Notices
1968-Present E-Series Van/Cutaway/Chassis Econolines. E150, E250, E350, E450 and E550

by-pass the ABS system.

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Aug 9, 2014 | 07:51 PM
  #1  
jonesg's Avatar
jonesg
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 103
Likes: 0
by-pass the ABS system.

1990 E350 van.

Is it possible to by-pass the ABS system. ?
I'm replacing all the rusted out steel lines and really dislike ABS systems in general, I usually disable by unplugging a wheel sensor and fuse.
But is it possible to plumb the new lines around the ABS unit and just go from master cyl to the wheels ?

Is it legal?
 
Reply
Old Aug 9, 2014 | 09:42 PM
  #2  
EconolineFan's Avatar
EconolineFan
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 184
Likes: 0
Why would you want to do something like that?
 
Reply
Old Aug 9, 2014 | 10:34 PM
  #3  
Byooty's Avatar
Byooty
Junior User
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
From: Melbourne Au
Originally Posted by EconolineFan
Why would you want to do something like that?
X2.

Abs in my opinion is one of the greatest life savers the auto industry have come up with for a while.....
 
Reply
Old Aug 9, 2014 | 10:41 PM
  #4  
jonesg's Avatar
jonesg
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 103
Likes: 0
Its alright for girly men and housewives who need it. I don't.
 
Reply
Old Aug 9, 2014 | 10:50 PM
  #5  
Byooty's Avatar
Byooty
Junior User
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
From: Melbourne Au
Id rather be called a girly man than dead.
Or worse still, killing someone else due to stupidity.
 
Reply
Old Aug 10, 2014 | 05:54 AM
  #6  
richter roxs's Avatar
richter roxs
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 182
Likes: 2
From: boston
abs removal

i have a 1996 e150 that had 4 wheel abs and i took it out and plumbed the brake lines pre abs style. Why did i do this ? the stock abs of this year was not great and the repair bill to restore marginal effectiveness was not worth it.
 
Reply
Old Aug 10, 2014 | 09:23 AM
  #7  
EconolineFan's Avatar
EconolineFan
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 184
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by jonesg
Its alright for girly men and housewives who need it. I don't.
Then just pull the fuse but leave the lines alone, that way if you ever sell the van the seller won't be scared away by the altered ABS system.
 
Reply
Old Aug 10, 2014 | 09:44 AM
  #8  
JWA's Avatar
JWA
Fleet Owner
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 21,253
Likes: 1,656
From: Reynoldsburg, Ohio
Originally Posted by jonesg
Its alright for girly men and housewives who need it. I don't.
I absolutely love this sort of short-mindless "thinking"---it demonstrates a few things............

Sexism as though its only the feminine leaning types or actual women who benefit from a safety device. Fact is at least 60% of vehicle traffic accidents are caused or involve men. Certainly many of those are due undeserved over confidence in ones ability to handle a vehicle at all times or too high speed however the fact remains women or the girly men types are not the biggest threat on our roads.

ABS just like disc brakes originated in aviation---would Sully Sullenberger be a girly man, should he have required his A320's have their ABS disabled? I mean what's a few lives saved when we're so caught up in our "manliness" right?

Darwin had this figured out a long time ago---sad part is we share the roads with this sort of "thinking". Sack up guys----we're sissies coz we like to stop BEFORE smashing into things!
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

 Brett Foote
story-2

Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

 Brett Foote
story-6

2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026

 Brett Foote
story-9

5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time

 Joe Kucinski
Old Aug 10, 2014 | 10:09 AM
  #9  
jonesg's Avatar
jonesg
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 103
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by EconolineFan
Then just pull the fuse but leave the lines alone, that way if you ever sell the van the seller won't be scared away by the altered ABS system.
Yeh I've been doing that for a few yrs, I thought bypassing the ABS unit could save a bunch of union and flares. It raises the question of whether the system needs a proportioning valve, if its built in to the ABS then I've been driving without it a long time anyway.

If you just pull the fuse the ABS warning light comes on, pull that fuse and a buzzer goes off, I put a screw in that buzzer to silence it.
The fuse can't be left out because all the guages go to their extreme and stay pinned. I pull the ABS fuse to get inspection sticker then install the fuse again and ignore the ABS light.
 
Reply
Old Aug 10, 2014 | 10:12 AM
  #10  
jonesg's Avatar
jonesg
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 103
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by JWA
I absolutely love this sort of short-mindless "thinking"---it demonstrates a few things............

Sexism as though its only the feminine leaning types or actual women who benefit from a safety device. Fact is at least 60% of vehicle traffic accidents are caused or involve men. Certainly many of those are due undeserved over confidence in ones ability to handle a vehicle at all times or too high speed however the fact remains women or the girly men types are not the biggest threat on our roads.

