How to disable ABS

#1

Anyone know how to disable ABS on our cars? Is it as simple as pulling the fuse/relay? Any online articles?

Thanks!

#2

I removed the sensors at all 4 wheels to disable it.

#3

Pull the relay with the metal cover at the
drivers right knee (close to the ABS computer) or pull the bulb from the socket that gives the ABS light in the instrument cluster. Either will disable the system…

Steven

#4

is this for a non-Spec E30 car, because I don’t recall anything in the rules that says we can disable the ABS.
bruce

#5

Disable? Hell, I’ve been trying to make mine work since I got the car. :S
I’ve replaced everything but that under-dash relay. Which is no doubt the problem. ? :blush:

#6

It IS my SE30 build.

Are you telling me that I have to keep the ABS on??

That seems kinda silly, doesn’t it? Since it was an option on the car, can’t I un-option it and still be legal?

#7

ddavidv wrote:

[quote]Disable? Hell, I’ve been trying to make mine work since I got the car. :S
I’ve replaced everything but that under-dash relay. Which is no doubt the problem. ? :blush:[/quote]
That relay (according to my tech) acts somewhat as a fuse and often blows out when the roll-cage is welded in. That’s what happened to mine. Replacing the $20 relay fixed my system and I don’t want to race without it, given SE30’s "extreme traffic racing environment."

#8

Why would you want to run without the ABS? Personally I’m faster with the ABS on and I would bet 95% of us are the same way. You also won’t flat spot a tire and I find it generally safer in panic situations.

#9

I’ve not heard of it being an option. Do you have something that shows that? If you started with something like an early 318 and swapped in a 325i motor, then you have to follow the rules for the donor car year/model (9.3.2).
thanks,
bruce

cozog wrote:

[quote]It IS my SE30 build.

Are you telling me that I have to keep the ABS on??

That seems kinda silly, doesn’t it? Since it was an option on the car, can’t I un-option it and still be legal?[/quote]

#10

Elephant4 wrote:

I was making an assumption (I know, I know) based on what I’ve read about the pros/cons of ABS on the track. My assumption was that I would want to disable the ABS.

#11

leggwork wrote:

[quote]I’ve not heard of it being an option. Do you have something that shows that? If you started with something like an early 318 and swapped in a 325i motor, then you have to follow the rules for the donor car year/model (9.3.2).
thanks,
bruce[/quote]

I stand corrected. I could find nothing about ABS being an option. It was either on the car or not. Thank you for pointing that out.

#12

cozog wrote:
[quote
I was making an assumption (I know, I know) based on what I’ve read about the pros/cons of ABS on the track. My assumption was that I would want to disable the ABS.[/quote]

Well I’m just another guy on the Internet but you will definitely be faster with the ABS on in my opinion especially since you are new to racing correct? Now in theory you could be faster without the ABS, and when I say that I mean a professional driver could be faster without ABS, but the problem is it is a stock braking system with brake booster and everything and it is just not the optimal setup to run without the ABS. I’ve run without the ABS multiple times on these cars and although I can still run fast lap times and know where the threashold braking point is, ultimately I’m still slower than with the ABS enabled. Without the ABS it is hard to feel when a wheel is slightly locked with the stock braking system until you either see smoke from the tire or feel the car sliding forward. These aren’t open wheel cars so you can’t see the front tires :wink: . With ABS it is so much easier to reach close to maximum threashold everytime without having to have the feel of a Schumacher. Another problem is when you get in a panic situation(especially as a rookie) you tend to slam on the brakes, when you have no ABS this locks a tire and decreases your braking and you will go sliding forward once this happens it is hard to tell your brain to let off the brake to get more braking, essentially you will just keep the brake jammed and let the cards fall where they may. This can also happen if you are making that deep braking passing move, without ABS you might find yourself going up in a cloud of smoke literally and taking out the car you where trying to pass. If you really want to see what is like once you have more experience turn off the abs and go out on some old tires (you will flat spot some tires the first time). This will at least teach you where the threashold point is without ABS and is good practice for when your ABS does fail. But I bet you will turn it back on once you see what it is like without. As always YMMV, but I’m keeping my ABS on.

#13

Thanks Simon. That’s very good info!

#14

I was glad to have ABS at Summit last weekend, especially when I was racing with Jon M.

And if the car came with ABS, and there is nothing in the Rules that says ABS can be disabled, it has to be on the car and working. Now honestly, we’re spending our tech time looking for performance enhancing mods that are not legal but this is a good example of how every builder should look over the Rules very carefully.

Basically, if you don’t see it in the Rules, it has to stay as it came from the factory. It’s really that straightforward.

Carter