Any input on getting rid of ABS?

Rizzi · 10-22-2009, 01:58 PM

Once every couple weeks I about have a heart attack when my anti lock brakes engage because I hit a bump or a little gravel trying to stop quickly at a light or for whatever reason and theres a car fifteen feet in front of me.. I've decided they're about worthless.. I live in West Virginia where it rains or snows a good 50% of the year plus the roads suck and I am convinced that if the ABS dont directly kill me I've atleast lost a couple years of my expected life span due to stress...
Any thoughts I should consider before I dive in?
I also wondered how it would mess with the VSA if anyone knows?

Jeepsquad · 10-22-2009, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rizzi

I am convinced that if the ABS dont directly kill me I've atleast lost a couple years of my expected life span due to stress...

Is this a joke or something??? Unless you're planning a trip to the Pearly Gates in the near future, I'm convinced that you probably shouldn't disable ABS or VSA on your car.

ABS prevents your wheels from locking up during an emergency braking situation. If your wheels lock up, not only does that increase the stopping distance, but it also makes it impossible to steer or control the vehicle. As a result, you'll probably plow through that semi-tractor trailer (decapitating your head) or spin-out into a ditch (and do some crazy aerial stunts before getting crushed by your car).

I'd recommend you watch this clip, and reconsider your initial thoughts: YouTube - Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) Safety Film

VorteC · 10-22-2009, 03:13 PM

I hope you're joking... because it's terribly unsafe to disable your ABS.

The ABS sensor is also the VSA sensor I believe. So if you somehow mess with the ABS sensor to disable ABS, you will lose your VSA as well.

MrHeeltoe · 10-22-2009, 03:25 PM

If you want the ABS to stop coming on get better tires. TSX tires suck @$$.

cYn · 10-22-2009, 03:38 PM

Yea dude get better tires. You wanting to get rid of ABS is like me saying we should get rid of air bags. Sure air bags can kill, but it's proven over and over to save lives, just like ABS has been proven to reduce accidents.

When your wheels lock up, your tires will slide thus increasing stopping distance. Also, everytime you slide, you move in a straight direction. Now matter how much you steer, you will continue to move in that direction. ABS prevents your wheels from locking up so this won't happen

RSMark5 · 10-22-2009, 04:10 PM

Couldn't you just pull the fuse?

I wouldn't recommend it for any distance but for an afternoon of joking around in a parking lot it could be fun. You could also disable the sensor by unplugging it. Its a neat trick. If i had an acura i'd tell you exactly which fuse it was.

Also as others have said, this is pretty much insane to DD with out ABS. Get some better tires Direzza Z1 Star spec FTW!

Rizzi · 10-22-2009, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cYn

Now matter how much you steer, you will continue to move in that direction. ABS prevents your wheels from locking up so this won't happen

Thats the best point that I was already contemplating^

I just read a thread on 8thcivic.com and another on naosiac.com where many agreed that ABS is too sensitive and people should just learn good braking/driving skills. The average driver has poor driving habits and relies way too much on technology. abs-education.org admits ["There are some conditions where stopping distance may be shorter without ABS. For example, in cases where the road is covered with loose gravel or freshly fallen snow."] I am considering pulling the fuse and giving it a good test run first.
I dont expect very many people to agree with me on this but someone has to agree that our ABS is way to sensitive or maybe mine is out of whack and kicks in over a tiny bump in the road which is ridiculous and dangerous itself.

I already run all season Toyo Proxes.

cYn · 10-22-2009, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rizzi

Thats the best point that I was already contemplating^

I just read a thread on 8thcivic.com and another on naosiac.com where many agreed that ABS is too sensitive and people should just learn good braking/driving skills. The average driver has poor driving habits and relies way too much on technology. abs-education.org admits ["There are some conditions where stopping distance may be shorter without ABS. For example, in cases where the road is covered with loose gravel or freshly fallen snow."] I am considering pulling the fuse and giving it a good test run first.
I dont expect very many people to agree with me on this but someone has to agree that our ABS is way to sensitive or maybe mine is out of whack and kicks in over a tiny bump in the road which is ridiculous and dangerous itself.

I already run all season Toyo Proxes.

O man, I do agree with you on that part. I have been through numerous times where ABS kicked in and lessened my braking distance, ie railroad tracks, pot hole, small bumps in the road. But if I was to lock up the brakes, I would have skid and therefore loss all control of my car. At least with ABS, I can still swerve to the side if I'm not braking early enough.

