Miata question..

[TroyV]

Were Miatas ever built with ABS? If so, which years?

[Dave_G]

Were Miatas ever built with ABS? If so, which years?

From 1991 on, it was an option. For a few years the "M" edition had ABS standard. The first year (1990) was the only year when ABS was not available.

[Stynger]

ABS was an option from 1991 till present.

(Dave beat me to it)

[TroyV]

On a year that it was available as an option, but it wasn't installed, could it easily be added?

Also, where is the location of the module if I was to go looking for it.

[Stynger]

ABS cars have that plumbing nightmare with the pump on the pass side firewall. The washer bottle is also in the nose of the car.

It can be added, but not easily.

Some light reading on the subject.

http://www.miata.net/garage/abs/abs.htm

[TroyV]

Thanks, I just read through it. Swapping it in isn't going to be a piece of cake.

If you could put a number on it, by percentage, about how many cars are out there that have ABS over the ones that don't? Are they easy to find?

[WillM]

If I had to guess, maybe 10-15% have ABS between 1991-1997, and slightly higher after the body style change in 1999-2005 (15-20%) ?

[CP]

Why do you want to do the conversion? Is this a street or track car?

[TroyV]

Morbid curiosity really.

I co-drove a nicely set up 99 at Devens over the weekend on Hankook Z214 C71's, and the only thing that really bugged me about driving it the way I wanted to drive it was the lack of ABS.

[breakaway500]

You ran outstanding in that Miata, Troy. The Miata ABS is not very intrusive and works well. I hardly notice it at all on my 04 Mazdaspeed Miata.One of the few cars I have left it intact on as abs usually drives me nuts.

Guess you didn't like the svt Focus?

I'm gonna stuff some 275's under my WW for the 14th.


seems like the thing to do.

Watch for undercarriage rust if you are shopping Miatas.Some people run them year round.

[TroyV]

Thanks Mark, I had to learn how to brake in a straight line inside of two runs to get within a second of Miller (the owner). Even in a straight line it was way too easy to lock up a tire. I actually started doing the ghetto ABS tap dance to get what I wanted out of the brakes..

I wasn't crazy about the Focus at all. The tires that were on it could have been used as Corian counter top if molded to the proper shape. That and the traction control could not be shut off. I was in the stupid traction control for 75% of the run. To be honest I'd have rather had no ABS. Consequently, driving that car was like waiting for a bus for the time it took to traverse the 1.7 mile course.

[Dave_G]

I had to learn how to brake in a straight line inside of two runs to get within a second of Miller (the owner). Even in a straight line it was way too easy to lock up a tire. I actually started doing the ghetto ABS tap dance to get what I wanted out of the brakes.

It's something you get used to. In my non-ABS Miata, I used to lock up the right front pretty frequently, but I don't so much any more. In fact, in the past year as I've gotten more adept at trail braking, I find I'm braking while turning in more than ever.

Call me picky, but I don't like the idea of ABS in a track car. When I ever have to go two feet in, I like knowing that my wheels are going to stay locked, and not try to keep me from skidding.

[Stynger]

I agree with Dave.

Man, a lot of trail braking at Calabogie.

[Grippy]

Most people remove the ABS from their Miata, never heard of anyone putting it in.

I think you may have to adjust your style a bit if you are used to ABS and just stomping on the pedal. A Miata with good pads and stock rotors will out brake most cars. It just takes a little practice. You have to ease on the brakes and gradually load them up (use milliseconds for reference).

Kooks were not helping either, they tend to lock easily.

[TroyV]

I understand, and I'm very familiar with that debate. However, in the context of an autocross, such as the ones at Devens, ABS in the car would have been worth a good two seconds and change to me. Especially just having driven the car for the first time that day.