ABS not working - big deal?

[Sean0629]

My ABS isn't working. My mechanic just disconnected the little light telling me the system isn't working and told me not to worry about it. I understand what anti-lock brakes do and am not very concerned about not having them. I am concerned, however, that not finding and fixing the problem with it could lead to other problems with my brakes.
Should I get them fixed or is it something that I can put off fixing for a year or so?

 

[OreoGaborio]

it's not a big deal at all to run w/o ABS other than the safety factor...

the first thing i'd check if u wanna fix it is your ABS relay... it's really easy to get to, just pull down the knee bolster & it's cliped onto the top of the ABS "brain"... the brain is the large metal box (about 6in x 4in x 1in) on the left of the steering column... reach above that and you'll feel the relay (about 1 x 1 x 2)

unclip it from it's location & unplug it from the socket... open it up w/ some pliers (make sure to remember the orientation it was in the casing and where the little paper card is... it'll fall out) .... the part that'll blow is the tiny tiny wire at the bass of the relay.. u'll have to look really close to see if that wire is blown

don't be afraid to do it... it's more scared of you than you are of it

 

[ODDferkOUT]

I've never fully understood the safety benefits of ABS other than it stops significantly quicker than w/o ABS...

...and insight to this?

 

[OreoGaborio]

it's the difference between Static Friction and Kenetic Friction.... (i think those are the terms)... basically if your tires are fully locked up, they don't create as much friction as they would if they were still rolling & right at the lock-up threshold...

ei, if they're locked up they slide easier & don't slow you down as fast...

if u wanna demonstrate it... put your hand on a desk & start to push across the surface of the desk w/o letting your hand slip.... u feel alot of resistence up utill your hand slips, then it just breaks free & slides easier

learned all that in high school physics... and wow... that was 6 years ago

 

[Wadula]

big difference is that abs barkes keep you able to steer the car during the braking. with locked wheels, you can steer but the car will go straight.
the only way to get a locke non abs car steering again is to release the brake. in most cases when someone does not know how to do that, he has the steering angle too much and when the front tires get the grip again the gear hammer spins you around.

 

[OreoGaborio]

big difference is that abs barkes keep you able to steer the car during the braking. with locked wheels, you can steer but the car will go straight.
the only way to get a locke non abs car steering again is to release the brake. in most cases when someone does not know how to do that, he has the steering angle too much and when the front tires get the grip again the gear hammer spins you around.

man, how did i forget THAT part good catch