First of all, there is nothing wrong with my brakes. They work fine. It's just that they are not anti-lock brakes.

Is it possible to put anti-lock brakes on the '86?

I had to slam on my brakes to avoid hitting someone when I-10 was closed down to one lane, and, of course, my rear-end fishtailed when the brakes locked. I would like to have anti-lock brakes, but I do not know if it is possible.

Any suggestions?

with enough money and work, anything is possible. EDIT: you'd have to have wheel speed sensors to begin with, you might look into swapping in the ABS system from an early S10 or Blazer. they're about as close as it gets to our setup. IDK what it would entail, but at the very least you'll be cutting on the rear axle housing to accomodate different brakes with wheel speed sensors.

The easiest solution is don't slam on the brakes in a non-ABS car. pump them as you approach the threshold of tire lock

It can be done but it is not easy. There was an article in one of the mainstream car magazines a few months ago about someone who added ABS to his car. Wheel diameter, total weight have to be near in matching; the electronics need to be integrated along with adapting wheel speed sensors. Lots of new brake plumbing...you get the idea. Oh, and lots of time and patience. We all have lots of that, right? LOL.

Don't overlook tires! I love my NITTO INVO'S there really grippy and quite. And when it comes to stopping they bite hard and give great feed back when there about to break away. I've yet to drive a car that can stop shorter then my elky, and I've drivin quite a few new cars lately.

My Chevy pickup ("92) has them on the rear only. Can't say if they help any. Had to replace the electronic module for them twice. It stops fine when the module craps out, so....

As others said, abs is very difficult. also as mentioned ,better tires help. So would a front brake upgrade. The most affordable probably is a twin piston caliper setup from stainless steel brakes for stock size rotors. Front suspension shocks & springs also affect weight transfer off rear wheels.

Hey Erin,I've done the same thing. On my old BFG Radials like you have,they seem to slide the truck when the brakes are fully applied. I actually went with a fero-carbon brake pad set from Hawk and it improved my stopping distance plus new BFG Radials this year.How long has it been since you changed brake pads and what brand are you using?

with enough money and work, anything is possible. EDIT: you'd have to have wheel speed sensors to begin with, you might look into swapping in the ABS system from an early S10 or Blazer. they're about as close as it gets to our setup. IDK what it would entail, but at the very least you'll be cutting on the rear axle housing to accomodate different brakes with wheel speed sensors.

The easiest solution is don't slam on the brakes in a non-ABS car. pump them as you approach the threshold of tire lock
Well, that seems like more trouble than its worth.

It can be done but it is not easy. There was an article in one of the mainstream car magazines a few months ago about someone who added ABS to his car. Wheel diameter, total weight have to be near in matching; the electronics need to be integrated along with adapting wheel speed sensors. Lots of new brake plumbing...you get the idea. Oh, and lots of time and patience. We all have lots of that, right? LOL.
Thanks anyway....guess I'll learn to live with the regular brakes.

Hey Erin,I've done the same thing. On my old BFG Radials like you have,they seem to slide the truck when the brakes are fully applied. I actually went with a fero-carbon brake pad set from Hawk and it improved my stopping distance plus new BFG Radials this year.How long has it been since you changed brake pads and what brand are you using?
I have not changed the brake pads since I've owned it - 9 months? I think the previous owner had a brake job done on it, but I don't know what they did.

Did you do what they call a brake conversion, or is that something else entirely?

As others said, abs is very difficult. also as mentioned ,better tires help. So would a front brake upgrade. The most affordable probably is a twin piston caliper setup from stainless steel brakes for stock size rotors. Front suspension shocks & springs also affect weight transfer off rear wheels.
Thanks. Maybe I can go shopping for new tires! :)

I would take half of the money you'd spend just on ABS parts, and take a performance driving course!

Really, everyone can learn, and practice is even better with good instruction. A competently trained driver can stop shorter than ABS every single time.

I don't know this school, but it's in Houston. http://www.thedriversedge.net/

Look into things like the Chip Barber schools, etc

earleygirl, consider yourself lucky. When I put my Big Block in my 70 I had 4wheel manual drum brakes, drove her like that for a couple of years. Can you say Fred Flintstone?
Finally went with a power front disc conversion kit. Night and day difference.
Just remember, it's an Elky, it may drive like a car but there's no weight on the rear.

earleygirl, consider yourself lucky. When I put my Big Block in my 70 I had 4wheel manual drum brakes, drove her like that for a couple of years. Can you say Fred Flintstone?
Finally went with a power front disc conversion kit. Night and day difference.
Just remember, it's an Elky, it may drive like a car but there's no weight on the rear.
Ok - I might try that. It seems like the conversion, paired with different tires, might be an alternative for me.

I would take half of the money you'd spend just on ABS parts, and take a performance driving course!

Really, everyone can learn, and practice is even better with good instruction. A competently trained driver can stop shorter than ABS every single time.

I don't know this school, but it's in Houston. http://www.thedriversedge.net/

Look into things like the Chip Barber schools, etc
Did you really just say that because I am a female?

I asked this question because in the 9 months of my Elky being my daily driver, this is the first time I have had to slam on the brakes. I never lost control of the car. I never hit the guy in front of me who slammed on his brakes, too. I never had to steer out of my lane. Oh, and since you are male, I guess you have never had occasion to slam on the brakes. Puuuullllleeeezzzz! This has nothing to do with driver competence. It has everything to do with your perception that women are incompetent drivers.

What would you say if I told you that I had already been to Bondurant? Or, that I have been driving since I was 12. Or, that I drove a motorcycle before I ever owned a car. Or, that I can drive almost anything from 2 wheels (as long as my feet reach the ground...) to 18 wheels.

I started driving in 1947, and all those years I survived without ABS until cars had them as standard equipment. They may be a good thing for today's drivers. The advent of split master cylinders for front & rear brake systems did a lot for better control.