abs brakes

[Mameluke]

uh how can i tell if my 91 240 has abs brakes with out doing it the hard way, its not a fully loaded model, but i dont know if it has abs.

[trpower7]

Look in the upper left hand corner of the engine bay, there should be several hard brake lines running into a metal distribution block. Also, there should be an ABS brake light on your dash. Also, you can go stomp on them at about 20 in a parking lot and then you'll know for sure.

[Mameluke]

ok, now i know that i dont have abs brakes, can anyone let me know wat the disadvantages are?? and if its worth it, maybe getting abs?

[trpower7]

It's not worth it. The disadvantage is, you don't have ABS, Anti-lock Braking System. Your brakes will lock. Go to a mall parking lot, get up to 35 and stomp on them, you'll see what I mean. Adding ABS would cost tons and not be worth the many hours it would take.

[Mameluke]

When my brakes lock, wat happens to my handling etc, say i was takin a turn too fast and i had to slow down quickly, or something similar

[Mameluke]

another thing, say i decided to do a brake swap, say a 300zx one, seems to be popular, would i be able to change it to abs then?

[BadMojo]

Well, if your brakes lock up it will take longer for your car to stop and you might lose control of the vehicle. The main advantage to ABS is seen on ice, snow and wet roads.

I've never heard of anyone doing an ABS swap, and actually some people don't like it.

If you want to do brake upgrades, there are a few things you can do. You can get new aftermarket rotors (slotted Brembo rotors are nice), some high performance brake pads, some stainless steel brake lines and some high quality brake fluid (don't skimp on the fluid, it does matter).

Alternately, you can just get your stock rotors resurfaced (if they need it), change your brake fluid and get some new pads. If your rotors and pads are getting up in mileage, this might make a noticeable difference.

The Z32 brake conversion is popular too. This is taking the 300ZX braking system and swapping it in to the 240SX. It's not exactly cheap or easy from what I've read, but I haven't done it. This is probably overkill unless you are doing some serious performance mods and running at the track. The Z32 calipers are pretty impressive though. They're freakin' HUGE!

Anyway, IMO there are much better things to do with your brakes than try to swap in an ABS system.

[Mameluke]

see thats teh thing, once i was goin about 80kph, not that fast, and i see the red i figure i can stop easily in time, its raining too by the way, my brakes locked up and i coudnt do ****, luckily i stopped in time, thats why i wana change my brake set up, it rains a lot in vancouver

[BadMojo]

Well, I have no idea how you would go about an ABS swap. Maybe someone else around here has done it.

One more thing to keep in mind is that tire choice also effects your wet weather performance.

[96_S14_SE]

Its not worth the hassle honestly... If you didnt know if you had abs to begin with then you wont be able to do the swap. This means you WILL need another to do it for you. This would consist of alot of man hours and parts finding. In other words alot of coin, which could be spent other places like driving school, auto-x events, or better rubber.

Its all about modulation of the brakes and riding on molten rubber (essentially what a lock up is) is the least effective way to stop. Learn to controll your brakes, and get in the habbit of backing off a tad and re-squeezing the brakes if they do lock. If you lock them up enough and learn your brakes (auto-x seat time will help quicken this), then you will back off instantly and instinctively, over time....

Im still learning by the way, but have made tons of improvement in this department in my short 7 events. Its come in usefull on the street a cpl times as well (set the front too stiff and didnt have enough weight transfer on the wheels for a week or two and a few minor, but corrected, street lock ups)...

Z32 brakes will just shorten the amount of time till your brakes lock up in your current state with your cars current setup... If you can lock up, then your brakes are adequate. If you put your all into the pedal and they wont lock due to setup / rubber compound, then go larger. Keep in mind this is street use and doesnt deal with fade due to heat, as it wasnt addressed.

[trpower7]

Great answers!!! Couldn't have said it better myself. If you lack this much knowledge I doubt you can even change your pads, and unless you either do a ton of online reading on the subject, buy an FSM, or some kind of manual and learn more. Also, spend alot of time in a parking lot learning your brakes, spend time in a parking lot after it rains learning your brakes. I'm sure hundreds of people drive in Vancouver without ABS without problems.

[BadMojo]

I've been driving around Pennsylvania for 10+ years without ABS. PA may not be Vancouver, but we get some pretty harsh winters.

[Queamore]

It's deffinatly not worth it. Your just adding to many other things on it that can go wrong. If you feel yourself starting to slid then just pump your breaks and don't drive recklesly (not saying you do) trust me and everyone else here it's expensive to put in and a hassle to maintain I had to charge someone 200 dollers to diagnose her ABS and it ended up being a bad sensor I was on it for almost a whole day trying to figure out what was wrong.

[Mameluke]

Thanks for the advice

[DriFt3r]

alright, but what about the brake upgrade? If you decided to get 300zx brakes will the abs still work or no?

[180fan]

Well, considering that ABS was still pretty early in it's availability at the time, I wouldn't recommend it just for that. Currently I've got some goodridge brake lines, ATE super blue fluid, axxis metal masters, and brembo xdrilled/slotted rotors and they brake very well.

Well ABS checks on the hubs I believe. So if you're gonna change to the 300zx calipers, then your ABS should be fine since the rotors and calipers don't have any effect on your hubs (where the ABS sensors are located). So it shouldn't have any effect on ABS to do the upgrade.

[EastCoast240]

I hate my ABS and have the fuse pulled. I'm gonna remove the module next.