ABS on my M/H is junk

[ron55]

My opinion and everybody has one.
At 3000 miles I almost ran over a amish buggy crossing in front of me in Ohio, I was going to fast and the M/H would not stop. I pulled the fuse at 3000 miles and noticed a much better, shorter stoping distance.
No more brake problems until 38000 miles. This was with 3 trips to and in the Rocky Mts, travelling all those good road such as the million dollar hwy from Ouray to Silverton and the highest Hwy through Rocky Mt Park from Estes Park over to Grand Lake over 12000 feet, no problems. Now going to get my recall at Larrys in Myrtel Beach, SC I left Chokoloskee, Fl. I reinstalled the fuse, the light went out, now 160 miles later on I-95, Ft Pierce, FL I smell brakes and see the right rear smoking. I made it to the next rest stop. I cooled off the right rear PULLED THE FUSE and drove 500 miles to Myrtel Beach no more problem on the way.
You probably say coindicince. I say BS it's the ABS.
I now have the recall done and would recommed Larrys Auto in Myrtel Beach. Of course Larry checked the ABS with his electronic thinny and it was working properly, but you can guess when I left Larrys where the fuse went.

[DriVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ron55 I now have the recall done and would recommend Larry's Auto in Myrtle Beach. Of course Larry checked the ABS with his electronic thinny and it was working properly, but you can guess when I left Larry's where the fuse went.

ron55, The Tech II does not lie and if Larry said it ain't broke then I would believe the man and place my reputation on his diagnosis.

I say; "Restore the fuse!"

The best time to rule out any problem with the ABS would have been to go for an extended test drive with the system up and running. SC 31 & 501 would have provided you an ample roadway to do a lot of at speed procedures and you would have been close to the shop in the event something went wrong. I'm sure that Larry would have went with you for the test drive because he does care.

I am placing my money on the a defective caliper whose time came to seize at a most inappropriate of times thereby fueling additional distrust about the ABS system.

As I approach 92,000 miles with the same ABS system as yours, I watch it like a hawk but it has not given me any problems and has accomplished well the task that it was designed to do several times.

Now at this point and having the recall complete, if any problems present as a lockup, the ABS system I expect might be suspect however unless someone can rule that out ... we'll never know.

I spoke to Larry on Monday and he told me about something that he had heard and asked me to comment on a rumor if it was true of not. My response to Larry was that I just got back from supporting the Virginia State Samboree in Urbanna, VA.

[speed racer]

When you have to apply a lot of braking on a rain slick road and can't steer to avoid a wreck you will think about that fuse you took out and how handy it would have been if it was installed in its proper place.

[ron55]

did you not read 30K miles no problems. 160 Miles and right rear locks up and I guarantee I can stop 50 feet shorter at 60mph than you!

[DriVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ron55 .... and I guarantee I can stop 50 feet shorter at 60mph than you!

ron, You didn't mention what the road conditions were .... on dry pavement, it's going to be too close to call. However I will take that 50 foot bet and raise you -25 feet less.

The very best hydraulic braking system in a Class 6 vehicle is the Wabco HPB System that we see on the UFO with ABS. This system will stop shorter at almost any given speed than an equivalently weighed vehicle equipped with air brakes. This system will also out perform any of the other W series vehicles that are currently available.

Remember with the ABS system active and the pedal floored to the firewall, you maintain directional control of the vehicle. Personally, I would rather have the option of steering where I want to go rather than being an unwilling participant in having no control of where the vehicle will impact.

[gbs2320]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ron55 did you not read 30K miles no problems. 160 Miles and right rear locks up and I guarantee I can stop 50 feet shorter at 60mph than you!

Yes we all read it. The issue is ability to steer you rig out of trouble during braking. You might be very good at pumping your brakes to do in essence what you abs does but I wonder if you are in an accident what your insurance company will think and do if they find out you disabled the ABS.

[DriVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by gbs2320 I wonder if you are in an accident what your insurance company will think and do if they find out you disabled the ABS.

gbs2320, I don't believe that the insurance company would do a forensic study about why it took longer or shorter to stop but what I would recommend to ron IF he does find it necessary to run with the ABS disabled that he insert a blown fuse in the socket thereby achieving what he's trying to do and yet still showing that a fuse is in its OE holder.

