[3Wide]

Where is the ABS unit located on a 2004 4x4 Liberty?

[LibertyTC]

Wow... twice typing upload to get this posted, what up with this forum?
The CAB (control unit) attached to hydraulic control is brain of ABS. Found under the hood on the left side.
It has a self check and fault codes are stored and held in memory. A special dealer code reader DRB is needed to read codes.
Is the ABS dash light on? If so it needs to be taken to a professional to read the codes.

[3Wide]

I did not see the unit, I followed the brake lines from the master cylinder, and did not find it, after looking up specs on the 04 Liberty, i see that ABS is a option

[LibertyTC]

That is correct,ABS as optional.
I have 2004 NO ABS..

[3Wide]

Thats what I thought, I jamed on the brakes in the snow and she locked up all 4 wheels. O well back to the old days.

[tjkj2002]

Originally Posted by 3Wide

Thats what I thought, I jamed on the brakes in the snow and she locked up all 4 wheels. O well back to the old days.

Your better off without it.

[LibertyTC]

I would be curious to know on dry pavement, what the stopping distance comparison would be.
ABS vs Non ABS at 60 mph. (both with disc brakes) Which would win?
I agree with Tj, I like the easier maintenance, less to go wrong and a real input to braking experience.
I have all discs and on snow with good tires on snow, it tracks straight and very little slide on heavy braking.
Forget the traction control as well, it would just be nuisance, and slow me down, when I need power to get out.

[tjkj2002]

Originally Posted by LibertyTC

I would be curious to know on dry pavement, what the stopping distance comparison would be.
ABS vs Non ABS at 60 mph. (both with disc brakes) Which would win?
I agree with Tj, I like the easier maintenance, less to go wrong and a real input to braking experience.
I have all discs and on snow with good tires on snow, it tracks straight and very little slide on heavy braking.
Forget the traction control as well, it would just be nuisance, and slow me down, when I need power to get out.

It's been proven that a non-ABS vehicle(same model with same tires) will stop faster on virtually all surfaces with a competent driver.

ABS is for those you do not know how to drive(as is ESP and traction control).

[tom964]

Originally Posted by tjkj2002

It's been proven that a non-ABS vehicle(same model with same tires) will stop faster on virtually all surfaces with a competent driver.

ABS is for those you do not know how to drive(as is ESP and traction control).

First, that is straight line. When designed correctly, ABS allows you to swerve and brake at the same time.

Second, every person has a threshold of panic. Once that threshold is reached in an emergency situation, they are no longer a competent driver for the next couple of seconds, no matter how good they are on a skidpad. ABS is for those situations.

That said, I wish I didn't have ABS on my 2005 liberty. It is not designed well. Generally, if you can stop a car well without ABS, you can stop it with ABS and not have the ABS kick in. Not so with my Liberty. It kicks in too easily and pulses too slowly, and I've almost slid into intersections several times when it kicked in on a slippery surface, and I know I could have stopped better without it. I've not said that about any other car or motorcycle I've owned with ABS.

And as to the ability to swerve and brake you can't do that in a Liberty anyway, with or without ABS, as you'll probably flip before you skid!

[LibertyTC]

All very interesting comments!
I bet with my 04 and No ABS I can totally beat the ABS equipped to a Stop any day of the week.
There is a secret..it is called be ready to also use the gears, and gear down while on the brakes.
The kj is heavy when loaded w/ full passengers and fuel. With boat on, wow gear time, and wish I would have bought a stick.

[tom964]

Originally Posted by LibertyTC

All very interesting comments!
I bet with my 04 and No ABS I can totally beat the ABS equipped to a Stop any day of the week.
There is a secret..it is called be ready to also use the gears, and gear down while on the brakes.
The kj is heavy when loaded w/ full passengers and fuel. With boat on, wow gear time, and wish I would have bought a stick.

I bet you could. In the Liberty. As I said, they are not engineered correctly and I wish I didn't have them.

In any other car, you might also beat me . . .

. . . unless you are swerving to avoid the panel van that just pulled in right out in front of you while hitting the brakes to avoid going over into the oncoming traffic.

. . . or you are startled by a deer (or kid) running out in front of you and hit the brakes a tad too hard at first on wet pavement, causing you to immediately skid sideways.

In most cars, ABS will save you in those unusual situations, and won't hurt you in normal situations. In the Liberty, it hurts you in normal situations.

[tjkj2002]

Originally Posted by tom964

I bet you could. In the Liberty. As I said, they are not engineered correctly and I wish I didn't have them.

In any other car, you might also beat me . . .

. . . unless you are swerving to avoid the panel van that just pulled in right out in front of you while hitting the brakes to avoid going over into the oncoming traffic.

. . . or you are startled by a deer (or kid) running out in front of you and hit the brakes a tad too hard at first on wet pavement, causing you to immediately skid sideways.

In most cars, ABS will save you in those unusual situations, and won't hurt you in normal situations. In the Liberty, it hurts you in normal situations.

The KJ's ABS system is no different then any other vehicle and is not a contributing factor.

If you know how to drive you also know what to do in a panic situation.Most insurance company's have found that ABS causes more accidents then prevents since 90% of the owners have no idea how the system works and freakout when it activates and they let off the brakes.

Before my KJ I owned a '01 WJ that had ABS and from growing up on snow/ice I know how to drive(and stop) on it.Well after blowing through 3 stop lights with ABS I pulled the fuse and never blew through another one afterwards with the ABS disabled,same driving style.My foot can modulate the brake pedal better then a computer can.In panic situations I rarely ever use the brake pedal anyways,I downshift so no locking of the wheels anyways.When my KJ was stock I couldn't lock any of the wheels on any surface besides ice,now I can with the SFA conversion and tires that have 200% more contact patch then the OEM tires have.But again if I have to turn on ice I never have my foot on the brake pedal,that is key.


Oh and far as people running out in front of you unless they are in a crosswalk with a posted sign(or lite walk sign) they are in the wrong nowdays and the driver is not at fault.

[LibertyTC]

tjkj, ya anyone who wants to step in front of your rig obviously is looking to give away death benefits.
I can understand unplugging the ABS fuse, and black tape over light. Sometimes they feel soft where is the brakes?

[brucebotti]

I had ABS on my 1991 Taurus SHO and it was fantastic. If you were on any kind of slippery surface, it would stop the vehicle straight and true. I could see where you wouldn't want ABS on a Liberty while you were offroad. On a road vehicle I would like ABS. I wouldn't want my wife driving a vehicle without it.
Bruce

[3Wide]

Wow did not think this would draw this much response.

ABS or No ABS it comes down to an competent driver, ABS is a panic situation device, I have seen plenty of drivers with ABS go right off the road during panic breaking, they for get to keep stearing the car, they think the ABS will save them, they get a false sense of security, I grew up without ABS, as many of you, I agree with brucebotti, I wouldn't want my wife driving a car without it. competent drivers is the main key, and paying attention to what is going on around you at all times, put the cell phone down, and stop tailgateing the car in front of you, I was tought to always look for a way out if something goes wrong.

ABS F1 raceing, No ABS Nascar, its all in your foot.