I need ways to make my 1994 Accord LX safer. Here's the story...

I had a first gen Nisaan Altima, and was headed down a windy, steep hill one rainy night about 4 months ago, locked up my brakes, and smacked into a barrier.

now, 4 months later, I'm headed off to a college that is seperated from my house by a mountain pass. My mom's main concern is making my '94 Accord LX, 5 spd no abs, as safe as possible to make it over the pass in the coming winters. I'm up for brake swaps/conversions, brake line improvements, suspension, whatever. I just need some ideas.

Tires aren't much of an option as I'm sitting on low profiles now. I'm also a poor 17 year old, but I have some good connections ha. Any help is appreciated!

 

with or without ABS, i guess while coming down hills, keep a constant pressure on brake during rough weathers. and dont speed in rain or snow.

im thinkin advice will help

 

Sell it

Buy a EX with ABS

Low pro's are pretty much worthless in any weather other than summer, you will want all seasons that are meaty.

Don't lower it, you'll wack something or get stuck in the snow

Stainless lines won't hurt to replace aging rubber ones

etc

 

If you find that selling it and buying an EX with ABS a little beyond your means.........

Might I suggest Brembo Crossdrilled Rotors, Carbon Kevlar brake pads and Stainless Brake Hoses.
You might consider Porterfield AP 465 R4-S Brake pads. Serious **** for serious drivers.

Web Site:
http://www.porterfield-brakes.com/
Catalog:
http://www.porterfield-brakes.com/images/webcat082008_07_08_02_16_03.pdf

These have never faded on me.

P

 

First thing is , i'm guessing those low-pro tires probably don't have an all season tread pattern and this is the main thing that will make you slide.(besides not having abs) Better brakes are a good idea, but just because you have slotted/drilled rotors isn't going to keep them from locking up.

-Doug

 

Get a set of full winter wheel/tire package. Change your brakes with the suggestion listed above.

You might want to do a rear disc brake swap. It does make a difference in braking. If you don't want to, get rid of those brake dust that built up inside the drums. replace the shoes.

 

sell it and get one with abs. thats what i would do.

 

You definitely need winter tires. You cant bling in the winter when you have to worry about your safety.

 

No, but an educated foot I find more effective.
I can evaluate traction conditions far faster than an ABS controller and a bunch 'o sensors.
I've seen far to many driver's roll into intersections because they trusted their beloved ABS.
Insurance companies initially hated it.

P

 

Do you have chains?

 

In what circumstances might conventional brakes have an advantage over ABS?There are some conditions where stopping distance may be shorter without ABS. For example, in cases where the road is covered with loose gravel or freshly fallen snow, the locked wheels of a non-ABS car build up a wedge of gravel or snow, which can contribute to a shortening of the braking distance.

If I live in the Snow Belt, how can I benefit from ABS?Even in fresh snow conditions, you gain the advantages of better steerability and stability with four-wheel ABS than with a conventional system that could result in locked wheels.
In exchange for an increased stopping distance, the vehicle will remain stable and maintain full steering since the wheels won't be locked. The gain in stability makes a potential increase in stopping distances an acceptable compromise for most drivers. All in all, these benefits outweigh the rare instances where the ABS system increases distances over non-ABS equipped vehicles.

(from http://www.abs-education.org/faqs/faqindex.htm)

 

yea....i live in florida so i couldn't care less about my abs lol

 

hmm i don't think abs is very effective in the rain lol ... well when going down steep hills i think the best thing is to stay on a low gear and let the engine slow you down, rather than using the brakes to slow you down and risking a lockup ...

 

driving lessons

 

how exactly is abs ineffective in the rain? and you shouldnt be able to accidently lock the wheels if you have abs. but you can cause them to slip accidently if you downshift into the wrong gear. they wont lock but they can slip, which puts you in the same predicament.

 

the abs not working in the rain is just my .02 i've never tried locking up in the rain nor will i try it ... but if you downshift into the wrong gear you shouldn't be driving a manual in the first place lol ... but seriously, what i meant was you downshift before hitting the downhill slope ... as your still inclining not as your going down the hill

 

I'm not sure that performance brake parts are this persons answer. This is not a performance car.

Tires can make a huge difference, evenwith lower profile. Just get a good all season tire and don't drive when it snows.

The biggest safety upgrade you could buy yourself for that car is an adult safety seat with side impact protection.


Pricey but if you have SUV or tree coming through your door ABS or performance pads aint going to do much for you, this seat will. Think of it as a poormans side curtain airbag. Or a child seat big enough for an adult.

 

Yeh, and packing him in bubblewrap is an option and filling the car with injectable foam makes sense too......
Oh, and he already addressed the tires issue .......

 

I'm headed off to a college that is seperated from my house by a mountain pass. My mom's main concern is ...


Your mom goes to college!

 

I would still recommend what I did, regardless of ABS, Nervous Moms' or the Mountain Pass Fairy.
What is the one consideration for roadwork in the mountains? Brakes.
Specifically those with a tendency to fade under heavy loads. Ask any trucker thats' had to put his rig into one of those gravel filled emergency lanes.
ABS won't help when your brake pads glaze over and go south. Do the smart thing

P

 

Or he could get a ex cb7 for the price of his cd5 and have $$ left over for new brakes and snow tires.

 

Ever considered home schooling?

 

An option, yes.
But that raises other issues... like what happens if his teacher starts hitting on him???

What? Did I type that out loud??

 

I still think if you're planning on going over a mountain pass in the winter, you need tire chains.

As for safety in the rain, ABS is probably best, but if you use all-season tires in good condition and SLOW DOWN, you'll be fine.

 

Chains aren't entirely necessary, and in fact could be more dangerous if he's an inexperienced driver.

Better tires, ABS, better brakes are the real solution. I don't think his mom wants him to buy a $2000 racing bucket seat, nor does she want to drop money on a roll cage or things of that nature. However selling the LX for say $2500-3000 and then buying an EX with ABS and upgrading to stainless lines and getting better tires for $4500-5000 seems more reasonable.