can the abs give a soft brake pedal and I have no warning lights on

 

A soft pedal is usually air in the system or a leak.

Rule out the basic brake system first. How's the fluid level? Any signs of leaks at ANY of the calipers/wheel cylinders?

Did you do any brake work recently?

 

new pads and new rotors, new shoes, wheel cylinders and drums and master cylinder and flushed out old fluid with a pressure bleeder. I did all of this because the brakes were soft and I can not stop in 150 feet at 25 MPH, even in panic it just slows down to a slow stop. No ABS action and no lights. I did take it to the local parts store and they read all the codes and nothing. I am at a loss. and the ABS fuse is OK . No leaks anywhere and low pressure at the rear wheels.

 

did you change the front and rear flex hoses?

 

"Low pressure at the rear wheels." There is a proportioning valve in the system. Drum brakes are self energizing and use a lower pressure than a disk brake.

There could be air in the system even with pressure bleeding. You may need to cycle the ABS system while bleeding it. A DRB is required.

It could also be the flexible lines, all 3 of them.

 

Did you adjust the rear brakes? How is your pedal travel? Do you have to push it pretty far to get it to actually start doing something?

 

The only thing that has not been changed out are the flex lines and combination valve, even after adjusting the rear brakes pedal travel is close to the floor, I have even set the E brake and checked the travel and still goes about the same distance. I just bought this truck for a fishing truck and found the brakes to be acting this way and this is why I have done all of this work. I am about ready to by pass the ABS all together, because all I am seeing is bad problems with it for other Dakota owners.

 

The ABS system is not the problem. You have a BASE brake system problem - the hydraulics.

That's also why there is no ABS warning light.

The ABS kicks in to prevent a wheel from locking up. It sounds as if your braking is so poor that that is not happening.

Check those lines and bleed the entire system - using a DRB to cycle the ABS.