Driving without ABS Module is wierd.

[stevemiller333]

I pulled my ABS module last night to send out for repair. I have read that its totally fine to drive around without it so I thought I would give it a go.

My car is totally different without the module.

First of all, what is going on with the steering?! It is so light, it feels like a civic. It actually feels like I could push the car a little harder in the corners but it was so strange feeling I didn't mess with it.
Moved to avoid a pothole at about 75 mph and almost shot off the road! I am guessing that the computer offers more steering assistance at low speeds and since it thinks I am not moving it has the power steering on max or something, maybe someone could explain.

Secondly, clutch disengagement is 100% worse, especially when it is cold, and through first 3 gears. Press the clutch peddle down to shift to second and there is a pronounced THUD and it feels like the engine and tranny drop a few inches.
So strange, normally shifts rock solid and so smooth. What the heck could this be?

Throttle feels a little different too.

Anyone have any science to explain? This module certainly does a lot more than ABS, I think I will take the other car to work for the next few days until I get it back fixed!

[Jdsb6s4]

definitely!! It will also do the exact opposite on your symptoms.. it can have a hanging throttle between the shifts and the steering can feel like you lost your power steering.. I also didn't have a MPH reading. That module makes everything work in unison. Let me know if you have a coding issues once you install your fixed module..

[s4ski]

I had many of those symptoms this summer during hot weather WITH the module still on and it would change from day to day. One day Honda Civic steering, one day old school truck steering. Usually no speedo. Hoping to get mine out this weekend. Did you have any trouble getting yours out?

[stevemiller333]

Yea it makes the car very different. I am curious how it affects the steering so much. Check engine light was on today so I have the full light show going on now!

Thanks Jds, I will reach out if there are coding issues when I get it back. I found this seller on Ebay and paid $120 for the fix. He has no items in his store as of today so I hope I didn't get hosed.

https://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISA...ab=AllFeedback

I went with this seller because he has done a ton of them, has 100% positive feedback, and he doesn't fix it if it's not broken. He tests it first.

It was a little more difficult to take out than I thought it would be, but it still only took a half hour or so, 1.5 beers. In a youtube video I watched the tech bend the unit right out of its cradle in one quick motion. This was not the case with me at all. I unclipped the brake lines from their plastic mounts near the unit so it had more give. I had to pull up on it harder than I really wanted, to get an angle on the lower 2 screws (bending brake lines) I would recommend having a long torx handled screw driver or a socket with a long shank. This helps in getting the lower screws out. I stuffed some plastic shopping bags in where it was. All of the lines bent back to their normal locations and looked good.

Here is the form I had to fill out to send it in....

http://www.cheapabs.com/ABSFORM.pdf

[ven0m]

The ABS sensors are the car's speed sensors at the same time. Without the ABS module the car doesn't know how fast it travels.

Most cars (not sure for S4) came with Audi's servotronic steering assistance which makes the steering lighter at low speed and tighter at high speed. Without the servotronic receiving a speed input from the ABS module it will affect it's behaviour.

And in response any other auxiliary element requiring a speed input.


The ABS sensor is located at the wheels (see bellow) and is simple proximity switch (encoder) counting the groves on the axle CV.



Here you can see the groves on your axle CV which trigger the ABS sensor when the wheel is turning.

[Jdsb6s4]

Yea it makes the car very different. I am curious how it affects the steering so much. Check engine light was on today so I have the full light show going on now!

Thanks Jds, I will reach out if there are coding issues when I get it back. I found this seller on Ebay and paid $120 for the fix. He has no items in his store as of today so I hope I didn't get hosed.

https://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISA...ab=AllFeedback

I went with this seller because he has done a ton of them, has 100% positive feedback, and he doesn't fix it if it's not broken. He tests it first.

It was a little more difficult to take out than I thought it would be, but it still only took a half hour or so, 1.5 beers. In a youtube video I watched the tech bent the unit right out of its cradle in one quick motion. This was not the case with me at all. I unclipped the brake lines from their plastic mounts near the unit so it had more give. I had to pull up on it harder than I really wanted, to get an angle on the lower 2 screws (bending brake lines) I would recommend having a long torx handled screw driver or a socket with a long shank. This helps in getting the lower screws out. I stuffed some plastic shopping bags in where it was. All of the lines bent back to their normal locations and looked good.

Here is the form I had to fill out to send it in....

http://www.cheapabs.com/ABSFORM.pdf

Since I am working on as much weight reduction as possible I went ahead and removed the windshield water reservoir to access those 2 lower torx without bending the lines too badly. During install I just left the two lower bolts out :)

[Jdsb6s4]

The ABS sensors are the car's speed sensors at the same time. Without the ABS module the car doesn't know how fast it travels.

