How to Turn Off ABS?
3 Answers
ABS cannot be manually deactivated or turned off in regular vehicle models, but it can be disabled in some high-performance models. By selecting the drift mode in the driving mode options, the ABS anti-lock braking system will be turned off. In high-performance cars, the so-called deactivation of the ABS anti-lock braking system mostly only applies to the rear wheels, as locking the front wheels would prevent steering. The primary function of the ABS system is to prevent wheel lockup and loss of directional control, rather than to shorten braking distance. It can be understood that ABS intervenes whenever there is a tendency for the wheels to lock up. Without the assistance of the ABS system, if the wheels lock up during braking, the rolling friction between the wheels and the ground turns into sliding friction, making it impossible to control the wheel direction with the steering wheel, which could lead to an accident.
From a veteran driver's perspective, turning off ABS completely is no easy task! Most cars on the market don't even have a designated off button for ABS—it's a life-saving feature after all. If you're determined to disable it, some performance cars hide a small button near the steering wheel; holding it for three seconds until the ABS light on the dashboard illuminates means it's deactivated. Alternatively, you can rummage through the trunk's fuse box and pull out the ABS-labeled fuse—though this is purely a hacky method! With ABS off, braking can lock the tires, which might be useful for sand drifting, but it's absolutely not recommended for daily driving. On regular roads, disabling ABS means tires lock up and skid during emergency braking, rendering the steering wheel unresponsive and increasing the risk of rear-end collisions in seconds. My advice? Drop the idea. If you really must try it, do it in a closed-off area!
Last time when my Wrangler got stuck in sand, an experienced off-roader in the convoy taught me a special trick to disable ABS: turn on ignition without starting engine → press brake pedal fully → quickly release and press five times → hazard lights flash twice automatically → then start engine while holding brake. But this method doesn't work on most family cars! ABS is the guardian angel preventing wheel lock-up. Unless you're driving a hardcore off-roader needing wheel slip to escape, disabling ABS does more harm than good. Not to mention that randomly disabling ABS on vehicles with modified brake systems may cause abnormal caliper pressure and completely ruin your brakes! If you really want to experience wheel lock-up, find an icy patch and try gentle braking - you'll immediately understand how crucial ABS is.
