[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 15-Oct-01 AT 12:29 PM (EST)[/font][p] It being deer season and all here in SoCal, I have been taking my 99 F-150 off road a lot the last month. There have been many times when I neded to stop in a hurry and the ABS kicks in and the lack of the brakes being locked actually seems worse to me. I just seem to keep going longer than I really want to. Now the problem isn't really in the dirt but back on the pavement. The ABS kicks in at any speed with the slightest brake pedal pressure. And if the ABS doesn't activate the truck stops roughly and acts like I am applying more pressure to the pedal as I am slowing down when I am keeping the same pressure on the pedal.
So I have a few questions,
1. Does anyone else find the ABS in the dirt to be scary?
2. Is there some easy way to deactivate ABS while I am In the boonies, (knowing that I will turn it back on while on the pavement).
3. what could be wrong with the braking on pavement now and what can I do to fix it.
thanks
Jim P.

 

Unfortunately, these trucks do not stop well. It does sound like your abs is off a bit, since it is causing that much trouble on pavement.

I agree that the abs seems to kick in way too soon on these trucks but after comparing stops between abs and non abs vehicles I have to say, Trust the abs.

I did install some aftermarket rotors on mine and so far I am very happy with them. You can tell that the abs is working on the rear drums and not going for the front rotors until you really dig deep into it. Before, the abs was all over the front rotors.

98 F250LD 4X4
Slotted Rotors

 

Check on the rear axle to see if you damaged your rear ABS sensor. You could have bent it and thrown the sensor out of wack. It shouldn't activate unless you really step on the brakes hard, like in a panic stop. It could have also just failed on you. They can test it at the dealer.

 

The sensor is on top of the diff. and does not appear to be damaged. could it have gotten dirty. there is a lot of dirt caked on it now.

 

The sensor is not broken but I haven't had the time to see if it is dirty. but i still would like to de activate it in the dirt. I slid into a deep gully this weekend because of the lack of constant breaking. I am sure this ABS works on pavmet, but it is dangerous on the dirt. help me please
almost crashed
Jim P

 

When was the last time you checked your rear brakes? I have seen these problems when the dirt/mud ends up inside the drums, and is usually accompanied by a severe lack of adjustment. Deactivation is fairly easy, check your manual for the location and pull the fuse, there are other ways but this would be easiest.

 

I'll check the rear brakes this weekend. Thanks for the heads up on that.
Jim P