This ABS Sucks

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Schurkey

Supporting Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Jan 14, 2018
Messages
10,970
Reaction score
13,756
Location
The Seasonally Frozen Wastelands
Everyone else who replied knew exactly what I was describing and concurred
I recognize and respect each one of them. Each has some expertise that I'm short on.

But--as an example--Frank Enstein's vehicle had TEXTBOOK symptoms of weak sensor(s); fixable without disabling the ABS. 454cid's description is similar. They both experienced excess ABS sensitivity at low speed. "Usually" that's a result of one or more sensors that doesn't produce viable signal at low wheel RPM. Fifteen minutes with a scan tool could confirm.

LOTS of folks on this--and other--forums think that their ABS system is hopeless; and generally speaking, it's not. RWAL has significant limitations, I sometimes wonder if anyone has driven a vehicle with RWAL that actually worked like it was designed to. The more-sophisticated 3-channel units work just fine...when they work as intended.

Your ABS is not working as intended. It's probably fixable (the actual modules aren't available new, or rebuilt any more. It's "Treasure Yard" only; but they're still around in the Yards.) Fortunately, it's the sensors and wire harnesses that are the more-common problem, aside from lack of proper bleeding.
 
Last edited:

454cid

Sooper Pooper
Joined
Sep 5, 2010
Messages
8,009
Reaction score
8,891
Location
The 26th State
I recognize and respect each one of them. Each has some expertise that I'm short on.

But--as an example--Frank Enstein's vehicle had TEXTBOOK symptoms of weak sensor(s); fixable without disabling the ABS. 454cid's description is similar. They both experienced excess ABS sensitivity at low speed. "Usually" that's a result of one or more sensors that doesn't produce viable signal at low wheel RPM. Fifteen minutes with a scan tool could confirm.

I've had a bad sensor, and that produced symptoms at much slower speed than what we're talking about here. Just when finishing a stop, the ABS would remove most of the braking, so the truck would roll further. What I believe the OP is talking about is at higher speeds, right at the beginning of braking. In my case it's after a bump while braking.... the event is over by the time the ABS responds, and was never really a situation that needed ABS to begin with. I've never monitored the sensors. I'm not sure my scanner will do it.

At a prvious job, there was one light were it would happen often, and it could be difficult to avoid becasue it was a 55 zone. You either were slowing down for a green light, or suddenly stopping for the red. I'm guessing the bump was from semi's pushing the pavement over time. It's also happened at other heavy use intersections with wavy uneven asphalt.
 

AuroraGirl

I'm Awesome
Joined
Jul 27, 2020
Messages
1,034
Reaction score
1,180
Location
Northern Wisconsin
There's a BMW setup the C5 Corvette guys use when they go standalone and ditch the BCM and everything else. It's able to operate as a standalone system and you can put in a rheostat as a sort of global gain knob. I'm sure there are others out there if a guy were to do a search, but you'd need to have 4 channels to hook into so plan to run some brake lines. I agree the 3 channel setup is straight up garbage, when I first bought my 1500 in sig I think I made it a mile or 2, got out and unplugged the damn thing. Dually has a wheel speed sensor out so that one was taken care of from the get go.
the C5 corvettte came with LS engines and the Bosch 5.3 ABS system, why would they ditch?? Im pretty sure it had stabilitrak ability and all that even.

The bosch 5.3 system will literally give the c5 the best peforming brakes it could have unless you physically upsize them or better friction materials. The Rear is proportioned to be 50/50 electronically which is HUGE in a car like that
 

AuroraGirl

I'm Awesome
Joined
Jul 27, 2020
Messages
1,034
Reaction score
1,180
Location
Northern Wisconsin
I recognize and respect each one of them. Each has some expertise that I'm short on.

But--as an example--Frank Enstein's vehicle had TEXTBOOK symptoms of weak sensor(s); fixable without disabling the ABS. 454cid's description is similar. They both experienced excess ABS sensitivity at low speed. "Usually" that's a result of one or more sensors that doesn't produce viable signal at low wheel RPM. Fifteen minutes with a scan tool could confirm.

LOTS of folks on this--and other--forums think that their ABS system is hopeless; and generally speaking, it's not. RWAL has significant limitations, I sometimes wonder if anyone has driven a vehicle with RWAL that actually worked like it was designed to. The more-sophisticated 3-channel units work just fine...when they work as intended.

Your ABS is not working as intended. It's probably fixable (the actual modules aren't available new, or rebuilt any more. It's "Treasure Yard" only; but they're still around in the Yards.) Fortunately, it's the sensors and wire harnesses that are the more-common problem, aside from lack of proper bleeding.
i have RABS(same concept but ford) and i never had it work right, but I recognize its a ford and its doing the best it can

And I just leave it disconnected because it needs literally every single component backing plate to drum, a line to the driver wheel cylinder(rusted on the union and weeps), a new RABS valve, and then at that point its got a chance.. but im not doing that since the axle sucks lol
 

Spareparts

Supporting Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Aug 12, 2021
Messages
1,105
Reaction score
1,478
Location
North Idaho
Mine seems to work fine,now
Yesterday afternoon I was hunting and tried the abs out a few times at different speeds on fresh snow. It pulls straight when the abd is active from 40mph to a stop. At idle speed it will not come on. It does have two new front sensors.
 

