What's with this ABS fuss?

[cwatt]

One of my favourite vehicles I've ever owned was a 2000 Ford Focus ZX3. Because Ford targeted it toward its enthusiast demographic, it didn't have a single driver aid nor anything electric (aside from the door locks, which didn't work properly anyway). It was simple - 5-spd manual, no traction control, no limited slip, and no ABS.

I can't tell you how much about driving I learnt in that car, yet in the years I owned it (and kept it stock!), I never once felt like I needed ABS.

Since joining R3V though, for every one person I see talk about deleting their ABS, there seems to be three talking about flat-spotting tires or avoiding rain or snow. I'm fairly sure all the e30s I've owned haven't had operational ABS as it is (lol), so what am I missing? What's all the fuss about?


- Colin

[Vivek]

It's just safety. Sure you'll be perfectly fine without it 99.999% of the time, but if one time you accidentally lock up the brakes and lose your car because of it, you'll regret taking it out. There's not really a good reason to take it out unless you're doing a shaved bay, and I'm sure a lot of people will argue that's a pretty shitty reason, but shaved bays are nice.

[TurboJake]

Never necessary, but sometimes handy.

[einhander]

For that one time when some dumbass kid falls out of a tree whilst peeping on the neighbors and he lands in front of your car and you can't stop quick enough because you wanted a race car without ABS.

Then you'll have to go back to the future.

[Roysneon]

What is this fascination with having a wanna be race car on the street? ABS doesn't impede the driving experience on the streets, and if it does then you need to hang your keys up and buy a sooter becuase you're obviously a danger to those around you.

[E30_Pare]

What's with this ABS fuss?

Never had abs in any of my cars. Great way to learn the limits. If I ever needed to stop on a dime nothing a quick down shift and standing on the peddle cant solve. Only time I ever felt like I needed abs is in the rain. For some reason the e30 has been such a scetchy rain car


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[einhander]

never had abs in any of my cars. Great way to learn the limits. If i ever needed to stop on a dime nothing a quick down shift and standing on the peddle cant solve. Only time i ever felt like i needed abs is in the rain. For some reason the e30 has been suck a scetchy rain car


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Didn't you see Back to the Future?

[cwatt]

Never necessary, but sometimes handy.

I do get this. Fair point.

What is this fascination with having a wanna be race car on the street? ABS doesn't impede the driving experience on the streets, and if it does then you need to hang your keys up and buy a sooter becuase you're obviously a danger to those around you.

This is exactly what I'm talking about. I didn't say anything about a race car on the streets nor did I even say anything about aggressive or dangerous driving. You went from me owning a car that never came with ABS to being a menace to society and danger to others. That's one big leap.

For that one time when some dumbass kid falls out of a tree whilst peeping on the neighbors and he lands in front of your car and you can't stop quick enough because you wanted a race car without ABS.

Then you'll have to go back to the future.

ABS increases the stopping distance.

[slammin.e28]

ABS screws with doriftoing mang. Ask any 240 driver.

ABS is da debil.

[Roysneon]

This is exactly what I'm talking about. I didn't say anything about a race car on the streets nor did I even say anything about aggressive or dangerous driving. You went from me owning a car that never came with ABS to being a menace to society and danger to others. That's one big leap.

I didn't say you, it was a general statement. Why the hell not have ABS? Everyone deletes it for 'one less thing to go wrong' or 'I don't need driver aids' well in that case lets do away with the IAC, starter motor (get your crank handle out), guages, power brakes, power steering, etc. People get hung up on wanting their car to be 'raw' or aggressive feeling and in the end it ends up being terrible at what it's supposed to do, which is ddrive on the street.

ABS increases the stopping distance.

No. Wrong. Not true. Go pull your ABS fuse and do an emergency stop with your brakes locked and one with the ABS chattering away. Tell me which one stops faster and allows you to steer while it's happening. Do you know how ABS works and what it does?

[einhander]

ABS increases the stopping distance.

Not always - especially on surfaces with high grip factors and even more so for most drivers who have no idea how to modulate a brake pedal.

Not everyone is fuh racecar driver.

[BobombETA]

ABS is good for the street, but tires is what wins races.

[AdamPlaysDrums]

My '96 Civic didn't have ABS, and in the year I owned it there were a couple times it would have been a helluva nice thing to have.
Having working ABS in my E30 has saved me a few times. It's not necessary, but nevertheless not bad to keep on a car.

[Swanny]

Only issue i had with brakes in an e30 was when my drivers rear drum seal blew out and shot brake fluid everywhere....... Never have had ABS (or it working) on all 3. 84 318i, 86 325e, 87 325is.

[Roysneon]

Agreed. If you can lock up your tires, you have enough braking force. People often don't realize that larger calipers and rotors and 2/4/6 piston brake calipers are for heat dissipation and even distribution of force.

As for ABS, you're not Filipe Massa out there, some time you are going to mash the brake pedal, lock the tires, skid and not slow down at all and loose steering input. THAT is what ABS does, llows you to steer the car and actually slow it down instead of skidding. If you are the best threshold braker in the world then you won't have a problem with ABS, as you'll never have it kick in. If it does kick in, it's because one or more wheels was going to lock and it prevented it from doing so.