Hi all,

First post, but have had a couple of different magnas.

Recently bought '00 TJ Exec and would like to at least explore the idea of an ABS retrofit.

I'm aware it would be far from cheap and that some parts may be hard to get a hold of without strangling a wrecker (no offense to any that might be watching).

I suppose first thing would be something of a shopping list of what I'd need, followed by a pain in the neck factor to either convince or dissuade me.

I had to buy the TJ in a hurry (last magna met with a ute-shaped end), hence the reason for not taking the time to get a car with ABS factory fitted. I'm also not really looking to change cars again, as I've managed to come across one with a good body and driveline and an apparently great service history.

All constructive comments are welcomed

I have done many of these, stock most of what you will need as well

*ABS Modulator
*All front brake lines (metal ones)
*Main front harness
*Main Dash Harness
*Upper Dash Harness
*Front hubs
*Rear Hubs
*LHS main harness (runs down the side of the car)
*Wheel sensors

Think off the top of my head is about all

The rear brake lines are fine and can be used with no real issues

You will need to remove the dash and fan box, there is a template on the fire wall which you can cut out, if you have a peek in my 2 rides threads you will see where I have done this to both of my cars, my TE Wagon actually has the ABS system from a TJ along with pretty much everything else

Thanks for the info and reference - cost estimate?

Mal , is an ECU needed for the ABS system also?

yeah u will need that too, my TF has one, but i believe the TJ's were different

ABS electronics is in with the hydraulic unit, I believe (that's what the manual shows anyway)

The TE/F have the unit under the dash, the H onwards has the ecu within the modulator

Cost, will have to see what parts I have avail, the hubs you are better off getting locally but the rest I should have here

You may also need an engineers report and a mod plate plus show your insurance company all relevant paperwork (to their satisfaction). Failure to do this may negate your insurance and make your vehicle unroadworthy.
I'm not sure if this applies in all states but I'd certainly check before starting.

To be honest as the items are coming off a car of the same age, I can not see how this could be the case. It is not a case where you have changed rotors, calipers or cylinders, in fact I doubt that anyone would even know it was done given that most TJ series came with ABS

When I did my TE, I called my insurance that I had fitted the ABS system and the response was "as was off a mits of same body series we dont really care" Is now listed on the policy as having ABS as well as the SRS, and the host of other things fitted however is more there for replacemnt value should the car be written off or stolen

I agree with MadMagna, you will be doing an upgrade to a higher spec model of the same age, not a modification. No one will notice, except for you.

Why not keep the car standard, but make sure your tyres, rotors, pads and calipers are doing their best? After 10 years there is bound to be dirty fluid in the system. I found with my non ABS TS sedan wheel lockup was a pain in a fast stop, but after cleaning out all the calipers, fresh fluid, new rotors and pads, new front tyres (Cheap Sumitomos, nothing special), the brakes are now really easy to keep near lockup, brake pedal feedback has improved out of sight. My TS wagon with ABS still feels dead in the pedal after the same work, with better tyres.

I know ABS will work better in a panic stop, but I just prefer the feel of non ABS brakes now that they are optimal.

I'm just exploring options. Given that my heater core just started leaking the other day (things to worry about when getting 2nd hand cars), I was thinking of what I could do to the car while the dash is off. I've been saved by ABS a couple of times in near misses (that wouldn't have been had the tyres been locked up), so feel that it's the lesser of two weevils (even if the feel does disappear a bit)

Will check out the insurance issue for sure, but would think that as it is a factory option using factory parts, shouldn't be a major drama.

MadMax, remember that the TS has a toilet of an ABS system that will generally never feel anywhere as good as the non abs

The Third Gen braking system is hard to pick the 2 apart unless you know there is ABS, even then you should have exact same braking unless you try for lock up

Yes, I thought that might be the case. TS ABS was a "first try" effort for Mitsu. Its still ok compared to the non ABS TS as it has the twin pot front calipers and larger rotors. Drove a 2009 Commodore in Townsville for a week with ABS and the brakes felt very good, excellent feedback through the pedal. Things have come a long way since the TS, but that is no big surprise.
Time to get a third gen I think.

At the risk of sounding like a stirrer, I'd like to again bring up the legalities of retro-fitting ABS - check section 9 in this link to VicRoads "Guide to modifications' http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/NR/rdonlyres/CC48FC10-4D57-4F04-82E1-3BD72EF88340/0/VSI8.pdf
I've been caught before by fine print in legal matters and found that word of mouth counts for nothing - it must be written.

I am not really sure of your point,

For starters the rotors, calipers and hubs are not being touched

It is simply placing the modulator inline with the braking system, no cutting of any line is required as all lines are made to fit either with out ABS

My TE was taken to VicRoads for an insepction post the work being done, no comment was made on the ABS at all, this is also very common practice on Commodores, Falcons etc and agian provided, as it says in seciton 9, that the criteria is observerd, there will not be an issue especially given that in our case no holes are drilled and all parts were optional on Identical cars