OT: Anti-lock Brakes on Older Small Pickups

Dave in GA · May 12, 2012

My college son is looking for a reliable late 90s to early 2000s small pickup, a Ranger or S10. Did all of these vehicles have antilock brakes? If not, are the anti-lock brakes worth it? Momma insists on anti-lock brakes. I haven't had much experience with them since I drive old vehicles.

LJD · May 12, 2012

I disconnect them on all my vehicles. I hate them. That being said, I didn't learn to drive on them and don't like not being in control of the braking.

Ford starting offering anti-lock brakes in the 1960s. In the 90s - it's all depends on what model and what options were ordered. My 94 Subuaru has them (I have them disabled). Same with my 92 Dodge truck (also disabled).

After all these years now - there is no statistical proof that they been of any overall benefit. In fact some auto engineers claim the help cause accidents since the increased "perceived" safety leads people to drive with less caution.

retired farmer · May 12, 2012

My boss has a ninetys something S10. The brake anti-lock light is on all the time. He also has a late Dodge three quarter ton, 4x4, ninetys something, the anti-lock light is on all the time. Doesn't make any difference how many times they go to the shop. About a week later they both are back on.

toadady · May 12, 2012

don't know about the rangers, but the S-10 had rear anti-lock brakes back in 1985, our 2000 model has 4wheel abs

i had a 87 bronco2 that had it on the rear only.

toadady · May 12, 2012

don't know about the rangers, but the S-10 had rear anti-lock brakes back in 1985, our 2000 model has 4wheel abs

i had a 87 bronco2 that had it on the rear only.

Anonymous-0 · May 12, 2012

The old rear anti-lock was junk. My "new" 2000 2500 Chev. made a believer out of me. Steep hills on gravel, stopping trailers,"never have brakes on them" stops straight and true.

Leroy · May 12, 2012

I had them on a couple of cars that I drove on rual mail route and they about broke my arn a few times. We had boxes had to put papers in. When would be 3 feet from stopping something would let them remove all braking and car would jump 5 feet ahead before the brakes would take ahold again and if you have your hand in the box and can't get it out fast enough the door post comes along and tries to bent the bone in your arm. Me I think they are dangerous and should be outlawed.

Thomas (AB) · May 12, 2012

have ABS on my '01 S-10 4x4. hate them with a passion, hit a little gravel at an intersection and they wont let you stop, they do let you steer on ice and snow to a point though.

JerryS · May 12, 2012

My '95 Ranger has an ABS light that stays on all the time. That light is the only indication I've ever had that ABS is there; never have noticed when or if it ever came into play.

GordoSD · May 12, 2012

I have your truck. 97 Ford 150 short wheelbase, V6, stick. Stepside box with chrome wheels and chrome nerf bars. 60k on the clock. ABS that saved my life on a rainy evening two lane blacktop in FL.
Mint perfect, one owner , never been on salt or snow. Torreador Red. Gets honest 21 mpg. Regular cab grey bench seat.Better mileage than 90% of the rangers.
Gathering dust in the shop for 8 years. Driven once a wek to town 7 miles away.
Downside is it is extreme quick with the HP and zero options and weight of the truck.

RodinNS · May 12, 2012

Ranger's after the early 90's had rear ABS... and as indicated the light is most often 'ON'. Some had front ABS.
My 07 Ranger has 4 wheel ABS. As far as I'm concerned I'd be better off if they didn't work because on bad roads it has NO brakes and a hard pedal that feeds back... At least the other one could be locked up and when it hooked something it would slow down.
I may just unhook them yet...

Rod

Owen Aaland · May 13, 2012

If the ABS light stays on in any vehicle the ABS system should be disabled so that you will only have normal braking. ABS brakes that release when nearing a stop usually are losing a signal form at least one wheel. When the controller no longer sees an AC signal from a wheel it assumes that wheel has locked up and releases the brake to that wheel. Too much air gap between the pickup sensor and the tone ring is the most common reason, either from mis-adjustment or corrosion of the tone ring.

Nebraska Cowman · May 13, 2012

I had that happen once in mud coming up on a runover. When I jamb on the pedal I want the wheels to LOCK UP dammit.

ASEguy · May 13, 2012

Rear ABS is for skid control, front ABS is for steering control. They will increase stopping distance, but provide the ability to maintain control of the vehicle to a point. I feel they are worth it in many situations. Depending on the year, make model you will have either 4 wheel ABS or two wheel ABS which is called RWAL or RABS depending on the manufacturer. Common problems are speed sensor issues. When the ABS light is on ABS is disabled for most manufacturer's.

