Doing winter driving with the WRX and I usually long press the traction control to turn it off, but ABS lengthens my brake distance in snow, and I'm pretty sure there is some residual VDC (vehicle dynamics control) remaining even when TC is turned off, because the car doesn't rotate as easily as it should.
I'm also annoyed that it's very hard to tell when ABS kicks in because the noise/feel is almost undetectable to me, making threshold braking much harder to dial in. Maybe the NVH from the mounts in my car are camouflaging the feel of ABS, who knows.
I haven't attempted anything yet, but based on my research I have run down the following options:
- Pull ABS fuse(s)
This is the most direct method, but it puts the car into limp mode where power steering is at 50%, RPM is locked at 4000, CEL turns on, plus a couple of other problems.
I assume the VB also goes into limp mode, so I don't understand how that works...
unless you can get rid of limp mode by simply clearing the codes. That would be amazing.
- Pull or disable ABS wheel sensors
This causes the same problems as pulling the fuse.
- Disconnect ABS control module (VDC control module & hydraulic control unit, or VDCCM&H/U)
Would probably put the car into limp mode as well. There is also a chance it could mess up the brake bias. To avoid that, someone suggested disabling the ABS pump instead, if that's possible.
- Disconnect yaw sensor
It sucks, but the yaw sensor in the VA chassis is integrated in the ABS module. Longitudinal and lateral G sensors are also integrated.
- Disconnect or delete steering angle sensor
This would only stand a chance of disabling the VDC of course, but if you pull off your wheel then you can get to the steering angle sensor behind the clock spring. It works through a couple of plastic tabs that rotate with the angle of the clock spring. If disconnecting the sensor trips limp mode, you could delete the plastic tabs so the sensor wouldn't measure any inclination. Who knows what else this would do lol.
- Pull mystery fuse that will kill VDC (not ABS) without tripping limp mode
The interior fusebox under the traction control button may have a fuse that indirectly disables VDC somehow.
and, more promisingly, user ZCD posted here about turning off VDC in a 2021 Impreza hatchback using a similar method.
The fuse that ZCD pulled for his hatchback appears to be for the brake lights. The VA WRX also has this fuse.
The VA WRX also has another interior line of fuses perpendicular to the interior fusebox, although I haven't found out what those are.
- Physically block off or remove ABS system
Wilwood makes a brake booster delete for older Subarus that also entails removing the ABS. I haven't seen anyone post about modding a VA like that though. I don't want the ABS permanently gone obviously, but it's a possibility.
That's what I've got to start with. Hopefully someone out there knows how to do this. Kind of surprised I can't find anyone who's accomplished it considering how popular the VA is, but most people are racing with cheap older Subarus.
Links:
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- Disabling VDC in a 2021 Impreza hatchback
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01-07-2025, 02:13 AM
2015-2021 VA chassis - how to disable ABS?
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