[V8] non-ABS conversion?

Tue Mar 10 08:57:06 PDT 2009

 I am also familiar with the vw ABS systems, limitations and failures.? The Audi v8 has the tried and true system, that most likely in your car only needs a sensor/sensor adjustment or driveshaft cleaning.? The center diff on the automatic locks up with the speed differential of the wheels, sensed thru the ABS sensors.? If you have no abs light, you have no lockup ability of the center diff either, never did.? The v8's are all full time awd, and the autobox uses an additional feature of a clutch locker over the center diff, causing the front and rear driveshafts to be locked.? Any braking (brake light switch activated) will disengage the clutches, allowing ABS activation during braking.? 

I would think it a nightmare and major money to delete the ABS system.? And see no benefit to doing so, especially in an autobox.? And btw, Audi was the only manufacturer to offer ABS-defeat switch in their cars thru 1992.? 

I find the v8 autobox locking center to be one of the best awd systems with ABS.? Bested only by the/my 94(-97) Toyota Landcruiser which has a full time AWD with VC, abs, *and* full locking capability of the center diff.? At 60-0 braking of 128feet, the braking system works as well as most performance cars.

That said, the v8 is a fine awd machine, has a solid low-maintenance free 3 channel ABS system that is compromised if removed. BTW until you get that ABS light out, the center diff in your v8 will/has never lock/ed.

HTH

Scott J
92 v8 4.2 ABT chip
94 Toyota Landcruiser Supercharged
3 Urq's (non abs)

-----Original Message-----
From: Seamus O'Carey <cheshirecatsbox at gmail.com>
To: V8 at audifans.com
Sent: Mon, 9 Mar 2009 11:15 pm
Subject: Re: [V8] non-ABS conversion?

Ah, I didn't realize it had anything to do with the center diff.  I'm basing
most of my opinion from my Corrado ABS, which seemed to have numerous points
of failure.  Either the comptuer, a sensor, a sensor wire, a sensor ring,
accumulator, etc., was usually failing and expensive to replace.

The ABS switch in my car doesn't work, so the ABS has been turned off since
I got it, which is part of why I figured I'd remove it.  My thinking was:
I've done fine without it so far, so why not remove it and rid the car of
some weight (admittedly only about 20-30lbs), free up some engine bay space,
and also elminate some points of possible failure in the future.

Honestly, at least for my VW, having the space in the engine bay was a big
reason for me to want to pull it, but it also wouldn't hurt anything in that
car not to have it.  I wouldn't want to have to figure out the center diff
issues in this car, so I'll just leave it.

My question now is: it doesn't disable your center diff when you turn it off
does it?  I'd hate to think I've been driving this car around with only
FWD!  ><

Seamus

On Mon, Mar 9, 2009 at 8:43 PM, <qshipq at aol.com> wrote:

>  Why not just use the ABS switch to defeat it? As a former Rally driver,
> and the Eventmaster for Gruppe-q Steamboat Ice Track for 8 years now, it's
> tough for me to go back and support the original opinion.  I can't imagine
> that whole system weighing more than 20lbs, including wiring.  If you think
> you can outperform the system, hit the ABS switch to turn it off.  As a guy
> that's serviced hundreds of Audis with the same 3 channel ABS, I find any
> statement of "failure source" to be ignorant (no offense, just no better
> word).  The v8 ABS system is identical to every other 3 Channel ABS system
> found in every other quattro, right down to the ECU part number.  It uses
> the later style 'push in' floating ABS sensors, the computer and wiring just
> doesn't fail.  95/100 times, it's an ABS sensor that was tweeked
> incidentally or out of ignorance, the other 5times is rusted teeth on the
> driveshaft.  I've had a complete 3 channel ABS system with all wiring
> included for over 15 years, never sold it, never used it to test a
> component.
>
> Gravel and snow in a straight line are the two places where buildup under
> the wheels will reduce stopping distances better than ABS.  Retrofit the ABS
> switch off if you have to.  Pulling it out for the stated reasons is just
> plain wrong.  Tell me you figured out how to lock the center diff all the
> time, causing ideal brake distribution thru the axles and ABS will fight
> it.  Say you've put massive brakes on the car front and rear that causes the
> algorithyms to be compromised to 'better' braking.  It's not for people who
> are prone to do anything....  It's a failsafe that only needs to save your
> life or someone elses - once.  I see ABS this way.  I am a performance
> driver by training that routinely turns off ABS... but there are plenty of
> times I'm not on my A-game driving.  When I'm not, ABS always is.
>
> The ABS system in the 5speed is the same as the automatic.  Leave it be,
> the torsen in the 5spd sole advantage is ABS is active without having to
> unlock the center diff.
>
> Scott "torsen-boy" J
>
>
>  -----Original Message-----
> From: Scott DeWitt <sdewitt at stx.rr.com>
> To: Seamus O'Carey <cheshirecatsbox at gmail.com>; V8 at audifans.com
> Sent: Mon, 9 Mar 2009 10:13 pm
> Subject: Re: [V8] non-ABS conversion?
>
>  some 200's came without ABS. It's straightforward to remove all the ABS 
stuff,
>
> but not very easy. You'd need new brake lines for a start.
>
>
>
> ---- Seamus O'Carey <cheshirecatsbox at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Did any of these cars NOT come with ABS or does anyone know of any other
>
> > cars that would have non-ABS parts that are compatible?
>
> >
>
> > In my opinion ABS is just another (HEAVY) source of failure that is really
>
> > only useful to people who are prone to panic under circumstances that
>
> > require hard braking.  I'd love to get rid of it, especially if (WHEN) I do
>
> > a 5spd conversion.
>
> >
>
> > Seamus
>
> > **
>
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