Need stopping power
 

I'm in am 03 with no ABS or TC, I've already had to make a few emergency stops in the car because this city's drivers are insane...
but pumping the brakes to simulate ABS doesn't seem to work very well, the brakes don't respond quickly. I plan on doing a brake fluid flush although previous owner claimed that was done already.
any other suggestions?

First, is your Monte equipped with ABS? Second, if it is, you are not supposed to pump the brake, just keep steady on it. But first you need to know if you have ABS. If you don't have a traction button (to turn traction control on or off) on your center console, it's pretty safe to say you don't have ABS. If you do have ABS, is the ABS light/message active on the instrument cluster?

No, I don't have ABS or Traction Control, no traction button and wheels lock immediately without any dash lights. The reason I pump the brakes is that that's what ABS does for you and that's the reason it can stop a car faster.

The purpose of a pulsing brake on ABS isn't really to stop the car faster though, it's to keep some rotation in the wheels to allow for turning under hard braking. Ill certainly agree that some ABS systems in certain conditions can help stop quicker, but learning the threshold of locking up the tires and staying just under that is nearly as effective.

IMO if you're already easily locking the tires, I'd suggest getting some nicer tires to give you a bigger friction circle and high limits of braking abilities. Beyond that, I'd suggest practicing braking in a safe location so you can learn where the lock up limit is so you naturally don't over push the brakes.

Okay good idea, first step is probably new tires cause I have 2 or three brands and I've never heard of them, not to mention the curb rash all over them. Thanks guys!

None are LEAO tires are they?? Those are literal garbage.

Double post oops

I'm not sure, I'll look when I get the car back from insurance. They are pretty crap tires though.

Sorry, mis-read your first post. Making sure your tires are not worn out AND are a good quality tire, definitely. For a good all-season tire, I have been happy with Kelly brand tires for YEARS. I am not a fan of the BF Goodrich Regatta tires (not sure they are still made). Had a set of those that still had good tread and would not stop good at all during the last winter I had them.
As for the brakes, Bumpin' hit the nail on the head. In addition to be careful about how hard/soft you apply the brake, you need to be careful about pumping the brake. Yes, with non-ABS cars you will need to pump the brake, mostly to release a wheel from being locked up (sliding and not stopping), return rotation to then work on stopping again.

I also want to add, be aware of your following distance. Know how well your car stops and plan for it all times. When you stop behind another car, a good rule of thumb, you should be able to see where that car's rear tires touch the ground. If you cannot, you are too close and not stopping safely.

For sure, my following distance has grown quite a lot, what mostly scared me was sliding through a red light that I would have stopped at easily in my parents car. I just need to learn this new car and y'alls tips will help. Thanks

Well i am going to throw a curve ball at you?
Personally I hardly ever use the brakes, I slow down for the Lights and such, but never a hard stop. last year we traveled to Denver to see my Daughter.
The wife was driving and she was always on the brakes in the traffic she scares the heck out of me. I mean she slams on them.
But years of driving truck and on the road doing sales, and some racing. I just got used to never touching the brakes if I didn't need too.
You may want to get the Rotors inspected on the car and then do a brake job, the car may need new rotors all around or maybe just have them turned.
Following distance there is a 3 second rule, but I prefer 1 car link for every 10 miles per hour. So if you are doing 55 miles per hour, the car infront of you should be at least 5 to 6 car links ahead of you.
Then you always have to deal with the dopes that will get with in the 5 to 6 links. It's a battle, mostly because the Driver Ed that is done today is so lax that people don't know what to do when they are driving. They think it's like in a grocery store and they are operating a Cart.
On your 03 LS the ABS and Traction control was an option. ABS is great on the slick roads where I live.
Although if I get to sliding around I will put the car in Neutral to get back the control of it.

When you have the time maybe give a little story of your car and all the details about your traveling with the car , etc This will help us get a feel for what you are up against. Good Luck and stay safe. :)

I know of someone who recently got their license.. They blew 2 right turn red lights and still passed.. Its ridiculous anymore..

Well in Albuquerque we have some of the most diverse driving conditions ever, from brand new repaved one-lane roads to aging crumbling 3 lanes and the crossing point of two interstates. During rush hours the whole place is bumper to bumper like NY, no matter how fast you're going. I drive 30 miles for school each weekday, 30 miles a day on the weekend for work and 15 a day for my second job 3-5 times a week. These drivers are some of the most insane and unpredictable, my car was almost totaled by a guy who followed me out of anger.

Not to be rude, but if you're going so fast that you can't stop at a red light, that's a driver problem not a car problem. There's no reason to be driving so fast on public roads so as to have to engage ABS or lock wheels up during 99.99% of the time driving.

Again, it was raining, I was on a 55mph road I made the last second decision to stop at the light in a car I've only been driving for 2 days. It didn't react anything like I'm used to. Good to know your worried about my skills tho.

Those BF Goodrich Regatta tires I mentioned.... They performed fine first winter, second winter still had plenty of tread, but first dusting of snow (roads cold, not much snow to call any "accumulation"), I had a problem with stopping and blew through a red light on my way home and had a couple other uneasy moments (mind you, these were NOT icy road conditions, braking should not have been such an issue).
I got home, jacked up the car and rotated my back tires (which were NOT Regattas) to the front and the Regattas to the back. I had ZERO stopping problems remainder of winter, BUT, if I was not careful doing turns, those Regatta's allowed me to slide the read end of a FWD car (94 Grand Am to be exact). Because of those experiences, I have said if that tire is still being made, stay clear of it. NOT a good lasting all season tire.
So if the tires are worn or just a bad tire design, you may need to adjust to compensate. Tires can be an amazing part of the braking performance (as well as the brakes themselves).

Thanks for the input guys. I'm probably gonna go with Kelly as I've heard well about them, or Kumho which my dad uses on some of his cars and a buddy of mine uses on his camaro.

I have all season Kumhos on my Monte now (I also have 18" aftermarket wheels). They have been terrific tires, but I have never driven them through the snow as my Monte is out spring-fall, never in the snow and salt of winter.

Best of luck, I hope whatever you end up with help and it's money well spent. Also, make sure your brake pads and rotors are good, that nothing weird is going on there. Such as pads glazing or not making good contact and that none of the brake calipers are seized (if any of them are seized in the open position, that is going to create issues for you as well).

If it's only a Spring/Summer/Fall type of Monte, I'd recommend the Firestone Firehawk tires. They are the best summer performance tires I've ever had on the Monte. The thing never skids and plants right on the cement.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/monteca...b55bc0b420.jpg
Maybe the brake pads are worn ?

Some garage 54 stuff there ^^^