Whats the est way to tell if your ABS's are working. It eems liek I have to almost put my foot through the floor when the ABS kick in, but in non slipping driving conditions the car brakes fine

 

abs will only kick in when it senses that you are in a panic stop situation. Its not going to kick in while your braking normally.

 

hahahha, tell me about it. I actually felt what ABS feels like yesterday, when I was driving over some snow. THe pedal feels like its Pumps real fast and it feels like as if your car was just in a collision, heh. Like a Crunching Feel. Dont like ABS after experinecing that but if it helps, then Ill have to learn to like it, heh.

Nick

 

an emergency is when you jam the brakes...so press it hard and fast...no slow incremental stuff.
Jae

 

I thougt they only kicked in when the sensor sensed the front wheels locking up. I can't really talk becasue I do not have ABS, but ibut my friend does, and he has a 96, and it seems as if only when the front wheels lock up, hence the sensor with the cord to it on the fron wheels, the ABS kicks in and starts pumping.

 

ABS will on come on when it feels a wheel locking up. and it bascially pumps (unlocks the wheel thats locking up) so u still have control ova the car ex.on snow if u lock your brakes with non ABS your going stright into the curb if on a turn(unless u manual pump the pedal). with ABS it alouds u to still have control. (DO NOT PUMP THE PEDAL ON A CAR WITH ABS ON IT THE ABS ISN'T GOING TO WORK RIGHT)

JEFF

 

Try testing your ABS after it has been raining. Slam your brakes on when nobody is around(of course)

 

The best way to test if your ABS is working is: Get onto a busy freeway around rush hour. Go as fast as the traffic will allow. Slam on your breaks and turn the wheel to towards traffic. If you slide across the freeway, get creamed by all the other cars and die, then your ABS may be working. Another way is in an empty snowy Wal*Mart parking lot, go about 10 mph and slam on the breaks. If you feel the pedal and breaks grinding and making horible noises, your ABS works.

You need to get used to using ABS. What I mean is you will have more control over the car. Most drivers without ABS tend to panic and over steer or over break. Your car will not slide like non-ABS cars.

As RI-Max said: My 2¢

-Joe

 

most people are surprised hom much pedal force is required to actually make the ABS system function or just make the wheels lock up in heavier cars.
The safest way I can think of is by putting your car on a dyno either at a performance shop or a Vehicle emission testing center. It would be cheaper at the VET. If the ABS light comes on while on it, then at least your sensor works.

 

If you have really bad tires that are worn out, your ABS will kick in early, and it won't feel like it's doing anything b/c you have really bad tires. Chances are, it's your tires. The only time there is a problem with your ABS is if the yellow ABS light stays on.

DW