Temporarily disable Left Frton Brake??

[vljenewein]

My Antilock Braking Control module needs to be replaced, and the replacement is in the trunk of my car. The old one is causing the LF brake to not release completely and causes much heat on the discs, etc. I need to find a way to temporarily disable the Left Front brake so I can drive it only about 8-9 miles (mostly rural, but paved roads) to the mechanics that can change it.

Any idease on how to cap of or disable a single brakeline?
Vern

[deadring]

uuh are you sur that it's a ABS system thats no releasing the brake? i find it hard to believe that the ABS ECM could this.. i would go with a caliper thats sticking or some other hardware related thing.
the abs electronics cannont such a thing to my knowledge.


Deadring

[vljenewein]

Pretty sure, about 99% sure anyway. The mechanics that worked on it, also are racetrack mechanics as their hobby. The are really pretty good. The brake released with a tap on the side of the housing of the ABS system that is under the air cleaner. Also it has a brand new caliper, rotor, pads, lines, etc that was replaced last Wednesday. They looked at it and when tapping on the ABS (there is valving inside) it released the caliper.

Just wondering if there is a know cap end size with thread I can put on the line going to the brake itself to prevent fluid from squirting all over and disable the LF brakes?

Also wondering if there could be a possible bubble that never got completely bled out that may be hanging around inside the ABS module.... or piece of ice? Maybe it's just worn to a point it's starting to stick and not release?

[public]

Unplug the ABS. You will get as light in the dash, but the brakes will still work fine. Just no ABS.

[vljenewein]

Originally Posted by public

Unplug the ABS. You will get as light in the dash, but the brakes will still work fine. Just no ABS.

Would that be the same as taking out the fuse for the ABS? Fuse is in the fuse box under the drivers side near left foot. I removed the fuse but the break still had drag on it. Do I need to leave in the fuse and disconnect the wiring harness at the ABS module that is located under the air cleaner?

Thanks!

[parkavenuechrome]

Originally Posted by vljenewein

Pretty sure, about 99% sure anyway. The mechanics that worked on it, also are racetrack mechanics as their hobby. The are really pretty good. The brake released with a tap on the side of the housing of the ABS system that is under the air cleaner. Also it has a brand new caliper, rotor, pads, lines, etc that was replaced last Wednesday. They looked at it and when tapping on the ABS (there is valving inside) it released the caliper.

Just wondering if there is a know cap end size with thread I can put on the line going to the brake itself to prevent fluid from squirting all over and disable the LF brakes?

Also wondering if there could be a possible bubble that never got completely bled out that may be hanging around inside the ABS module.... or piece of ice? Maybe it's just worn to a point it's starting to stick and not release?

let me give you a little advice on mechanics of any kind... Just cause they race or whatever, doesn't mean they know what there talking about. I would tend to think it is a bad caliper and not the ABS unit. The abs unit will not lock up the brakes. it does the oposite.. So i would get a second opinion on that before digging into your abs.

[vljenewein]

Thanks for the advice on the ABS unit, but the caliper did this before I had them work on it and the caliper was replaced with new. If you tap on the ABS system itself, then the brake releases. Seems to my logical thinking that the ABS is sticking somewhere. Today it locked up so bad it was like the parking brake was set. Couldn't move forward or backward very well unless lots of gas was applied. Got out and tapped the ABS unit with a ball peen hammer just a bit, got back in and it was not "locked" anymore, so drove it to the guys to have them replace the unit.

Besides the code scanner they used told them what was faulty. *S*

[parkavenuechrome]

Well there you go... I wouldn't have believed that it would do that, but obviously you got that covered. Good work! I would bypass the abs all together. I am thinking about doing that next year and re plumb all the wiring and remove the abs right out!

[vljenewein]

I tell you parkavenuechrome, I think you are a wise man! Bypassing the complete system is not that bad of a deal. To my belief, the ABS was made for drivers that made it more "fool" proof to avoid slipping on ice. Forget common sense driving, this was just a way to get around the pump your brakes when you are on ice so they don't lock up thingy. This is the first car I've ever driven with ABS. My wifes' Lumina does not have it and we have absolutley no problem getting around. Re plumbing the lines is just one less thing to foul up to my book. Vern

[pirho451]

Also, there is a fuse under the hood for the ABS system. You may need to remove that one as well to completely disable the system. It's behind the MAXIFUSE/RELAY cover on the firewall.