On every other set of wheels I've owned, when you stomp the brakes, the ABS vibrates the brake pedal. I read that Honda has set our braking balance toward hard stops, but I have jammed the brakes fairly hard a couple of times, and there's nothing but smooth, fast stops. Anyone else's experiences? (I don't take my car on the track.)

 

The ABS in the S feels different than any other Honda. I stopped very hard yesterday and the ABS pumped but no feeling of it in the brake pedal. I got fast tire squeaks but stopped very fast.

 

I got the jerking a few times with stops on wet cement after a rain.

 

The place that I have worked and will work for TWO MORE WEEKS!!! was located on a very bumpy road. Every time I'd leave, I would get horrible vibrations, unless of course I tried to avoid this. Now with aftermarket pads in the front, tapping the brakes at high speed, I get lots of noise...

I definitely notice the ABS.

 

Is there a way to turn off the ABS. At a track day, should I go in
the gravel, I'd rather like to be able to lock the wheels.

 

You can remove ABS fuse to disable it . With the ABS on , most drivers will get straighter and safer panic stops . The reason that the ABS kicks in with some after market pads is the friction level of the pad is much greater than the stock pad this makes controlling the braking system very difficult . Most people feel that this high friction level ( grabby feel ) is an improvement to their brakes , but as you can see it just lets Mr ABS do more of the braking .
Being able to let your foot control your braking with better modulation that stock , is an improvement , not high friction level pads that your foot has trouble controlling .

brad

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by dwb1
[B]You can remove ABS fuse to disable it . With the ABS on , most drivers

 

What I am trying to say is buy pads that fit the car , the way you drive and the application . You can buy racing pads that will never fade under normal track conditions and never on the street , that don't have this high friction level cold , that are controllable under all conditions .
Most people don't realize that this " through the windshield type pad" , does nothing to improve the brake control on the car . Yes it may not fade under most driving conditions , but giving the driver control of what the brakes do , has been seriously compromised.

Some of these pads if not heated up high enough , act as grinding wheels against the rotor , eating them up.
Also keep in mind that the front brakes will run much hotter , on a car with a good front brake system . So make sure you take rotor temperatures into account when selecting pads for track days . The front pad may be running over 400 degrees hotter than the rear , making the pad selection between front to rear different .

brad