[Hurting]

Earlier this year I was driving my X on the beach and this past weekend I was playing around in a muddy field/parking lot. Both times I noticed a fairly loud, rapid and harsh clicking sound whenever I was moving at any amount of speed. I was a bit busy working the wheel to really look at the dash but it seemed like to me the SLIP light was on/flashing at the same time I was hearing the noise.

So that tells me that the noise I was hearing was probably the ABLS system engaging/disengaging to minimize wheel spin and all is normal. That sound about right to everyone? Have you all noticed the same noise when the ABLS system kicks in on your Xs?

And, if so, is there any (easy) way to turn the system off? I understand how the ABLS system works and how it helps. But for times like this weekend when I just want to throw my X into slides, spin the wheels and toss mud all over the place, I really don't want the ABLS system active. The manual says that turning VDC off will still allow the ABLS system to function so I guess that's not an option.

 

[BoonDox]

Just turn VDC off, you can still fish tail and do donuts..
________
TOYOTA QUICKDELIVERY SPECIFICATIONS

 

[lifeinthesouth]

Just turn VDC off

yup, that's it!

 

[Hurting]

Thanks. I'll remember to turn the VDC off the next time I get off-road again (although those times seem few and far between) to see if that makes a difference. But from just reading the manual (page 5-30), it looks like the ABLS system will still engage even with the VDC turned off.

Also, just to clarify, that noise I'm hearing does sound like the ABLS system kicking in, right? I'm just hoping that its not some sort of problem.

 

[RogueClimber]

Abs is noisy as hell :bounce:

 

[usmc xterra]

The ABS OFF Switch MOD is for just this type instance. If you want to just try it, Just stop and remove the ABS fuse, See the ABS MOD for location, then drive around a bit and you will notice you have all the control and no noise. If you like it, do the ABS OFF Mod, pretty easy. Suggested by the guys who are doing the NISMO Fronty at Four Wheeler Magazine. MC

 

[Muzikman]

Turning VDC off will not turn off your ABLS.

What you were hearing was probably the ABLS which sounds nasty as hell.

The VDC will only kick in if it feels you are sliding sideways and/or about to roll.

ABLS will kick in if it detects one wheel spinning much faster than the other.

The ABLS switch MC is talking about would turn it all off.

 

[Glucola]

The only down side to taking out the ABS will basically render you into a open front and rear diff. You'll basically be at the same level as the first gens without the LSD diff but with more power. ABS is needed to be able to use the ABLS system.

 

[Hurting]

OK, thanks again. I was actually reading MC's ABS mod last night and was wondering if that would help me out to (good write-up by the way). In fact, i just sent a text message to my wife who's out getting groceries to pick up Four Wheeler magazine so I can have that for a reference also (although that issue may no longer be out).

MC, your mod looks like it will only disable ABS (basically the same as pulling the fuse). Is that right or does it also disable VDC? I don't know if those two are tied together in the fuse box. If not, then I should probably hit the VDC switch along with your ABS switch when I want both off.

 

[Muzikman]

Turing off ABS will turn off ABLS and VDC as they both use the ABS sensors to work.

 

[Hurting]

Ah, OK. So that fuse is tied into the ABS sensors. That's good. One switch takes care of both. Thanks.

 

[Muzikman]

The only down side to taking out the ABS will basically render you into a open front and rear diff. You'll basically be at the same level as the first gens without the LSD diff but with more power. ABS is needed to be able to use the ABLS system.

That was my thought in a previous post. I personally think that ABLS is invaluable unless you are locked, and even then, it's still very useful in the front.

I guess it would depend on the type of wheeling you want to do. I guess you could also turn it on and off as needed (going down a hill, turn off ABS, going up a hill, turn it on. That just seems like a lot of switching during a days worth of wheeling.

If I am crawling down a steep hill, I am going slow enough the ABS will not kick in, which is the only time I can see it being scary or dangerous. I have wheeled quite a bit and I have never had the ABS kick in on a trail. The GF has though (a couple times) and both times I though, huh, that was strange.

 

[usmc xterra]

The ABS off switch is there for times when it happens and you want to stop it real quick or when you know the situation presented is going to make it happen in these situations the ABLS won't be needed. We're mostly talking down hill low traction descents here, on loose surface. The idea being build up a wedge of gravel/sand/mud/whatever in front of the tires to help you stop. ABS lets material Pass under and you keep sliding.

You can imagine what you can do with it in other situations just messing around. (Under power) But the ABLS will keep you going better than with it off. Still some situations ABS off would work better and make a lot less noise.

Adding the switch gives you a choice. Four Wheeler done it to the NISMO Fronty project vehicle they are running because they discovered the Bennie's. It's page 73 OCT issue My write up gives a lot more detail than theirs, you can read their article in the store before the clerk even sees you have it open. 1 Page! And the parts list sucked! MC

 

[Hurting]

Good points Dan and Muzikman. By and large whenever I'm wheeling, I'll probably have the ABLS engaged. But for the times like this past weekend when I had a large field of packed earth that had been rained on all day, I just couldn't resist throwing my X sideways and doing a few doughnuts. For times like that, I'd like to be able to turn the ABLS off so my X doesn't go crazy trying to keep the wheel spin down when a lot of wheel spin is what I want in the first place :cheese:

And MC, I'm glad you shared the details on your mod because I haven't been able to find a copy of the Oct issue of Four Wheeling yet. And besides, it sounds like you went into a lot more in-depth than their 1-page article did anyway.

Also (and I probably just need to go back to read your instructions again), you say we'll need to pull the dash off to do your mod but I don't see why. Can't I just hook up to the fuse box like you described, run a wire through some spot in the firewall and then just tie into a switch like you showed? I just don't see where I have to pull the dash off to do what you did.

 

[usmc xterra]

Also (and I probably just need to go back to read your instructions again), you say we'll need to pull the dash off to do your mod but I don't see why. Can't I just hook up to the fuse box like you described, run a wire through some spot in the firewall and then just tie into a switch like you showed? I just don't see where I have to pull the dash off to do what you did.

Yea you can do a switch just under the dash near the steering column. I just did it that way to have it close to 4WD switch and make it fast and easy to reach. Anywhere you can live with the switch is ok. Even by the mirror control is good. Some people have a switch that even fits in one of those holes. I complicated it with my location MC

 

[Hurting]

Thanks for that last bit of info MC.

Any thoughts on which gauge of wire to use for this project?