Bosch Motorsport ABS

Bosch Motorsport ABS brings closed-loop, driver-adjustable anti-lock braking to competition builds. The current system is the ABS M5, the same generation of hardware Bosch supplies to professional motorsport, and because it is wheel-speed based and runs independently of the engine ECU, it integrates alongside any engine management system: MoTeC, Emtron, Haltech, or Bosch MS 6. 909 Motorsport is an Authorized Bosch Motorsport Dealer based in Newcastle NSW. We supply, install and support Motorsport ABS across Australia.

Why motorsport ABS is not factory ABS

A production ABS calibration is built for road tyres, road surfaces and liability; it intervenes early and conservatively. The Motorsport ABS M5 is calibrated for racing: it works with slick and semi-slick tyres, aggressive brake packages and real aero loads, and it gives the driver direct control over how hard the system works.

Which Bosch ABS M5 kit?

The ABS M5 is the current generation, successor to the ABS M4 that many customer race programs ran before it. Bosch supplies it as complete kits: hydraulic unit with attached ECU, sensors, map switch, warning lamp, connectors and loom. The choice comes down to the wiring and the car:

Not sure which fits your build? Talk to us: matching the kit, sensors and install hardware to the car is the part we do every week.

What a Bosch Motorsport ABS kit costs

Current Australian pricing from our store, including GST:

Live pricing sits on each product page. Freight on complete kits is quoted per order, and installation and ABS calibration are quoted separately because both depend on the car.

Works with any engine ECU, including MoTeC

The ABS M5 operates independently of engine management. It reads wheel speeds, brake pressures and chassis motion directly, so it works as a standalone braking system regardless of what runs the engine: MoTeC, Emtron, Haltech or Bosch. Neither MoTeC nor Emtron make a motorsport ABS, so builds on those platforms run the Bosch unit alongside their existing electronics. CAN integration with your dash and logger is part of our install.

Master cylinders matter

Motorsport ABS pumps fluid back into the master cylinders during every control event, exposing the cylinder seals to pressure pulsation they never see in a non-ABS system. Bosch's ABS M5 documentation requires frequent master cylinder inspection for this reason, and both AP Racing and Tilton publish advisories that conventional racing master cylinders with cut-off ports can suffer seal damage under ABS operation. Tilton's 79-Series and AP Racing's centre-valve cylinders are designed for ABS use. If you're pairing an ABS kit with a pedal box, ask us to confirm the master cylinder spec before you order; it affects both safety and ABS performance.

Supplied, installed and supported by 909

We're an Authorized Bosch Motorsport Dealer, and Motorsport ABS is the system we know best: supplied, installed and supported on cars competing at World Time Attack outright level. An install covers hydraulic integration, master-cylinder compatibility, wheel-speed sensor mounting, CAN integration with your dash and logging, and commissioning with the MSA Box II. We stock the supporting hardware (sensors, connectors, mounting plates, map switches and warning lamps) as individual parts.

Proven at World Time Attack

This is what outright level looks like: the Tanuki Racing Nissan S13, 1,100+ Nm and serious aero, driven by Bathurst winner Todd Hazelwood. Bosch Motorsport Australia's film covers the part Motorsport ABS plays in keeping it controllable at World Time Attack Challenge.

Frequently asked questions

Does Bosch Motorsport ABS work with my ECU?

Yes. The system is wheel-speed based and fully independent of engine management, so it runs alongside any ECU: MoTeC, Emtron, Haltech, Bosch or factory. It broadcasts its data over CAN for your dash and logger.

Is motorsport ABS legal for my category?

That depends on your category's technical regulations: some permit ABS freely, some prohibit it, some restrict it to specific classes. Check your regs first; we can help interpret the electronics side.

What's the difference between Kit 1, Kit 2 and the Clubsport kit?

The M5 hardware is identical in all three. The Clubsport kit uses a universal harness that suits engine-bay and front-footwell mounting, which is what brings its price down. Kit 1 is built around a vehicle-specific loom and supports the M5's advanced control functions, slip strategies for aero load, lateral G and trail braking. Kit 2 adds Autosport-specification connectors on the wheel-speed sensor leads. Our kit comparison guide covers the choice in detail.

How much does a Bosch Motorsport ABS kit cost?

In Australia, including GST: the ABS M5 Clubsport Kit is $11,727.24, Kit 1 is $20,124.23 and Kit 2 is $22,288.92. Our 909 vehicle-specific integration kits start at $13,640 depending on the platform and kit tier. Freight and installation are quoted per order; current pricing is always on the product pages.

Can I install it myself?

A competent race-car builder can; the kits are complete and documented. The parts that benefit from experience are the hydraulic layout, master-cylinder selection and commissioning. We support both routes: full install in our Newcastle workshop, or parts supply with guidance.

What maintenance does the ABS M5 need?

Brake-fluid changes and bleeding on the intervals in the Bosch documentation, master-cylinder inspection per Bosch's documentation, and general inspection of sensors and wiring. Diagnostics run through the MSA Box II.

Is a retrofitted production ABS unit from another car just as good?

The appeal is cost, and on a car that had no ABS the difference is noticeable. But a production unit runs one fixed road calibration, whatever flash it carries, developed for another car entirely, with no driver-selectable maps, no six-axis inertial picture, no data and no documentation; and a second-hand hydraulic unit's internal condition can't be inspected or serviced. Motorsport ABS makes braking a calibrated, adjustable, supported part of the car's performance. More in our comparison of motorsport ABS vs factory ABS.

Which Bosch Motorsport ABS kit is right for my car?

For most club-level, time-attack and tarmac-rally cars, the Clubsport kit; it's what the majority of the cars we support run, including outright time-attack winners. Cars with real downforce, or braking beyond about −2 g, are Kit 1 territory, and endurance programs that pull corner assemblies every event are what Kit 2's Autosport connectors are for. Our guide to choosing a kit walks through it, or ask us: matching the kit to the car is the part we do every week.

Can I get a custom ABS calibration for my car?

Yes. Beyond the eleven standard maps, custom calibration development is available through us with Bosch Motorsport engineering support, the same process professional programs use, now accessible to individuals and small teams. It's most valuable on cars with significant aero, unusual weight distribution or braking performance beyond about −2 g. Talk to us about your car and category.

What does my car need before installing motorsport ABS?

Four wheel ends that can carry a tone ring and wheel-speed sensor with a stable gap, master cylinders rated for ABS operation, somewhere solid to mount the hydraulic unit, and 12 V power. The common catch is the master cylinders, see the note above, and wheel-speed sensing is where platform-specific hardware earns its keep. Our install guide covers the full scope, and our vehicle-specific kits solve the sensing hardware per platform.

Does Bosch Motorsport ABS work for gravel rally?

No, and we'd rather tell you that than sell you one. The M5's calibrations are developed for sealed surfaces; Bosch does not calibrate it for gravel, deformable surfaces or jumps. For tarmac rally it's excellent, and we support several tarmac rally cars, but if your program is gravel, this isn't the system for it.

Can the ABS map switch integrate with my car's other cockpit controls?

The standard control is the 12-position map switch, but where it lives and how it's presented is flexible. We've integrated the switch and ABS-off control into factory-location dash panels and custom console plates rather than leaving a loose switch on a bracket, and a CAN keypad can handle the map switching where the customer prefers it or the installation calls for it. Planning your cockpit controls? Talk to us early and we'll bring the ABS into it properly.

Guides from the workshop

Genuine Bosch Motorsport systems from an Authorized Dealer: shop ABS kits, browse ABS hardware, or get in touch to spec your build.