RABS - how does it work?
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Cross-Country
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 72
Likes: 5
RABS - how does it work?
Probably a dumb question, but my ‘88 F250 has RABS, and I’ve managed to lock up the rear end a couple times. It doesn’t surge like modern systems do, but I have no idea if it’s supposed to. The light doesn’t come on, is there a way to test it? Should it really not lock up, or is it just supposed to make it not as easy to lock up?
Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2021
Posts: 2,258
Likes: 742
From: Maryland
The 9th post in this thread has a good description of the system. https://www.fullsizebronco.com/threads/88-rabs.14997/
i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65,562
Likes: 5,600
From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
my 88 F350 never had working rabs. when it was 3 days old the dealer bypassed it because they could not get it to work. the brakes either put you into the windshield, or did not work at all and you ran a red light. even though they "were working properly? so they just bypassed the module.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 20,789
Likes: 1,753
From: Kentucky
On the positive side I have found the RABS system to work reasonably well on all three of my previous OBS trucks. My 1992 F350 had a bad hydraulic module, anti-lock never worked when I tested it on snow covered roads. I replaced it, worked fine.
I have been driving many years before any anti-lock systems were standard on production vehicles. It has it's place good or bad.
Your mileage may vary....
I have been driving many years before any anti-lock systems were standard on production vehicles. It has it's place good or bad.
Your mileage may vary....
Hotshot
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 12,872
Likes: 2,445
I have the same experience with RABS on the pickup and ‘87 Bronco and the 4 wheel ABS on the ‘94. I deleted ABS on the ‘87 because I replaced the 8.8 rear with a 9”.
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Cross-Country
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 72
Likes: 5
Thanks all. I’ll have to check the fuse and brake lines to see if mine is bypassed/disabled. My brakes work fine, just that since I’ve managed to lock it up had me wondering. Sounds like this could be normal, or possibly that it’s bypassed, or also just not working at all!
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