GoreMaker

Newbie
Joined
Aug 28, 2022
Messages
38
Reaction score
44
Location
Georgia, VT
the C5 corvettte came with LS engines and the Bosch 5.3 ABS system, why would they ditch?? Im pretty sure it had stabilitrak ability and all that even.

The bosch 5.3 system will literally give the c5 the best peforming brakes it could have unless you physically upsize them or better friction materials. The Rear is proportioned to be 50/50 electronically which is HUGE in a car like that
Because the BMW MK60 ABS combined with a yaw sensor can do motorsport-level threshold braking that's vastly superior to what the Bosch 5.3 setup can do, especially when braking while turning. And it can be reflashed to accommodate unique cars, all while being completely self contained. That means you can switch to an aftermarket ECU and still retain full ABS control. I upgraded my 2001 Audi A4 from a Bosch 5.1 to a 5.3 unit, and it was definitely an improvement when driving on snow and ice, but still very much a consumer-oriented setup. On the autocross course, it left much to be desired. Too aggressive, it wasted a lot of potential brake force.

In this case, that's exactly what I'm looking for. I don't need motorsport-level ABS. I just want something that won't lock out the brake pedal when I'm trying to stop from 20 mph on snow.
 

0xDEADBEEF

Supporting Member
Supporting Member
Joined
May 3, 2021
Messages
2,479
Reaction score
6,103
Location
127.0.0.1
The other reason that people ditch the C5 ABS is that when the module fails replacements are hard to find. I seem to recall that 01 and earlier used a different module that could be fixed. I don't remember as I haven't followed C5 stuff since I sold mine a few years ago.

The stock ABS was pretty decent until you put on track tires. Braking into turn 12 at COTA was its nemesis. A lot of that is me as I can't seem to resist braking as late as possible even when there is really no reason to at HPDE. I made my C8's brakes unhappy doing the same thing.
 

Supercharged111

Truly Awesome
Joined
Aug 20, 2015
Messages
12,617
Reaction score
15,245
The other reason that people ditch the C5 ABS is that when the module fails replacements are hard to find. I seem to recall that 01 and earlier used a different module that could be fixed. I don't remember as I haven't followed C5 stuff since I sold mine a few years ago.

The stock ABS was pretty decent until you put on track tires. Braking into turn 12 at COTA was its nemesis. A lot of that is me as I can't seem to resist braking as late as possible even when there is really no reason to at HPDE. I made my C8's brakes unhappy doing the same thing.

Don't forget about ice mode. Car thinks it's on a sheet of ice and stops stopping. That and when you start deleting modules it can be difficult to keep the ABS happy. I forgot how awesome it was to lean on that ABS until I autocrossed my C5Z a couple months back, it just did its thing and worked with me while trailing deep into corners. Then I jumped back into the Camaro with no ABS and blew right through that first heavy braking turn! Yep, totally different animals.
 

0xDEADBEEF

Supporting Member
Supporting Member
Joined
May 3, 2021
Messages
2,479
Reaction score
6,103
Location
127.0.0.1
Don't forget about ice mode. Car thinks it's on a sheet of ice and stops stopping. That and when you start deleting modules it can be difficult to keep the ABS happy. I forgot how awesome it was to lean on that ABS until I autocrossed my C5Z a couple months back, it just did its thing and worked with me while trailing deep into corners. Then I jumped back into the Camaro with no ABS and blew right through that first heavy braking turn! Yep, totally different animals.

I never had that mode happen, thank goodness.

Do you use competition mode? That was my usual mode on street tires. It seemed to be less intrusive, but still would catch most little slides before they got to be big slides. COTA had a few bumps back then that if you caught them wrong would send you off and it saved my bacon a couple times.
 

Supercharged111

Truly Awesome
Joined
Aug 20, 2015
Messages
12,617
Reaction score
15,245
I never had that mode happen, thank goodness.

Do you use competition mode? That was my usual mode on street tires. It seemed to be less intrusive, but still would catch most little slides before they got to be big slides. COTA had a few bumps back then that if you caught them wrong would send you off and it saved my bacon a couple times.

I turn it all off, I can't stand the nannies when I'm wringing its neck. When I first started going to the track I'd leave them on or use comp mode, but once I got to know the car I just leave them off. And I've been racing the Camaro since 2013 and it doesn't have any either. Sometimes the Corvette just wants to squirm (I run it on street tires) and it's very easy to hang onto it while doing so, and the car deciding to cut power on me is just the worst. It killed my friend's last run at the aforementioned autox event. Would have killed mine too if I'd left it on.
 
Top