Row Crop · May 13, 2012

I have a '95 Ranger that has the anti lock light on all the time. How do I unhook them? e-mail open

mkirsch · May 13, 2012

(quoted from post at 04:14:07 05/13/12) I have a '95 Ranger that has the anti lock light on all the time. How do I unhook them? e-mail open

If the light is on they are "unhooked."

You can typically disable them by pulling the ABS fuse from the fuse block. Be aware that many vehicles have two fuse blocks, one in the cabin and one under the hood. Consult your owner's manual for the location of the fuse.

rustyfarmall · May 13, 2012

(quoted from post at 17:59:44 05/12/12) I disconnect them on all my vehicles. I hate them. That being said, I didn't learn to drive on them and don't like not being in control of the braking.

Ford starting offering anti-lock brakes in the 1960s. In the 90s - it's all depends on what model and what options were ordered. My 94 Subuaru has them (I have them disabled). Same with my 92 Dodge truck (also disabled).

After all these years now - there is no statistical proof that they been of any overall benefit. In fact some auto engineers claim the help cause accidents since the increased "perceived" safety leads people to drive with less caution.

I agree 100%. The anti-lock brakes messed up on my '01 Chevy, so I simply pulled the fuse. Quickly found out (avoiding a deer) the truck will stop in a much shorter distance on dry surfaces without locking up the wheels.

gbs · May 13, 2012

my experience with them i wouldn't give time of day for them,try coming to a stop and hit a little mud or loose gravel on top of a harder surface,you'll stop about 10 feet further than intended,every one that likes them needs to drive in rough mountain terrain at least once with them and get into a situation were you really need the brakes quick and firm by the time the abs gets done kicking back the peddle and cycling the brakes on each wheel things get real exciting,have them on 3-10 wheeler awd's abs light pops on every time they get into the mud then have to here the racket from the driver about the lights on

Leroy · May 13, 2012

But when that light is on the third brake light is out. For me that third brake light was the only reason I kept them so called working as I was stoping at mail boxes all the time.

Mike M · May 13, 2012

I call them anti stop brakes !! The rear wheel only ones on my 1996 Dodge are a huge hazzard. After I slid into a stopsign I finally unplugged the module.

Walt Davies · May 13, 2012

I have them on my 97 Ranger 4X4 and have never had any trouble with them. When I working they had a new ladder truck at the fire dept. And I was drink it into the shop my friend was slow on the door, pressed the brake down and had nothing until I was just about to hit the door when they took hold an stopped me. Most new cars are much better now on older stuff I would pull the plug on them.
Sometimes the government gets ahead of technology.
Walt

farmer boy · May 13, 2012

My experience with them hasn't been good and bad. I think they've gotten alot better since the 90's but the abs that the Chevy trucks came equipped with in the mid to late 90's (Kelsey Hayes 310 I believe) is a dangerous device. Engage it once and you'll know what I mean. It certainly doesn't let the wheels lock up, but it also doesn't let the vehicle stop. When winter driving, you try NOT to get it to engage or you'll triple your stopping distance. Makes you nearly crap your pants sometimes, coming up to a stop sign and and the truck loses all brakes for 3 seconds, and if you keep your foot on the pedal it'll reapply the brakes, and then takes them away for 3 seconds again. If the Chevy S10 has brakes anything like GMC/Chevy 1/2 ton trucks, you don't have to worry about locking the wheels up anyways, ain't going to happen. If the wheel speed sensors are bad(front) the abs will engage on anything when atempting to stop, giving you zero brakes. The three channel system they claim it to be doesn't matter, you're not going to get brakes unless you stand on it. The system is also nearly impossible to bleed so if you ever replace your brake lines, be aware of that. On the other hand a 1998 Toyota Camry that has a Bosch system is much more responsive and doesn't give you the feeling of immiment death when it engages. It certainly does increase stopping distance, but not near as much as the Chevy.

Joe W. · May 13, 2012

I have them on my 01 S-10. When they engage it's a scary ride.

M Diesel · May 14, 2012

(quoted from post at 04:41:40 05/13/12)

(quoted from post at 04:14:07 05/13/12) I have a '95 Ranger that has the anti lock light on all the time. How do I unhook them? e-mail open

Click to expand...

If the light is on they are "unhooked."

You can typically disable them by pulling the ABS fuse from the fuse block. Be aware that many vehicles have two fuse blocks, one in the cabin and one under the hood. Consult your owner's manual for the location of the fuse.

That is what I do with mine. Other than the dash light being on, all is much better. Usually Ford puts them in the engine compartment.

I spend a lot of time off road and anti lock brakes pretty much just turn off brakes when you need them. Great fun on a big down hill. If the trail is bouncy it will find a way to keep them turned off all the way to the bottom.

OT: Anti-lock Brakes on Older Small Pickups

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