Who's to know that the fuse didn't blow as a result of the wreck? I'm sure that he's already considered doing this if he is committed to running in this profile. I'm not suggesting anything new for there is nothing new under the sun like they say.

[wa8yxm]

Many people do not understand ABS..

You seem to think ABS should help you stop faster.. I'm not sure it can do that and am sure it won't on clear dry pavement.

On slick roads, say rain soaked leaf covered... It may help you to stop faster... Or not.. I am not sure. but on dry roads, it won't.

What it does do is enable you to retain directional control.. Or rather helps to do that.

I have seen many demonstrations where they drove a car at speed down a skid pad, without ABS the car stopped, but was often sideways.. Sometimes (if the speed was high enough) it rolled over and died (The driver was OK because this car had additional bracing, he was wearing a 5 point harness and full racer uniform and protection since this was a demo after all)

The car with ABS may have taken longer to stop but it went straight down the skid pad, did not spin, did not roll and remained on it's wheels.


Now, the question: Why are you blaming your ABS because you were driving too fast? (You did say you were driving too fast) The RV lifestyle is not about getting there as fast as possible. It is about taking the time to observe the roses.. That means SLOW DOWN!!!!!

[njs42]

I'll take your word that you can stop faster w/o ABS---respectfully I add that factor is irrelevent.

IMHO==DriVer has it right --you stopped short of proving any hypothesis about the ABS system---from your description. I would vote to hook them back up and give it a real go---then if you have problems take it in for a check.

I've had one panic stop in nine years and it added about ten years on to me----the ABS worked fine so I could track without loosing a straight line toward the guy who cut in front and slammed on his brakes----my toad locked all fours----and was the anchor---but it was pulled straight by the MH----I think inertia would have taken over and I would have wound up catty wampus, side ways and maybe flat on my side----without ABS. It is just physics, laws of nature and inescapable.

It is not the everyday driving that ABS is designed for it is the exception that one terrifying moment (if you have not had one--bless you) when everything is wrong. The ABS is a life saver--or at least it was for me.

It might be best to think this over. I wish you well--sincerely.

[gbs2320]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DriVer gbs2320, I don't believe that the insurance company would do a forensic study about why it took longer or shorter to stop but what I would recommend to ron IF he does find it necessary to run with the ABS disabled that he insert a blown fuse in the socket thereby achieving what he's trying to do and yet still showing that a fuse is in its OE holder. Who's to know that the fuse didn't blow as a result of the wreck? I'm sure that he's already considered doing this if he is committed to running in this profile. I'm not suggesting anything new for there is nothing new under the sun like they say.

That may be true with regard to a forensic study, but IMHO as a retired Attorney, you would have the risk of the insurance company canceling or raising your rates and who knows what hides in the fine print of the insurance policy moreover I do not advocate intentionally inserting a blown fuse since that would be fraud since its only purpose is to deceive the investigator. But each of us has to weight the risks of our actions on a daily basis. You can count on it that if someone is killed in the accident there will be an investigation.

[dieselclacker]

The fuse has been blown on the ABS on my Workhorse for a little over two years now.

Dieselclacker

[DriVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by gbs2320 You can count on it that if someone is killed in the accident there will be an investigation.

gbs2320 (ESQ), On that you can rest assured and I would not be wanting to explain to the bench why the safety system was compromised.

In the investigation, if the fuse socket were empty, I'm sure that the report would not read that it needed to be borrowed for some other purpose. Disabling a safety system will bring into play an entirely new focus from the prosecution and plaintiffs in this case I would expect.

Not being a lawyer, I would expect that proving fraud was intended by using a blown fuse would be difficult unless the defendant admitted doing so. I'm sure that he would protect himself via 5th amendment rights.

So in preventing all of this from working its way through the legal system; "Restore the Fuse!"

[DriVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dieselclacker The fuse has been blown on the ABS on my Workhorse for a little over two years now.

Dieselclacker, Not something that I would admit to ....

[njs42]

I have been witness to tragedy---loyalties are thin and people do headstands trying to justify their behavior in the aftermath.

Disconnecting anything that is considered a factor in the safe operation of a motor home can lead to unfathomable anguish.

What possibly can be the real legitimate upside to not having everything work properly?

This stuff is really quite simple tome.