ABS on this truck is dangerous...

Hmm... really? I've driven 2005+ Tacomas (I've owned two) for over 4 years now, and haven't had that happen. I've had exactly 1 instance of ABS activating on dry pavement, and I needed it.

Sadly, though I think this is a great idea, I don't think it will work. People are too self-absorbed in general, and fixing stupidity is usually an exercise in futility.

The ABS system itself likely uses negligible electricity when it's not actively operating. I believe my non-tow-package truck has an 80-100A alternator, which is about the same as every vehicle I've ever owned. Certainly, combined, all the electronics on modern cars add power usage. It's just like safety systems--cars largely haven't increased in fuel mileage because of all the extra weight of structural improvements, airbag systems, etc.

You wheels locked up? So, locked wheels caused an accident?

This is excellent advice. If you're aware of the limitations, you can work within them and still have the benefits of the system when it is beneficial. As I've already stated, I can see a benefit to disabling ABS for off-road use. Not convinced yet for on-road use.

Supposedly, the Tacoma has this, too. I haven't really witnessed it. As I mentioned earlier, our 2010 Mazda3 has this system, and it's freaking awesome. They really have the threshhold braking down on that car. You can punch the brakes as hard as you can, the car will do it even harder, and no ABS kicks in (on dry pavement).



Everyone thinks they're the safest drivers in the world, and they're "better than the other guy". We Americans drive a LOT. I witness a lot of unsafe driving on the freeways. Lots of people don't drive for conditions--a high percentage. I've been guilty of it myself. When I was younger, I did a lot of things I shouldn't have (lots of speeding tickets). At work we get a fair amount of driver training, as we can be driving on pure ice for 6 months out of the year. It's opened my eyes a lot to safer driving habits. But, I'm not immune to mistakes.

A lot of people are also completely concerned about themselves and have no regard for others on the road. It's here on TW, though I'm not talking about anything in this thread (so please don't take it that way).

 

You can drive on the street for 50 years and never learn the skills needed to control a vehcle in a tight situation. Not 1 person in a 1,000 of the general driving public can even tell you what to do, much less actually do it. It's not that any of it is so hard. The problem is that these are skills that have to be learned and practiced. They have to be automatic by the time an event occurs. That means good instruction in a controlled environment. People who race learn these skills or they don't race for long. New racers drive cars that are clearly marked so that an experienced driver barreling down on them knows to give them room. There is no requirement for driver competancy to get a license, not even a one week driving course. Nothing! It's a disgrace really, and it's the reason we have all this electronic bullshit. There is nothing that would drop the injury and accident rate faster than mandatory driver training, and I'm not talking about parallel parking either.

There is no will to do it...................

 

City driving I presume. You should try driving in rural area. Lots of farm equipement pulling from dirt roads and fields. It will happen dont believe me. buy a bag of pebbles in home depot, find empty parking lot and test it.

Not really, just because you live in the bubble and stick to pavement that does not mean everybody does that. If I needed to drive only on pavement I would have bought Prius.
Bottom line is if you are city folk that thread is probably not for you. The rest of us living in the real world need to disable ABS for now or wait for Toyota to update software.

 

arghhhhhhhhh ABS got me once again


farking POS truck and it's POS brakes


right past my turn on a icy trail and into a tree





oh and abs at work last year on a total ice covered trail the reg cab was going forward until he tapped his brakes

 

Running a light rear end sure doesn't help. Did you/he have sand in the back? I do a lot of icey driving and my truck weighs just 50# less in the back than in the front: 2750 front, 2700 rear full of gas. My truck is dead steady, but I have killed the ABS just for good measure.

 

My truck has about 31k miles on it. Over half of that has been on road trips consisting of just about every road surface out there. Most of our road trips have been winter trips. Many miles of rural back roads, gravel, etc.

Edit for OPSEC: Yes, I live in the city. I grew up on a farm. Work often takes me to some very inhospitable places. Last year I had the fun of making many trips down actual ice roads (70 miles round-trip).

I understand all about people who are stuck in the city. If all you've spent is time in the city, you can't really comprehend what it's like outside of it.

