ABS Brakes??

JeepBeat · **Posted:** Wed Nov 07, 2007 12:10 am

I have a 2002 Liberty that I bought from a friend of mine a few months back. How can I tell if it has ABS brakes?? I looked through the manual, and it comes upon the ABS section, than says "If Equipped". I don't see an ABS light on the instrument panel when starting it, so I assume it doesn't have this system. I asked my friend, the previous owner, and he thought it did have ABS.

I know for sure that I will find out whether it does or not, when the snow and ice hits us. My previous two trucks had this system, and I was very happy with it. Any thoughts??

Guest · **Posted:** Wed Nov 07, 2007 12:12 am

if the ABS light doesn't come on when you start it, it doesn't have it. To make double sure, crawl under the front end and look at the backside of the hub assembly (where the brakes are...where the CV shafts go to the wheel on a 4x4). if there are wires comin out in that area, then you have ABS.

Blue KJ in PA · **Posted:** Wed Nov 07, 2007 12:13 am

Get it up to speed....then push the brake to the floor... :shock:

...or do what thunderbid said

JeepBeat · **Posted:** Wed Nov 07, 2007 12:22 am

Thanks guys, will check it out. Was ABS a standard issue on latter models??

Guest · **Posted:** Wed Nov 07, 2007 12:31 am

Don't quote me on this, but I don't think it was standard until '06 or 07. I know tjkj's Limited doesn't have ABS, my Sport doesn't have ABS...and honestly, I like not having ABS.

Don't know if you caught on to the fact that Blue was joking (can't assume anything, right? :lol:

)...but locking up the brakes=flat spots in your tires, which is a bad thing, so don't do that;)

tommudd · **Posted:** Wed Nov 07, 2007 12:57 am

My 04 doesnt have ABS or that traction control crap either! :lol:

Guest · **Posted:** Wed Nov 07, 2007 1:11 am

tommudd wrote:

My 04 doesnt have ABS or that traction control crap either! :lol:

my 02 has traction control. it's that little lever next to the transmission shifter;)

sleeve84028 · **Posted:** Wed Nov 07, 2007 8:54 am

I enjoy the ABS for those downhill stops when the roads are covered in ice. Pretty much the only time I've really needed it

If the light doesn't come on in your 02 though the chances of you having it are slim to nil.

BeepBeepJeepJeep · **Posted:** Wed Nov 07, 2007 10:04 am

sleeve84028 wrote:

I enjoy the ABS for those downhill stops when the roads are covered in ice. Pretty much the only time I've really needed it

If the light doesn't come on in your 02 though the chances of you having it are slim to nil.

ABS doesn't help you here. You need an anchor on ice.

Pote · **Posted:** Wed Nov 07, 2007 10:24 am

if you don't have it like I don't..thank your lucky stars...ABS sucks!!!! I prefer to be in charge of my own stopping, not leaving it up to an idiot device for the sheeple out there who don't know how to brake. no offense to those who have it...I just have had too many close calls with an ABS car that involved that insane pulsating break system. I could have stopped much shorter on my own pumping the breaks as I needed it IMO.

No light as startup = no ABS. you can try a harsh stop test on your own on some rain soaked surface if you like too...just plant the peddle to the floor and see if it activates.

BeepBeepJeepJeep · **Posted:** Wed Nov 07, 2007 10:49 am

Pote wrote:

if you don't have it like I don't..thank your lucky stars...ABS sucks!!!! I prefer to be in charge of my own stopping, not leaving it up to an idiot device for the sheeple out there who don't know how to brake. no offense to those who have it...I just have had too many close calls with an ABS car that involved that insane pulsating break system. I could have stopped much shorter on my own pumping the breaks as I needed it IMO.

No light as startup = no ABS. you can try a harsh stop test on your own on some rain soaked surface if you like too...just plant the peddle to the floor and see if it activates.

I'm going to have to disagree with you. A properly calibrated ABS system will always beat a human as far as breaking in the wet or the dry goes. The snow is questionable since if the snow gets a chance to pile up in front of your tires it will help you stop and same thing with sandy conditions. With ice, if you hit the brakes and start sliding with or without ABS, you better have a boat anchor handy

I prefer driving with ABS brakes (but hate the ABS systems on older cars where even the slightest instability in braking sets them off). My KJ does not have them but I don't need them, either. My brakes are hard pressed enough to get these tires to slow down, let alone come to a screeching halt

detroit_doc · **Posted:** Wed Nov 07, 2007 10:56 am

Pote wrote:

if you don't have it like I don't..thank your lucky stars...ABS sucks!!!! I prefer to be in charge of my own stopping, not leaving it up to an idiot device for the sheeple out there who don't know how to brake.

I admit that some of the early attempts (especially by the domestic manufacturers) were really poor and under some circumstances hurt braking performance. However that was 15+ years ago.

Modern ABS is excellent and I highly doubt you can out perform it manually. In fact in real world situations where you are "panic" braking with no prior notice, I suspect you would perform MUCH more poorly than ABS would.

I raced motorcycles, karts, and a formula car in the SCCA so I'm familiar with braking technique at the threshold. It is very hard to maintain peak braking force over a long stop. Too much braking and you lock up the tires which will greatly increase your stopping distance and remove your ability to maneuver. Not enough braking and you greatly increase your stopping distance. The problem is during a 70 - 0 maximum braking stop, the amount of braking needed varies during the full stop. That requires constant pedal modulation and excellent feel for the vehichle. Unless you are really intimate with the braking characteristics of your vehicle, the stickyness of your tires, and the particular traction conditions, you have no chance of performing as well as a closed loop automated feedback system like ABS.

I have a Honda S2000 that I've owned for 3 years and am fairly familiar with at the limits of traction. It is equipped with ABS. I can say with 100% confidence if I went out to a track right now and compared my braking with and without ABS, I would perform better with ABS.

bugnout · **Posted:** Wed Nov 07, 2007 11:06 am

I've got a 2005 CRD, with ABS, I think all CRD's came standard with ABS.

This is my first daily driver with ABS, and I like it. I agree everyone should learn without ABS, but my tractor stops on a dime and I attribute that to the ABS. Took a little bit to get used to it. brake pedal doesn't feel as firm as I would expect, but I can't argue with the braking performance.

myjeepwalks · **Posted:** Wed Nov 07, 2007 5:25 pm

My 02' has abs, wish it didn't just because front wheel bearings are cheaper for non abs.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Wed Nov 07, 2007 7:19 pm

It was an option until 06.

Mine doesnt have it and I dont want it.

ABS actually takes longer to stop unless you just lock up the brakes in a Jeep without ABS(Which Ive never done).

sleeve84028 · **Posted:** Thu Nov 08, 2007 8:14 am

While all of us could argue till we are blue in the face about who can brake better - the general public doesn't have a clue about threshold braking and thus ABS is very usefull in today's world. I'm happy with the ABS.

Guest · **Posted:** Thu Nov 08, 2007 5:14 pm

myjeepwalks wrote:

My 02' has abs, wish it didn't just because front wheel bearings are cheaper for non abs.

Not according to what I've seen. Every time I've looked up parts for my non-ABS KJ, the hub assemblies were NOT any cheaper than the ABS hub assemblies.

non-ABS
http://www.autozone.com/R,APP1141019/ve ... Detail.htm

ABS Pass side
http://www.autozone.com/R,APP1141018/ve ... Detail.htm

ABS Driver side
http://www.autozone.com/R,APP1141016/ve ... ductDetail

ABS Brakes??

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