ABS just like disc brakes originated in aviation---would Sully Sullenberger be a girly man, should he have required his A320's have their ABS disabled? I mean what's a few lives saved when we're so caught up in our "manliness" right?

Darwin had this figured out a long time ago---sad part is we share the roads with this sort of "thinking". Sack up guys----we're sissies coz we like to stop BEFORE smashing into things!
I don't see ABS or 4x4 capability helping the fools who crash in winter around here, its what they do whilst the foot is on the gas that renders everything futile except their airbag. Almost 50 yrs without a crash and no ABS here. Don't like it, ain't gonna use it.
 
Reply
Old Aug 10, 2014 | 10:46 AM
  #11  
EconolineFan's Avatar
EconolineFan
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 184
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by JWA
I absolutely love this sort of short-mindless "thinking"---it demonstrates a few things............

Sexism as though its only the feminine leaning types or actual women who benefit from a safety device. Fact is at least 60% of vehicle traffic accidents are caused or involve men. Certainly many of those are due undeserved over confidence in ones ability to handle a vehicle at all times or too high speed however the fact remains women or the girly men types are not the biggest threat on our roads.

ABS just like disc brakes originated in aviation---would Sully Sullenberger be a girly man, should he have required his A320's have their ABS disabled? I mean what's a few lives saved when we're so caught up in our "manliness" right?

Darwin had this figured out a long time ago---sad part is we share the roads with this sort of "thinking". Sack up guys----we're sissies coz we like to stop BEFORE smashing into things!
You drive a truck with power steering? You're a girly man! You use an electric starter instead of cranking it by hand like great great grand pa did in the 20's? You're a girly man!
 
Reply
Old Aug 10, 2014 | 11:15 AM
  #12  
JWA's Avatar
JWA
Fleet Owner
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 21,253
Likes: 1,656
From: Reynoldsburg, Ohio
Originally Posted by EconolineFan
You drive a truck with power steering? You're a girly man! You use an electric starter instead of cranking it by hand like great great grand pa did in the 20's? You're a girly man!
Guilty as charged sir---my apologies for overlooking the obvious!

I believe from now on I'll push start my E250--can't be that tough right?
 
Reply
Old Aug 10, 2014 | 08:10 PM
  #13  
Army RET's Avatar
Army RET
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,430
Likes: 6
From: Alabama
Seat belts twice saved my butt (1973 - I was guilty/74 - I was a passenger) but after this manly challenge I now feel the urge to quit wearing them.
 
Reply
Old Aug 11, 2014 | 02:43 AM
  #14  
Byooty's Avatar
Byooty
Junior User
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
From: Melbourne Au
Originally Posted by Army RET
Seat belts twice saved my butt (1973 - I was guilty/74 - I was a passenger) but after this manly challenge I now feel the urge to quit wearing them.
Hell, why not go the whole hog and just sit on the hood and control the thing with bits of wire and string?
 
Reply
Old Aug 11, 2014 | 10:34 AM
  #15  
baddad457's Avatar
baddad457
Hotshot
20 Year Member
Liked
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 11,141
Likes: 25
From: south louisiana
Originally Posted by jonesg
Its alright for girly men and housewives who need it. I don't.
It's also great for those who don't pay attention to what's going on around them either. It's a crutch for poor drivers. Just plumb the lines from the master cylinder to the proportioning valve, then from the valve to the wheels. They were built that way for decades before ABS. I too have experienced a few ABS systems that were dangerous to drive on slick roads. The ABS system on my 96 doesn't work, and I'm not about to spend good money on it to find out why. It drives and stops just fine without it.
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:50 PM.

story-0
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE
story-1
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

And it might be even better than that.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-18 19:26:42


VIEW MORE
story-2
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

Slideshow: Does lowering an F-150 Lobo RUIN the ride quality?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-18 19:20:37


VIEW MORE
story-3
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

Slideshow: Ford's bizarre fishing-themed Explorer concept has resurfaced after spending decades largely forgotten.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:07:46


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

Slideshow: The 10 best Ford truck engines we miss the most.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 13:09:47


VIEW MORE
story-5
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

Slideshow: first look at the 810 hp 2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road!

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-12 12:50:07


VIEW MORE
story-6
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

Slideshow: Everything You Need to Know about the 2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-07 17:51:06


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!

Slideshow: 10 most surprising Ford truck options/features in 2026.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:17:22


VIEW MORE
story-8
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026

Slideshow: Here are the top 10 Fords coming to Mecum Indy 2026.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:49:49


VIEW MORE
story-9
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time

Slideshow: The 5 best and 5 worst Ford truck wheels of all time

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 16:49:01


VIEW MORE