1. how can you tell whether or not a vehicle has abs (anti-lock brakes) before you actually need them?

You can determine if your car has an ABS system in four ways. The easiest method is to read your owner's manual. ... If you do not see a light for the ABS system, two methods remain to determine if your vehicle has ABS brakes. The first visual check is to look for an ABS pump under the vehicle hood.