Adding ABS to non ABS KJ - To Brake or not to Brake...

RickMars · **Joined:** Mon Jul 11, 2005 8:13 pm **Posts:** 10

(I tried the Search with no results, hopefully this hasn't been covered and I missed it)

I am very interested in adding adding ABS to my non ABS KJ (2003).

The local dealers won't touch it and I'm hoping someone here has some good ideas on how this can be done.
Thanks in advance.

tommudd · **Posted:** Tue Aug 07, 2012 5:36 pm

Sell the 03 and buy one with ABS
Be hard to add/swap everything
Most people would like to get rid of the worthless ABS

RickMars · **Joined:** Mon Jul 11, 2005 8:13 pm **Posts:** 10

Yeah, I hear that a lot, but it's a fantastic rig and paid off for a long time. I'm not ready to move on

So most don't care for the ABS? I don't care for the stopping distance especially with the muds on. It would be nice to have a little more stopping power.

tommudd · **Posted:** Tue Aug 07, 2012 6:13 pm

Will open a huge can of worms here
But ABS won't stop you that much faster in the real world
It takes over the stopping for you so you don't have to think
but I always hear a lot of cons against it

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Tue Aug 07, 2012 6:14 pm

RickMars wrote:

Yeah, I hear that a lot, but it's a fantastic rig and paid off for a long time. I'm not ready to move on

So most don't care for the ABS? I don't care for the stopping distance especially with the muds on. It would be nice to have a little more stopping power.

ABS increases stopping distance,does nothing for "more stopping power" as it's still the same braking system as you have now,nothing mechanical changes between the ABS KJ's and non-ABS KJ's.Pretty much to sum it up there is no way to add ABS to your non-ABS KJ,not unless your very rich and have more $$$ then brains.

RickMars · **Joined:** Mon Jul 11, 2005 8:13 pm **Posts:** 10

ABS most certainly decreases the stopping distance of a vehicle versus locking up the tires and sliding down the road. I realize the mechanics are the same but wanted to see if there was a way to add the control module and sensors easily AND if it makes a lot of difference.

My other vehicles and work truck all have ABS and the braking is remarkably better than the KJ under all conditions. I know its not practical but wanted to know from a technical point of view if it's possible and semi-practical.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Tue Aug 07, 2012 6:37 pm

RickMars wrote:

ABS most certainly decreases the stopping distance of a vehicle versus locking up the tires and sliding down the road. I realize the mechanics are the same but wanted to see if there was a way to add the control module and sensors easily AND if it makes a lot of difference.

My other vehicles and work truck all have ABS and the braking is remarkably better than the KJ under all conditions. I now its not practical but wanted to know from a technical point of view if it's possible and semi-practical.

.ABS has been found to cause just as many accidents as it may prevent since most do not know what actually happens when the ABS pump actually engages and when it does they freak out and let off the brake totally defeating the whole purpose.You also can not compare other vehicles to your KJ,you only can compare a non-ABS KJ against a ABS KJ as other vehicles will always brake different then each other.

The ABS system in '02-'05 KJ's requires a whole wiring harness as it's tied into the PCM,BCM,and IC.Can it be done? Yes but not worth what you will have to spend to do it.

RickMars · **Joined:** Mon Jul 11, 2005 8:13 pm **Posts:** 10

I agree...you can't compare across vehicles. I've never driven a KJ with ABS so I don't really know. I have historically been in the "it causes more trouble than it's worth" crowd. I've just been impressed with the work truck (which is also a Chrysler product), but it's a lot newer obviously and a different vehicle.

Thanks for the info and perspective.

jeepskate · **Posted:** Tue Aug 07, 2012 9:00 pm

I have ABS on my 02. I don't hate it, but I wouldn't pay a nickel to add it on if I didn't have it. Converting to ABS is certainly not worth the serious coin it would cost. I'm no engineer, but I know from my own experience that ABS doesn't shorten my stopping distance on loose surfaces like snow, sand and gravel. I'd guess it has something to with a skidding tire piling up the material in front of it rather than skating over it.

At The Helm · **Posted:** Tue Aug 07, 2012 9:31 pm

Not sure what year abs was introduced to the kj, but 06 and up including kks have abs and stability control. It sucks bad to have bigger tires and a lift because it always goes off on slow turns. Winter time is even worst when rally turning corners. I usually disable the whole system w my master killswitch except on highways for legal reasons.

4x4kingx889 · **Joined:** Sun Jul 17, 2011 6:42 pm **Posts:** 235

I have abs and I really don't care for it at all in the winter

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Tue Aug 07, 2012 11:52 pm

Atthehelm wrote:

Not sure what year abs was introduced to the kj, .

Was a option on all '02-'05 KJ's,standard on '06+ Liberty's.

surfRenegade · **Posted:** Fri Aug 10, 2012 1:59 pm

I tend to like ABS. I have had vehicles with both. You need to know how to use both to get the best out of them.

For the original poster, have you tried upgrading your pad, rotors, and lines? May be a good place to start. In past vehicles switching from the rubber brake lines to all stainless steel made a big difference in stopping power.

RickMars · **Joined:** Mon Jul 11, 2005 8:13 pm **Posts:** 10

That's a good point. I am still stock on everything. On my other vehicles I have gone to Mopar Performance on the pads (Ceramic ) and rotors. I'll look into that.

The big deal is that my teenage daughter will be driving the KJ from time to time starting this year. I want it to be "easy" as possible for her. I am going to start by going to a slightly smaller, street friendly tire and work on the brakes next. I have two sets of rims and will leave the MTs on for the fun stuff.

Where do you get the stainless lines and what do they do exactly to help?

surfRenegade · **Posted:** Fri Aug 10, 2012 6:54 pm

I had the SS braided lines on a tuner car of mine before I had the Jeep. I had PowerStop rotors and Hawk performance pads on as well. The rotors I think made the least amount of difference. With the regular rubber hoses, as the brakes would heat up they would start to feel more and more squishy and weak...as the fluid heats up those rubber lines heat up and tend to give more. The SS braided lines always felt very firm and had a quick response. I went with Goodrich and I believe I got them from Summit Racing.

Adding ABS to non ABS KJ - To Brake or not to Brake...

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