I'm toying with some ideas at the moment aimed at improving the driver/car interface whilst also saving weight.

One idea is to remove the ABS when I fit a larger brake package at the front. Anyone give me an idea about how involved it is. Clearly, I will need to remove the ABS electronic control unit and the ABS splitter thing under the bonnet. Can I also remove the speed sensors on the wheels ro do they have another purpose? Where is the ABS ECU - I have manuals so I can find it if no-one knows off the top of their head. Also when I remove the ABS unit from under the bonnet, how much re-plumbing of brake pipes is needed?

TIA

Jon

 

I believe the ABS can be simply disabled by removing two fuses. Many have done this in snow when ABS becomes more dangerous than simple good driving. The removal of ABS for a track car is understandable, but if you are regularly activating it on the road then you need to modify your driving, not the car. The fastest road drivers I know, and me, drive to extreme speeds without using brakes apart from as a result of a mistake or unexpected incident (Roadcraft). Used well, standard WRX brake discs and calipers with decent pads, lines and fluid are adequate for road use. STI Brembo's are more than adequate, especially with Performance Friction or Pagid pads IMHO. The best money I ever spent to improve driving performance was spent on improving me, not the car !

Edit : Also note that disabling the ABS may invalidate your insurance.

 

I know about the fuse trick. I rarely, if ever, have had the ABS kick in on th current car so I'm carrying dead weight by having it fitted.

For fast road use my WRX set-up is fine, but I'm planning some power upgrades, going somewhere in the region of 400bhp over the next 12-18 months, and in line with that I'll planning some AP 6-pots.

 

Go for a $h!t before driving the car, it will remove more weight ! With 400bhp, even a couple of kilograms would be unnoticeable. Weight reduction needs to be significant before you'd notice any benefit on the road. Look at carbon seats, racing batteries (relocated to the boot), lightweight alloys, A/C removal, the silly rear spoiler (weighs a bloody ton) etc etc. A couple of sensors, some wires and whatever other bits'n'bobs aren't worth the hassle, especially when you consider the safety aspect of removing them and the legal repercussions from any resultant accident and insurance claim.

 

The ABS is just one piece on a long list that includes the A/C etc.

Like I said at the start, just an idea at the moment, depending upon how complex. All will be declared to the insurance so no legal issues.

 

Can someone pm me the fuses I need to pull/adapt to remove abs for track days please

 

 

does this disable anything else?
only I saw someone say there was 2 wires coming off the back of 1 fuse and they fitted a switch.

 

I believe that from 02 on all cars have EBD which would be disabled along with the ABS, meaning the rear wheels might be more likely to lock up under harsh braking which could be potentially dangerous.

 

I find my brakes (STI @ 400 bhp) fine on track or not with ABS + EBD working, and Performance Friction discs and pads + braided lines.

EBD is ace, I once came round a corner to find a queue of traffic at some temporary lights and the car just stopped, my passenger (MKII Escort fan) said he thought we were off through a hedge backwards....

I like tech that works !

dunx

 

Dunx urs must be different to mine fella (JDM V7 sti), I can feel the abs kick in on B roads and the peddle seems to sit hi once its kicked in, it feels as though your fighting the peddle to apply more pressure, I understand how it works but if u lift a wheel out of a bump it seems to kick in for a lot longer then the wheel is airbourne same on gravel once ur thru it it seems to hold off a few seconds longer, again not giving much confidence.