91 SE ABS conversion

[rivercitylotus]

Hello everyone;

The ABS on this car definitely needs work and from what I've seen, there's no reason to spend money bring the stock ABS back to life on this car, just so I can disable it.

I would like to jettison the delco moraine, powermaster whatever ABS brake system and replace it with a vacuum assisted non ABS unit. Its been suggested that I could put an early v8 non-ABS vacuum assist master cylinder on the car without a lot of bracket work. Its also been suggested that a pre ABS (mid 80s )master cylinder would work well but that the brackets are hard to find. Also I understand that the rebuild kits and parts are getting tough to find. Other master cylinder possibilities?

The car is apart and I've got a blank slate here, so all thoughts are welcome.

Thanks to everyone,

J

[Simon350S]

Can you not just pull the ABS relay out and throw it in the bin?? Then ditch the lamp in the dash and ignore anywarnings you might get using your freescan tool???

Thats all I've ever done in the past and its how they disable the ABS systems on Group N rally cars as far as I'm aware.

Wouldn't need to replace anything then!!!

Simon

[rivercitylotus]

Can you not just pull the ABS relay out and throw it in the bin?? Then ditch the lamp in the dash and ignore anywarnings you might get using your freescan tool???

Thats all I've ever done in the past and its how they disable the ABS systems on Group N rally cars as far as I'm aware.

Wouldn't need to replace anything then!!!   

Simon

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I Still would have to replace the accumulator and very probably trashed pressure switch. The car is also missing a right fron speed ring and sensor (which I'm guessing would then become unecessary). I've been quoted roughly $240 for a pressure switch, $160 for an accumulator and another $200 or so for the speed ring and sensor and I thought I might as well kill of the whole system and start again...

Perhaps I've gone over the top on on this idea, it just seemed like a lot of wasted mass under the hood...

J

[incautious]

see the following link http://www.voicecrystal.com/esprit/ABS_disable

Because this is a powermaster 3 system(very similar to buick GN) there is no vacumme assist, the pump in essence is the power assist. Unlike other cars where you can just unplug the abs relay, and run like a regular non abs system , on PM3's disabling the abs relays will reduce braking effectiveness by an extreme amount. Better to use voice crystals method of tricking the abs into thinking that everthing is fine. You will still need a good pressure switch and accumulator, but other wise you will have converted this system over to a non abs system. Also search the turbo grand prix web sites as they also have this POS and have done extensive work on these.

I Still would have to replace the accumulator and very probably trashed pressure switch. The car is also missing a right fron speed ring and sensor (which I'm guessing would then become unecessary).  I've been quoted roughly $240 for a pressure switch, $160 for an accumulator and another $200 or so for the speed ring and sensor and I thought I might as well kill of the whole system and start again...

Perhaps I've gone over the top on on this idea, it just seemed like a lot of wasted mass under the hood...

J

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[fflyingdog]

I Still would have to replace the accumulator and very probably trashed pressure switch. The car is also missing a right fron speed ring and sensor (which I'm guessing would then become unecessary).  I've been quoted roughly $240 for a pressure switch, $160 for an accumulator and another $200 or so for the speed ring and sensor and I thought I might as well kill of the whole system and start again...

Perhaps I've gone over the top on on this idea, it just seemed like a lot of wasted mass under the hood...

J

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

$240 for a pressure switch sounds very expensive ,Lotus do them (over here) for roughly

[rivercitylotus]

Roger that regarding the switch price. I've actually got two types of problems: I missing right front speed ring which is causing the ABS light to stay on and the pressure switch / accumulator failure which caused a second brake failure light on the right side to go solid and the brakes to get scary. It also has what I understand the be the infamous random pedal height syndrome

I've got another accumulator , speed ring and sensor waiting to go on. We'll see whats up then.. thanks all

[fmxa]

Good luck trying to find the ABS pressure switch - Lotus have zero in stock and back in November GM had four replacements in the entire US (one I now have, and I heard the others have been sold) but try www.gmpartsdirect.com

BTW I also have the same crap delco ABS, and after disabling it's way way better. Correct link is http://www.voicecrystal.com/Esprit/ABS_Disable/

Finally, I did hear Viking Motor Sports in Costa Mesa have done a vacuum assist coversion on an SE so you could contact them for details.

Good luck!

[sanj]

John from WC Engineering converted his to a stock '90 non-ABS system. Unfortunately, as I found out when trying to replace my bad master cylinder, the parts are no longer available from Lotus, and nobody I have talked to can find a direct replacement. I ended up having to have mine sleeved.

Cheers,

Sanj

Edited January 2, 2006 by sanj