rocks in an awkward position, brakes are firmly pressed. You know if you start moving too much, something bad may happen. The weight of your vehicle is pressing downward -not where you want to go or maybe you do. You let off the brakes for a split second to attempt backing up but you quickly realize that isn't going to happen...so you hit the brakes again and ABS kicks in, pedal starts pulsating, allowing your truck to move critical inches when you don't want it to. It's pretty scary when your brakes don't actually BRAKE. I'd rather have complete control over them.

Or your creeping down a really steep descent with loose dirt, pebbles, and uneven ground. Let off the brakes a hair too much and your pulsating a couple feet at a time. Not a happy feeling. Crawling and ABS don't mix very well. I can't stand having it while off road.

 

Screw toyota ABS... my least favorite thing about my truck, small rocks continuously get jammed between teh pads and the drum so when the ABS comes on it senses the pressure from teh rocks and backs the brakes off over and over again. The result is almost no decrease in vehicle speed and a really hard to controll ride...

 

Sounds like it's more of a problem with automatic tranny's ... I understand the situations Rocket describes, but never am in them because I have a manual transmission (and use the gearing and emergency brake)

 

Using low gearing and e-brake is a good point, but my both 4runners (past and current) have manual transmissions too. I've just had ABS kick in a few times when i wish it hadn't.

 

So did you ever try to remove the ABS fuse? Did it work? Or btter yet did yu find a way to hook up a switch? I have the same problem with my 2001 taco on dirt roads, I have almost gone off cliffs because of ABS.

 

I've had ABS on a manual transmission equipped 4WD before and have had it cause problems off road. It had nothing to do with what type of transmission I had. Some ABS systems work better off road than others, however, but there are times off road when you are better off without it.

I never have had anything get caught between the pad and drum, like was stated above. I don't see how it could happen, since the drum is somewhat sealed. It may be possible for sand to get in, and mud can be carried in by water, but it's not likely that anything much larger would get in. After all, the rotating drum would sling rocks away instead of them wiggling in between the drum and backing plate.

Yota82, I wouldn't totally disable any properly functioning ABS system regardless of what state I'm in (except for off road). We don't get ice here in Florida either, but there have been a few times when I needed ABS on rain slick roads and even dry roads. This is especially true in a state that doesn't get much rain, because a road that hasn't been rained on in a while will be slicker than one that gets rained on alot, especially during the first rain in a while.

 

I agree, that is why I want to use a switch. Turn the ABS off when blazing through the desert. Then turn it back on when on the highways. I have been looking for someone who may have accomplished this mod and can not seem to find anything yet. Thanks for the input.

 

why not just put a switch in line to the ABS fuse? that would shut it off just like pulling the fuse would.

 

yay for no abs

 

ABS+ Off roading = no good in my opinion either.. Ive attempted to climb short steep hills and when I didn't make it and had to get on the brakes quick as i was sliding back down the hill they didn't want to do jack to stop me.. From now on when i plan on wheeling.. I'll gladly pull the fuse.. disable my ABS.. Then when i get back onto terra firma I'll put it back in.