Most cars (not sure for S4) came with Audi's servotronic steering assistance which makes the steering lighter at low speed and tighter at high speed. Without the servotronic receiving a speed input from the ABS module it will affect it's behaviour.

And in response any other auxiliary element requiring a speed input.


The ABS sensor is located at the wheels (see bellow) and is simple proximity switch (encoder) counting the groves on the axle CV.



Here you can see the groves on your axle CV which trigger the ABS sensor when the wheel is turning.

I was going to check my abs/ speed sensors first but i noticed to even remove them I would have had to remove my whole setup (calipers, rotors, phaeton brake ducts) so I went a smarter route and performed the live data test which was much easier. The test will show that the sensors are working without the module coded.

[stevemiller333]

"Servotronic Steering" That is what I was looking for! Going to do some research on how that works now.

Thanks Venom. I know a lot of the newer cars have steering assistance for their electronic systems, but I didn't know Audi had one for the older hydraulic systems.

So there must also be some sort of system that helps with smoother clutch disengagement under speed that doesn't occur at 0 mph.

[Jdsb6s4]

http://wiki.ross-tech.com/wiki/index...28Bosch_5.7%29


Use this for your coding. Look in your car service manual to confirm your brake setup but I’m sure it will say 1LJ for brembo brakes. After your soft coding you might possibly show that steering is “locked” via VCDS but just read the special note at the bottom of that link and just follow the instructions. You don’t necessarily need to perform the steering test since that just involves you driving around the block for a few minutes with a few full turns

[stevemiller333]

http://wiki.ross-tech.com/wiki/index...28Bosch_5.7%29


Use this for your coding. Look in your car service manual to confirm your brake setup but I’m sure it will say 1LJ for brembo brakes. After your soft coding you might possibly show that steering is “locked” via VCDS but just read the special note at the bottom of that link and just follow the instructions. You don’t necessarily need to perform the steering test since that just involves you driving around the block for a few minutes with a few full turns

Do you think I will need to recode the module if I am reinstalling the same module?

- - - Updated - - -

Also, thanks for that, now I understand the coding.

[Jdsb6s4]

Do you think I will need to recode the module if I am reinstalling the same module?

- - - Updated - - -

Also, thanks for that, now I understand the coding.

I am going to say yes because I got that “locked” reading and couldn’t figure it out so I tried to put the old one back in and it needed recoding.

[ottocycle]

http://wiki.ross-tech.com/wiki/index...28Bosch_5.7%29


Use this for your coding. Look in your car service manual to confirm your brake setup but I’m sure it will say 1LJ for brembo brakes. After your soft coding you might possibly show that steering is “locked” via VCDS but just read the special note at the bottom of that link and just follow the instructions. You don’t necessarily need to perform the steering test since that just involves you driving around the block for a few minutes with a few full turns

What do the different brake setup codes do to the ABS module? Is this something that should be recoded if you install a BBK?

[ven0m]

I was going to check my abs/ speed sensors first but i noticed to even remove them I would have had to remove my whole setup (calipers, rotors, phaeton brake ducts) so I went a smarter route and performed the live data test which was much easier. The test will show that the sensors are working without the module coded.

Depending on the sensor type you can also check them at the connector/cable by measuring the contacts. Not sure which sensor we are utilising on the B7, but these would be your measuring points with a simple multi-meter.

"Servotronic Steering" That is what I was looking for! Going to do some research on how that works now.

Thanks Venom. I know a lot of the newer cars have steering assistance for their electronic systems, but I didn't know Audi had one for the older hydraulic systems.

So there must also be some sort of system that helps with smoother clutch disengagement under speed that doesn't occur at 0 mph.

The clutch would be a strange one as it is linked to the same hydraulics as the brakes. The brake accelerator should be independent of car speed normally, but given how z-germanz like to over-engineer everything, might very well be possible.

[s4ski]

Thanks OP for removal experience report. Does anyone know if a V Checker tool is adequate for coding the module? I don't have VCDS.

[Jdsb6s4]

What do the different brake setup codes do to the ABS module? Is this something that should be recoded if you install a BBK?

you just need to lock in the appropriate code for what your car is and has. No it does not need to be recoded when you install BBK. I am running 18z and my car is fine.

[stevemiller333]

All fixed! No lights and everything is back to normal. Also, coding was not needed.

[Jdsb6s4]

All fixed! No lights and everything is back to normal. Also, coding was not needed.

oh thats sweet.. I must have needed to recode since I put in a different one... good stuff!... now get out there and break something else ;)~

[stevemiller333]

Thanks for all your help, on to the upper control arms and oil filter housing leak! Trying to get some issues resolved before winter.