 

Just wanted to toss my 2c in. Yesterday, I was coming down a mountain road approaching a stop sign. Im on my brakes maybe 30-40% (not overly hard) to ease into the stop sign. I hit a pot hole and it felt like the brakes went for a split second. and then they are back. Adjusted pressure to make up for the lost stopping power.

Assumption is th ABS. It was certainly an odd experience.

 

Yep its ABS. That is what it does.

 

coincidence?

i started reading this thread about a week or two ago.

so today it is blustery out, wind blowing 20-30 mph and the snow is coming down sideways. about 26 degrees F out. roads had been warmer earlier so they are wet in spots, but snow is starting to stick and roads are getting a little icy. i've driven on snowy roads my whole life and drive relatively cautiously. i approach a stop sign at a 3 way intersection, where a jeep is fully stopped ahead of me. i begin to brake slightly, and i anticipate that the jeep is going to proceed, however he just sits there and does not move. this causes me to brake more sharply, when IT begins to happen.

i feel the pedal pulsing like a madman, yet i am not stopping. oh snap, THIS is what those guys were talking about as i continue to NOT stop at all. the rear end of the jeep is approaching a bit too rapidly for my comfort. i look for an out because no way am i stopping in time at this point. i see a set of tire tracks in the snow to my right heading onto the front lawn of a church. i turn and follow those tracks (should i now thank ABS for allowing me to steer?), almost laughing to myself because the same damn thing obviously just happened to someone else.

i could not wait to get home and start searching for the ABS disable thread...a little disappointed as i have a sport with vsc, not 100% certain i have found the tried and true method as of yet. oh well. may just pull the fuse during the rest of the winter and hope for the best. thanks for allowing me to share.

 

Same here. First heavy snow of the season. Going about 10km/h and I press the brakes as it pushes back I'm steering myself into an intersection. And who says ABS helps?

Sent via Tapatalk(Bold 9900)

 

I'm not surprised.

See my post if you didn't read:

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/206078-abs-rant-3.html#post4629779

 

Great read!

 

almost killed me the other day as i wanted to stop on snow going 15mph into an intersection. ugh i may have to disable.

 

The problem with ABS on ice is that it disables the brakes when you're trying to stop.

Why safety regulators haven't seen an issue with that is beyond confusing.

 

This thread is amazing to me. ABS is not supposed to shorten stopping distances. It's supposed to let you keep some ability to steer through a panic stop. Research has shown (real research, not dudes online) that it is the superior option in all conditions except one: deep, loose surfaces. There, engineers generally agree that it can be helpful to be able to lock the brakes so that material piles up in front of the tires. Why you wouldn't want it on ice is beyond me. As soon as those wheels lock, you're a hockey puck. Damned if I'm going to give up any more control than I have to in a situation like that.

Honestly, a lot of these stories are really about guys over-driving their tires. If your life was at risk because the brakes were inadequate, you were going to fast for the conditions and the tires you use. Pretty much inarguable.

I do a lot of harcore, rural winter driving and I've had zero experience of the sort described here. The brakes are exceptional on slippery surfaces, given it's a truck. The only place I wish they were better? Dry pavement. I think the ABS works fine, but I wish the brakes had more muscle.

Flame away

 

You didn't read any of this thread, did you?

 

You live in Toronto. What would you know about driving in winter?



I'm from rural Ontario but I now live in Manitoba. ABS in Ontario isn't a big deal because you're driving on salted the roads, plus the lower air temperatures give better traction on snow/ice. If you drive on frozen snow/ice it's a totally different experience.

 

Honestly, a lot of these stories are really about guys over-driving their tires. If your life was at risk because the brakes were inadequate, you were going to fast for the conditions and the tires you use. Pretty much inarguable.


Flame away [/QUOTE]


I thought the same thing, wait til it happens then you will be the hockey puck thinking WTF!?

 

ABS on this truck sucks. I disable it when wheeling by disconnecting the wire that goes to front wheel. ABS light comes on but I don't care. I like having control of my truck. Almost rear ended a friend of mine coming down a sandy hill because of it. I was slowing down and all of a sudden it kicked in and it was pretty much like not having any brakes at all point. I hit the E brake and barely missed him.