driving w/o ABS

[mason_RsX]

Hey everybody,

I know this is an iffy spot for this topic, but I trust all your opinions.

I am taking a road trip (2 days) in January through some extremely snowy roads with a friend in his car

The problem is that his car is not equipped with ABS, its a 2003 Pontiac Grand Am...

I have never driven a car without ABS and to be honest I have no idea what to expect when I hit the brakes...I know that I can easily lock up the wheels and put it in a crazy spin very easily

Can I get some tips and suggestions on driving sans ABS

[turtlecrxsi]

Dude, you have to have a heavy foot to lock them up. Do you engage your ABS every time you use the brakes? My advice is just get used to your friend's car and take it easy.

[-Josh-]

I drove 1400 miles round trip without ABS in my old LeSabre, through the mountains none the less. It can be done if it's mostly highway driving like mine was and not during the winter. Good luck...lol

[TheStang00]

my car doesnt have ABS. i drove everywhere last winter and didnt have a problem, of course i had my little black ice thing a couple days ago but that didnt involve brakes what so ever. i dont mind non ABS at all. you just gotta remeber that if u lock them up to let som pressure off and get the wheels spinning again. if you just keep skidding em your screwed. but if the brakes lock up ur not gonna just start spinning, youll slide whichever way ur goin, i guess if it fwd and ur turnin it could be like using an ebrake... dont worry about it tho just drive carefully. really you shouldnt ever have to lock them up.

[93rollaracer]

My car doesn't have ABS and it's fine in the winter. Just take it easy on the brakes and you'll be fine. Leave A LOT of room for stopping if it's snowy. If you can ease into the stop for a long time you won't lose traction.

[clawhammer]

I drive a 2000 lb car with no ABS. Just leave plenty of stopping room in front of you, and be easy on the brake. If you feel it lock up, then ease up on it a bit, and pump it.

[-Josh-]

Let me rephrase that, i didn't even have regular brake line pressure, the pressure i put on the brakes with the pedal is the pressure that was put on them....i lost all brakes...lol

[CBFryman]

as in no power breaks

[TheStang00]

lol i bet that was fun, got ur leg workout in every time you drove.

[CassiesMan]

I was udner the impression for saftey reasons that every car made after like, 1999 or something like that as had ABS...shit, even motorcycles have ABS now.

[TheStang00]

Originally Posted by CassiesMan

I was udner the impression for saftey reasons that every car made after like, 1999 or something like that as had ABS...shit, even motorcycles have ABS now.

well im pretty sure its standard but non abs was an option for my car, looks like whoever initially bought it thought saving some money was more important. but like i said i dont really care either way.

[mason_RsX]

Thanks for the tips so far, Im definately going to leave some space between cars

My friend said he's just going to pump the brakes...but I heard that doesn't really help...does it?

[flatlander757]

Only if they lock up.

Seriously... ABS only works when you floor the brake pedal to the ground. Do it on your car some time(the one WITH ABS lol) froma reasonable speed, you should see the ABS or LOW TRACTION light or something to that effect come on. That is the only time that ABS functions.

You don't need to pump the brakes for regular stopping.

ONLY if you lock up.

And unless the snow on the ground is VERY low(like <1in or so) then in the snow I've heard that locking up the wheels will stop you faster, assuming tires have good tread and in good condition. This is because the wheels will pack snow in front of the tires and help add more friction.

But don't go locking up the wheels in the snow on purpose

[Mr. Luos]

2003 Grand Am?? No ABS??

I thought that was standard on any Grand Am.

[-The Stig-]

ABS is for panic situations... or for mostly people who don't pay attention to the road.

Just don't be a tool, and you'll be okay.