This may sound like a ridiculous question to some but is it possible to upgrade a non-ABS Max (99 SE-L) with an ABS brake system? If this is possible, can anyone do it, or does it have to be done at a dealer ? Thanks in advance for your input.

 

It is possible, yes. Assuming the car is prewired for it (I doubt it, but I don't feel like searching right now), you'd need to get 2 ABS axles up front, and ABS hubs in the rear, along with 4 sensors, the entirety of the wiring for them, install the actuator, new brake lines all around, etc.

Basically, not worth it.

EDIT:

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....light=swap+abs
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....hlight=abs+add
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....hlight=abs+add
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....hlight=abs+add
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....hlight=abs+add

And so on....

I have one link for you, better than all of those above: http://forums.maxima.org/search.php

 

Anything is possible, but why bother? I didnt bother looking to see if my car had ABS when I bought it. Turns out it doesnt but its never really been a problem and I drive like a bank robber most of the time... locked up just once going down an icy hill but I did it on purpose to see if I had anti-lock. Nowadays my brakes suck so much that Im not sure its possible to lock em anymore... so I just dont use em whenever possible!

 

I would agree. It doesn't sound like it's worth the time, money, and effort. Thanks for the feedback.

 

I'm doing the exact opposite on my car. Its alot easier to delete than it is to add and I'm with others when I said its not worth the time and effort.

 

I've had a look at all the crap associated with my Maxima ABS system. I sure as heck wouldn't want to try to install all that - and I rebuild manual transmissions. That should say a little bit.

Dave

 

get a new car that has it if u would want it that bad.

 

I'm actually going to convert my non ABS to ABS this summing using the ABS unit from a 94 nissan quest, as long as you have the parts, the labors not that intensive

 

Why? No, really, I'd like to hear your reasons...

 

Why have abs? because I've locked up my brakes so many times it's not even funny, that, and if the computer does it while I'm braking in the snow, I don't have to worry about pumping the brakes. theoretically without ABS if you lock up the brakes you could stop shorter, but most likely not. Besides that, I get money off my car insurance if I install them and have an agent check it out.


Now why not so much labor? well the hardest part would be replacing the front and rear spindles. other then that it's just bolting up sensors, running some wires, and plumbing.

spindles? not too hard, especially if you have a friend to help you, and you don't have to do all four at the same time, so it makes it easier that way as well.

why am I doing this? well both my front axles need to be replaced as well, so I'll replace the spindles as well, and I"m going to do the 300zx break upgrade (front and rear) so I don't see why not to add them, especially since I got most of the parts lying around.

so like I said, if you have the parts, it's not too bad. at least I don't consider that much work at all.

 

Threshold brake, shouldn't have a problem without ABS The only thing locking up your brakes is your excessive use of pedal pressure, IMO.

Mine has been broken for a year or two now, and emergency stops happen exactly as they have in all my cars (both ABS and not)...

Going to a full stop in the snow, gravel, etc happens quicker without ABS than it does with, if you lock them up.

 

Ive never locked em so havent felt the need for ABS. In traffic you just need to keep your distance, look ahead, and pay attention... I find that I dont brake a lot in general and if I do, then I have PLENTY of room. Out on an open road I stay away from that pedal alltogether, I just take good lines

 

You need better tires. Snow tires for winter.

Snow tires or rain tires >> ABS

Dave

 

+1 with the wrong tires in the snow or rain your pretty much screwed

 

+1 for good tires. I never realized how big of a difference tires make until I drove my BFG KDW2s in the rain. AMAZING1!!1! And they SUCK in the snow. Bald all season tires do better in the snow than the BFG summer tires.

get GOOD tires suited for your driving conditions. if that still doesn't make you happy, then get some ABS.

still...I'll always love my ABS

 

the whole braking system I think is messed up, I've lit the calipers on fire a couple times, horrible brake fade, between not stopping and locking up the brakes by just tapping them at 30mhp when it's wet out. the tires a brand new, and they don't look bad (I didn't buy them.) *shrugs* abs just sounded like a good idea to me. then again, I guess it just comes down to if you really just "want" them or not.

 

Not exactly.

Even if I had no threshold braking skills (think soccer mom), I would still take the right tires and no ABS over having ABS and any other tire.

In the hands of a skilled driver, ABS mostly keeps the car straight when you're braking in bad conditions. It's also more efficient at riding under the edge of lockup when conditions are really slippery and uneven, since it can cycle each wheel individually. But that difference is much smaller than the difference provided by really good tires.

Def. get the brake system checked out. If you add ABS components and the problem isn't solved, you'll have 4X the nightmare trying to solve it. #1 rule of modding a car: make the simple system work perfectly before adding complexity.

Dave

 

Wow there were SE's that came with no ABS? hmmm... weird... lol

Anyway... ABS can be good sometimes... but over in Newengland when the roads are like half plowed. The way they work is stupid... If one wheel locks up and the others are moving fine cause they are on pavement, everything will go ABS and u loose a crap load of braking power. I kinda with I had a button to hit wen I wanted it on and off, but i serves its purpose sometimes....