Abs + traction = Abstraction
 

Should form follow function?

Or

Should function follow form?

func follows formtion, of course.

really though - depends what on, but i'm a form follows function person. if it doesn't work, what's the use?

I use unix everyday so I'll have to say form follows function.

It depends on the context. :p

But I know you will bitch at me for saying that, so I'll say that on an aggregate basis, the two should be in harmony.

ABS + Front wheel(2) traction - Rear wheel(2) traction + 190 Horsepower = Smokey burnout

:D:D

And I thought I was the only one that noticed that...ABS = Traction :D

Well, not really.

Momentum + Brake + Traction = -Abs
Momentum + Brake - Traction = +Abs

:D

being the person i am, i would have to say imho form is over function, because i like trying to find uses for stuff, even if it has to be a paperweight or something of the such.

Well, if you want to get technical...:rolleyes:

:D

I concur...

There are times where the needs of function completely take over (The International Space Station) and times where the needs of aesthetics take over (A piece of Louis XIII furniture)

The best design is a perfect blend of both; everyone gives credit to the idea but it is in practice extremely difficult.

Form is an intrinsic property of function.

But the reverse can also be debated.

Personally, I think function over form.

aha but if you could only have ABS OR traction which would you choose?

personally i would sit back and let god decide

If I could have traction all the time, I wouldn't need abs.

Mmmmmmmmmmm traction.

Our old Lumina doesn't have ABS... who needs it?! :p The new one does, and I can't peel out as well on it, and the whole thing is just so disappointing. At least the rubber stays on the tires with that car though :D

something must be wrong. i can break the tire loose, and i dont have abs :D hint: this car is fun (ok, fucking dangerous :p) in wet weather.

My truck HAS abs, and it's REALLY fucking dangerous in wet weather. :D

Actually, I take it back... I did peel out a bit the other day in the new one at a stop light, going uphill slightly. Tried to take off a bit too fast hehe :D There were people behind me, and I just sat and spun for a sec, and the car started turning sideways. And of course you can't just STOP then.... it's too much fun! I love getting looks like that :D :D :D

With the black car (the '91 Lumina) we go out on this back road that they repaved recently and just sit there and roach the tires off. Well, in the summer, anyway. Can't do it with the '97 no matter how hard we try though :(

I haven't gotten to try the new Lumina out in snow yet, we'll see how that goes :D I have gotten the old one stuck on a patch of ice, and THAT was fun.


Oh, and if I had a choice, I'd almost go with NO abs. I like having control of what I'm driving.

Word of advice: If you can get abs, get it.

I can think of several times that abs has literally saved my life since I've been driving my truck. I might sit on these boards and talk all day about smokey burnouts, pulling 50 Gs through corners, and driving 200 mph over the speed limit... but this is one thing I'm dead serious about. Trust me, not just because I say so, but because I'm still alive to say so.

personally, i prefer ABS with a console-mount override switch.

That would be optimal. I had no idea you could do that.

Sarge... I know, and with the new Lumy, we need it. The brakes are terrible (it's a GM, what do you expect heh). But the old one's brakes work very well. No probs yet, but we haven't gotten into any trouble with it, either.

I must admit, the ABS on the '97 saved me from plowing through an intersection into a raised traintrack. I wasn't paying attention, and was going 30 in a 30, and just didn't think I would hydroplane so badly. I was in shock when the abs kicked in, and I ended up about halfway into the intersection. Thank goodness no cars were coming.

I'd expect better. You should have it looked at if the brakes aren't working like you think they should. The brake systems on all the GM vehicles that my immediate family has ever owned have all worked flawlessly, save one... We had a 1987 Pontiac Grand Am that had small leaks in the rear brake cylinders (early production models). We replaced them and they worked great after that.

Actually I find that surprising; as far as I know (and I have people to back me up on this!) GM has some of the worst brakes in the industry. We've already gotten the brake pads replaced and it still doesn't brake fast enough. In fact, we almost hit someone on the highway when traffic suddenly stopped. Chris ended up having to swerve off the road. It was FUN! Oh wait, no...

GM doesn't have BAD brakes, but the brake pads wear down way too quickly. They shouldn't have to be turned/replaced so often.

ACDelco (they used to be the Delco Remy division of GM) makes brake parts for General Motors. The original, factory-equipped brakes on your car should be ACDelco, but there's other companies that make brake parts for GM vehicles. Are you sure that you're getting good quality (ACDelco) parts?

haha, this thread has taken on a new curve compared with the original post.

No, we're abstracting :D

Yeah... abstracting. That's it. :)

Btw, I put a set of new ceramic semi-metallic composite brake pads on the front discs on my truck the last time I did a brake job on it. They're a relatively new type of brake pad, and they work really well. If you can find some that fit your car, I'd recommend getting them the next time you do a brake job on it. :) They handle heat better and don't wear as quickly as regular semi-metallic pads do.

Is this a solicitation/advertisement for ACDelco? Do you get paid to say "ACDelco kicks your quality-brand ass"? ;) :D

No. I was just seeing how many times I could type ACDelco in one paragraph. :D j/k

But trust me when I say they make good quality parts. :)

OEM > the stuff you buy at autozone

that said, my lumina needs help. like bigger wheels + tires + stiffer shocks. i took a semi - sharp curve at 60 this morning and almost wound up with my ass end in front of me.

actually, does that mean that i'm a crappy driver or that i'm too good for my car? heh.

Uh. So what's the problem, then? That's the best part :)



Almost slammed into someone today when my NON-ABS BRAKES didn't kick in (I forgot which car I was driving!). Came around a curve, didn't see that the van in front of me was stopped because I was watching a truck that looked like he was going to turn in front of me... next thing I know, their back end is almost in my lap. I heard this awful screeching noise, and I was thinking, "Who the hell is that?" and then realized it was me. I hate mornings here... too wet.

Sarge, I have no idea what brand we have right now. We don't buy cheap-ass stuff, but not top-o-line either.

the person in the other lane :D

Ya know, I've been thinking about buying a set of 195[85]R15s for my truck just to pull tricks with. I can do some smokey burnouts with the 235s that I've got now, but imagine how awesome it would be with tires that thin. I'd leave 250-foot long black marks without ever having to touch the brake. :D I'd be able to pull some pretty awesome donuts, too. :) The tires I've got now have too much traction to let me do things like this...


Well, I'm not sure what your views on the subject are, but when it comes to safety, I only put the best on my truck. I had a Dayco fan belt on my truck several months back that broke and left my girlfriend and I stranded in the middle of the bad section of town late at night. I wasn't scared for myself, but my girlfriend was scared shitless. Luckily, my dad was still around town, so I called him on his cellphone (don't tell me cellphones are useless, they've saved my ass a few times) and he was able to stop by Napa just before they closed and got a new belt for my truck. Napa sells Gates belts, and I won't use anything other. I mistakenly got that Dayco belt at Advance Auto Parts a while back, and it didn't last very long. I've had no trouble whatsoever with my Gates belt. I also keep a spare belt behind the seat in my truck, just in case something like that happens again. The moral: It's a good idea to spend a little extra on quality now rather than have something bad happen later because a low-quality part failed.