pig sick of abs

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concal

concal

New Member
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157
Location
chesterfield
hi all, i've just bought my second disco and all was going well till it went for mot ,nothing major front bearings wanted replacing rear discs and trailing arm link ive done all the work replaced a few suspect brake pipes and now the abs light is on all the time and the brakes are as spongy as spongebob!!!!
yes before its mentioned ive bled the brakes and checked all the sensores can anyone please help im lost without my disco pleasssssssse
 
You say you've changed the brake lines? double check they're all done up right and not weeping.

As for ABS, it's perfectly acceptable to unplug it and take the light out of the dash. If the light is on, I believe it should fail it's MOT as it isn't working, but if the light is off it isn't a problem.

It's not dangerous to remove the ABS, people have been driving cars/4x4s/vans/trucks for decades without it, you just have to know it won't be there to sort it out for you, and use the brakes accordingly.
 
Matt TDi said:
You say you've changed the brake lines? double check they're all done up right and not weeping.

As for ABS, it's perfectly acceptable to unplug it and take the light out of the dash. If the light is on, I believe it should fail it's MOT as it isn't working, but if the light is off it isn't a problem.

It's not dangerous to remove the ABS, people have been driving cars/4x4s/vans/trucks for decades without it, you just have to know it won't be there to sort it out for you, and use the brakes accordingly.
Click to expand...
It should be very obvious to the MOT man that the ABS equipment is present but the light is not working = 1 x fail.
When you did the rear discs did you adjust the rear wheel bearings correctly and reseat the ABS sensors ?
 
Last edited:
eightinavee said:
It should be very obvious to the MOT man that the ABS equipment is present but the light is not working = 1 x fail.
When you did the rear discs did you adjust the rear wheel bearings correctly and reseat the ABS sensors ?
Click to expand...

I've worked at an MOT station, and we often put cars through which had ABS but it had been disconnected. Providing there was no ABS light showing, it wasn't a problem, neither should it be anywhere else, whether it's fitted or not, if it's removed from use, thus there being no evidence of the system in operation but faulty (which a light would be seen as) then it's not an issue.
 
eightinavee said:
It should be very obvious to the MOT man that the ABS equipment is present but the light is not working = 1 x fail.
When you did the rear discs did you adjust the rear wheel bearings correctly and reseat the ABS sensors ?
Click to expand...
no just banged on the new disks ,but am going to stick some new bearings in anyway and how would you go about reseating the sensors
 
i thought that if it came out the factory with it then it was an MOT requirement? mines never worked, ive just pulled the fuse out (for normal braking) and got friendly with the MOT testers who kindly "overlook" the fault, is there any legal shpeil anywhere saying what is required to pass the MOT ABSwise - does it say anywhere that if it wasnt connected then its ok?
 
Matt TDi said:
I've worked at an MOT station, and we often put cars through which had ABS but it had been disconnected. Providing there was no ABS light showing, it wasn't a problem, neither should it be anywhere else, whether it's fitted or not, if it's removed from use, thus there being no evidence of the system in operation but faulty (which a light would be seen as) then it's not an issue.
Click to expand...
Well,you need to read the testers manual then - it should fail.
To reseat the sensor after changing rear discs/wheel bearings etc,just use a mallet and punch to gently tap the sensor fully home.It will get "wiped" back to the correct clearance by the reluctor ring as the wheel rotates.
 
eightinavee said:
Well,you need to read the testers manual then - it should fail.
Click to expand...

Well I'm not a registered tester. All I'm saying is that I know of the garage I used to work at, and a few other local garages that would be quite happy to pass an MOT if the ABS has been disconnected and there was no ABS light showing.

Depends what your preference is, and whether you know of a station that will pass it, I'm merely offering a personal opinion and anecdote on the matter. On the cars I've had with ABS it's been more hassle than aid, so I've removed it and saved myself the bother.

2p :)
 
Wheel bearings if loose can allow the disc to knock the pads back into the caliper giving a lot of travel/soft pedal so check that. Try clamping off rubber hoses in turn to see if the brake pedal improves.

Also master cylinders tend to wear in one spot over many years and as soon as you start the bleeding process the masters fail as the rubber seals are now rubbing back and forth over a wear ridge in the master cylinder bore, this will stop you getting a good pedal.

Just a thought,

regards

Dave
 
and if you replaced pipes betwean the master cylinder and the abs pump or you let the pot empty then you will need to blead the abs system on a test book (if its a td5 dont no how to do the TDIs)
 
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