For a DD, ABS shouldn't be considered a minor hazard. Just practice good braking like you said.

RSMark5 · 10-22-2009, 06:22 PM

Proxes will be good enough and I totally agree with you on relying too much on driver aids. Those are there just to keep the general public from killing themself. If you learn a better driving technique to drive with out then, you'll be much better for it

Why do you think F1 doesn't have ABS ESP (whatver you guys cal it) active yaw control and all the rest?

try it, take some vids of you screwing around in a parking lot but I hope ou aren't too attached to those proxes. Those will take a beating while you adjust driving techniques.

Having owned a car with zero driver aids, I can promise you that it will make you a better driver. No you can't steer in full lock up thats what you have to modulate the pedal to maintain control of the car. Its not that hard. Your grandparents are good at it.

MrHeeltoe · 10-22-2009, 07:35 PM

Nasioc and 8th gen civic....I think we need to look at the age and experience of Civic drivers, and the accident rate and insurance costs of WRXs before we give too much credibility there.

Bottom line, the ABS stops the car better in emergency situations. If you think it is hampering your driving you really do need to hone your own skills because your cornering is far more limited with the OEM tires than your braking is.

Get some sticky rubber, and then go do some hot laps. Then tell me you don't need ABS.

I recall a number of race seasons back when Realtime was campaigning their ITRs that one driver had the stock size brakes and ABS while another had upgraded brake size and the rules dictated that the ABS must be removed. And one really wasn't better than the other. In fact the stock brake car in many cases performed better. This again IIRC. I usually don't forget stuff like that.

Marcus

MrHeeltoe · 10-22-2009, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RSMark5

Proxes will be good enough and I totally agree with you on relying too much on driver aids. Those are there just to keep the general public from killing themself. If you learn a better driving technique to drive with out then, you'll be much better for it

Why do you think F1 doesn't have ABS ESP (whatver you guys cal it) active yaw control and all the rest?

try it, take some vids of you screwing around in a parking lot but I hope ou aren't too attached to those proxes. Those will take a beating while you adjust driving techniques.

Having owned a car with zero driver aids, I can promise you that it will make you a better driver. No you can't steer in full lock up thats what you have to modulate the pedal to maintain control of the car. Its not that hard. Your grandparents are good at it.

Wouldn't you become a better driver in a more safe manner if you concentrated on driving in such a way that prevented the driver aids from kicking in? IE, threshold braking to ABS engagement? Lets not forget the ABS does what it is supposed to do in stopping the car BETTER. ABS is not PREVENTING braking. It helps it.

kuma912 · 10-22-2009, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rizzi

Once every couple weeks I about have a heart attack when my anti lock brakes engage because I hit a bump or a little gravel trying to stop quickly at a light or for whatever reason and theres a car fifteen feet in front of me.. I've decided they're about worthless.. I live in West Virginia where it rains or snows a good 50% of the year plus the roads suck and I am convinced that if the ABS dont directly kill me I've atleast lost a couple years of my expected life span due to stress...
Any thoughts I should consider before I dive in?
I also wondered how it would mess with the VSA if anyone knows?

Stop braking so late.

EuroRspec · 10-22-2009, 09:22 PM

I wouldn't do it, but I have done it to other Honda's/Acura's. I don't think you can do it with the TSX, the system is to intricate and the parts arn't available. What I mean by available is that there is no other TSX or Accord of around the same year that came without ABS, so what that means is there will be allot of fabrication which is very pricey.

Rizzi · 10-23-2009, 01:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EuroRspec

I wouldn't do it, but I have done it to other Honda's/Acura's. I don't think you can do it with the TSX, the system is to intricate and the parts arn't available. What I mean by available is that there is no other TSX or Accord of around the same year that came without ABS, so what that means is there will be allot of fabrication which is very pricey.

There we go, like some feedback.. So it can't come down to just a specific fuse even if I were willing to give up VSA while the fuse was out?

I really am taking in the comments and I won't do anything permanent especially to my resale value...

Rizzi · 10-23-2009, 02:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kuma912

Stop braking so late.

Dangerous braking isn't the issue and neither is tires so much, its the cars computer freaking out over a split second of traction loss. and as for "well it would have been worse without it" thats not often true because the question is "why is my car still in abs mode 10 feet after i hit a bump", if my tires locked up i would have stopped right where i wanted to.

Maybe this will just be a lose/lose predicament until they come out with better ABS.....