Is it possible to convert ABS to non-ABS?

[Mandara]

A friend of mine with an i4 96 Camry has been having problems with his ABS kicking in while slowing down (about 5-10mph). Several mechanics have looked at the car and one of them believes the ABS actuator needs to be replaced. According to him (the mechanic) the ABS actuator is an expensive part and the job could cost as much as $1600?! There also is no check engine/ABS light to pull a code.

Another (more affordable) suggestion the mechanic gave was to remove/disable the ABS system and convert the vehicle to standard brakes. Has anyone ever heard of this or had similar experience? Just want to know if it's a procedure that can be done.. and also, how safe it is. Any suggestions would be helpful, thanks!

[bigbird]

well that mechanic should be kicked in the junk. mine did that and it was the speed sensor in one of the wheels going bad...not any actuator. just pull the fuse for the ABS and there ya have it. but it will be missed when he hits a car. you will not need to modify the brakes.

[Venom_5]

replace the speed sensor like bird said ... 2 of mine have gone bad and had them replaced at the dealership

its not cheap, but ABS > Non-ABS

[Mandara]

I'll tell him to have the speed/wheel sensors checked out and only decide to pull the ABS fuse as a last resort. I'm guessing pulling the fuse would disable the ABS making the car non-ABS?

My only question is if there is no check engine light/ABS light on, how would they know which sensor is failing/bad? Could they tell just by looking at each one? My guess is there are four...one for each wheel?

[bigbird]

theyll have to test them, mine didnt pop any codes either.

[ASG14]

I DO have a code on mine (ABS light) and had the same thing befor the sensor completely crapped out. 90% chance, it is one of the sensors. Where in MD are you located?

[Mandara]

Cool. I'm tell him to get them checked out.

I'm in the Rockville area.

[lgcongbach]

how do u know if u have abs ?

[bigbird]

slam on the brakes...if ya hit somthing and die, ya dont have ABS.

its actually a little silver controll box right behind the passenger headlight. its got like 8 small metal lines poppin out of it.

[CharmCityES]

take it to a toyota dealer for a diagnosis....
they have a computer called a techstream that you connect to the OBD2 port and you can read in livetime all the data from the ABS computer and each of the four wheelspeed sensors, and thus you can isolate the problem....its worth the $99 1 hour diagnosis fee because it could be something as small as a wheelspeed sensor....

[Venom_5]

bottom-left of the picture shows the silver box bird is talkin about - with the 4 black cable-like things coming out of the top (for Left-Front, Right-Front, Left-Rear, Right-Rear ABS)

[EEngineer]

Originally Posted by Venom_5

bottom-left of the picture shows the silver box bird is talkin about - with the 4 black cable-like things coming out of the top (for Left-Front, Right-Front, Left-Rear, Right-Rear ABS)

wow, shiny exhaust manifold cover
heehehhehee

[Venom_5]

^ painted those covers last summer ... gonna repaint them this summer prolly

[EEngineer]

^paint fetish! lol

[SmartedPanda]

I'ma die...also what paint did you use?