I just launched my 94 SSE into a Honda Passport at 55 MPH due to the stupid ABS. Does anyone have any idea of how to get aftermarket stuff to improve the braking on this car? My 1985 Volvo station wagon stopps better than this car. :?:

No offense, but it sounds more like driver error to me. :? But if you want to stop better, try buying a set of power stop 12 or 13 inch disks, and a set of good pads, ceramic are the best in my opinion.

No offense intended here but, How did you manage this?
Were you following too close? Going too fast?
An ABS equipped vehicle will stop in the same distance as a non-ABS equipped vehicle. The difference is that an ABS equipped vehicle'* wheels will not lock up like a non-ABS equipped vehicle'* wheels (less likely hood of going into a flat spin). Based upon this, I would have to assume "Driver Error" on your part. Don't get mad, most people "Assume" that ABS will make their car stop quicker & in less distance. Car manufacturers give a false sense of security when selling a vehicle equipped with ABS.

I also had a problem with the ABS but it was my fault . The first day I bought the car , I had a small fender bender but it was because i was used to driving a 1986 Monte Carlo SS with lock-up brake and the ABS starts shaking , it feels like all hell broke loose there are brake upgrades . Try summit racing , Jegs , J.C. Whitney and other mail-in catalogs And be carefulI'm sure the insurance fixed the car but maybe next time there might not be a driver left to drive it

True about the ABS...however, if you are driving on gravel, my experience is that the car with abs WILL lock up and slide where a non-abs car will not. I have this alot, since i live on a gravel road....but still...stay farther back...it'* a big car to begin with and will take longer to stop.

Ok I understand what happened and when some gets in your way don’t stop. As simple as that. If you want a better stop then as mentioned all over this site power slot rotors are a great help. Next comes the good pads. There are many to pick from.

Just keep driving and actually accelerate a bit so you can get your bumper a bit over theirs. Works best that way. If you are going to crash anyway might as well hit the e-brake anyway. That way you get a spin with the ride.

Ty

I'll agree with both sides on this one. ABS is designed mainly to keep the car STEERABLE during heavy braking. Its designed to help prevent you from hitting something to begin with. Ever driven in snow and SLAMMED on your brakes in a non-ABS car and tried to turn the steering wheel? For those of you who have (like me ), it aint gonna werk! The momentum of the car will keep pushing the car dead straight, even with your wheels turned all the way to one side. Now try it on an ABS equipped car, and it will grab and turn right along with the steering wheel even under heavy braking.

Tamara: How fast were you going down your driveway? You normally have to be going along at a descent speed for the ABS to sense a wheel lockup and kick on. 10-15 MPH isnt really fast enough to engage the ABS. The computer knows your speed, and at somthing like 15-20 MPH its gonna stop you quicker just by locking the front brakes (unless your on snow, which then after sliding a few feet, they do detect and kick in for those of you who drive in snow like me ) In other words, unless your hauling ars down your gravel driveway and SLAM on the brakes, I doubt the ABS would kick in at all. The coputer knows it can stop you quicker just by locking the wheels and at that speed your really not going to be able to steer around anything anyways.

If your following to close to begin with, ABS, Outsteering, etc, etc.. aint gonna help you at all anyways.

As far as hitting the E-Brake :? :( I've always been told and found for myself that that is a Baaaaaad idea. With the E-brake on your giving up all hope for a 4-Wheel ABS car to even attempt to help you at controlling your stop. With your foot pushed as hard as you can to the floor on the brake pedal, pulling the e-brake isnt going to make the back wheels stop any harder than the pressure already being applied, its just going to lock them up and prevent any hope of the ABS doing its part. (Awesome way to do donuts in the snow with a FWD car though )

There are alot of rumors out there when it comes to this stuff, and I feel pretty knowledgable knowing what I'm talking about or else I wouldnt make myself look stupid and post it. Just this past weekend one of my friends wants me to check how worn his pads were getting, so while I looked through the rim to see how close the wear indicators were, I told him to put the brake pedal to the floor. Hes like "No, I dont want to do that." I'm like, what? why not? "Because I was told you should never hit your brakes that hard by the dealer because you might blow a line." Now what in the **** kind of information is this????????? Its a 2000 Chrysler Sebring Convertible! I told him they are frekin NUTS!! ok, ok, maybe if we were talking about a 1984 Chevy Blazer here with rusted lines all over, but come on people!! If somethings ever pulled / ran out in front of me you better believe my last frekin worry in the wolrd is blowin a brake line!! My foot would be slammin that brake so hard it would be through the floor!

I didn't say ANYTHING about a driveway. I live on a gravel road..you know...road where there'* gravel on top, and some of it is secure, and some of it'* not?? I don't know if they have that in the states, but there'* too many of them here in Canada...and with ABS you just can't stop. Speaking of which I almost hit a deer today because of that. It jumped out on the road and i hit the brakes and away I went skidding on the gravel. Good thing it wasn't a totally brain-dead deer and got out of the way!

Granted there is all shades of greys with ABS.. it basically allows you to steer because tires can only excert so much force before it breaks traction ( whether it be pushing the car forward or turning ). ABS however I find ( personal preference ) works great in wet condition and certain snow condition, but ultimatley I would like to disable the rear so I can at least swing the rear end around if needed to get the car at least pointing in the direction in heavy snow condition instead of plowing forward, and also when your car is skidding sideways, it actually stops quicker then being on your brakes, plus as soon as it gets adaquate traction, it will steer right into the turn... again this is personal preference and this is how I drive too..

I like the way you drive.

Ty