I'm looking for opinions on whether I should install ABS or a brake bias controller (maybe neither).

The car in question is a 98 Integra. I've been driving it at various open track days and HPDE events since 2000. I really didn't do much to it in terms of major modification, minus a motor swap, until about four years ago when I got another car as my daily. Since then I've been doing things to it here and there.

About two years ago I fitted it with TL Sport calipers just to prove to myself that I could. Ever since then I've been contemplating on whether or not to install ABS or a brake bias controller. I feel that I've come too far to turn back (perhaps more like escalation of commitment for you psychology majors). Lucky for me, my buddy recently rebuilt a salvaged 98 ITR and decided to leave the ABS out and let me have the whole entire system. So for those who are concerned about cost, it would cost me nothing to install ABS into my Integra. Also, it would only cost me the price of a brake bias controller to install it because I already have the tools, hardline, and fittings.

As of now, I have front TL Sport Brakes, stock ITR rear brakes, and no ABS. Would this brake setup cause the ABS to operate funny if I installed it? Am I better off plumbing a brake bias controller or leaving in the 40/40 proportion valve? I know the topics of ABS and brake bias controllers have been brought up in the past; however, from what I can remember, I don't believe they have been discussed together. And with the search engine the way it is now it really isn't much help.

 

Personally, I'd go with the ABS, knowing you might still need to consider a brake bias adjuster to compensate for the change in brake size from stock. Different pads front/back are also a form of bias adjustment, and might get you what you need without a pressure adjuster.

Why? Because you aren't competing under a rules set that doesn't allow ABS, and tire flat spots suck.

I have no clue if the ITR ABS is different than the rest of the Integras, but my GSR's ABS has saved my tires countless times on track while trying to learn how to threshold brake. Continue adding force until the ABS "pulse" is felt through the pedal, back off slightly, be grateful my tires didn't suffer and the car didn't slide from locking a tire up, and try to find threshold pressure without ABS "intervention" next lap. Lather, rinse, repeat, and continue to go faster.

 

Thanks for the input Tuner. What you said about ABS saving tires makes sense to me, not to mention it's useful in the rain. I was really leaning toward the ABS. The brake bias thing came up at the last minute because of my brake setup. One of my main concerns with installing ABS was the possibility that it would not function properly due to my current brake configuration.

I'm glad you mentioned using brake pads to adjust bias. That was something that I hadn't given much thought.

Anymore opinions/ideas would be much appreciated.

 

Wheel speed sensors are used for ABS. Tire turns slower, it reduces pressure. Larger brakes should be no issue for ABS, even if only the fronts were upgraded, the controller will just see the wheel start to lock up with less total pressure. That's just a guess on my part of what it should do though...

 

I'd personally go with a bias adjuster. The normal pressure-bleed adjusters are over simple and don't work perfectly, but they do things that ABS will never do. I think in a FWD car especially, the ability to put more front/rear brake pressure it completely necessary. Also, most street-based ABS units are hyper sensitive, and in my experience, Honda is especially bad unless it's raining. You can't trail brake into a corner quite as well with ABS and you lose all the feel for it. It's not a great learning tool in my opinion, but it DOES save tires often.

Personally, I'd be going with the bias adjustment.

 

I think the ITR controller is set up to be less intrusive. I personally like it.

 

The ITR ABS system IS different from other Integra and Honda models, and is set up to be more track/race-friendly.

On the size of the brake calipers thing, there are guys running ITRs with ABS that have changed out the front calipers. I've never heard complaints from them, so I assume it still works fine. If the ABS is free, and the bias thing is next-to-free, why not both? Maybe do the ABS first, get any bugs worked out, get used to it, then the bias valve?

 

ABS gets the thumbsup from me! I also DD & HPDE my Prelude and the factory ABS is a godsend. I do not find it intrusive at all, most of the time it just barely comes in at the very last second before I transition. I do not brake so hard as to engage it at every corner though. I rode with an instructor in a ITR, now, he REALLY believed in ABS. Very quick/hard/late braking and almost instantaneous ABS. It was a ride, but not my style of driving. I prefer to be smoother. Go for it! Wes

 

Thanks for the input everyone. With your help, I've decided to install the ABS system. What do I have to lose, it's free! And if the system acts unfavorably, I'll give the bias controller a shot or revert back to the original 40/40 proportion valve.