OT: ABS - or is it Pure BS

From: Don Maslin <donm_at_cts.com>
Date: Mon Apr 5 23:42:33 1999

On Mon, 5 Apr 1999, Jim Strickland wrote:

> >
> > > ABS - American Bull Shi...
> > >
> > > I have noted one difficulty with ABS, and that is its failure to operate on
> > > snow
> > > and ice. Since I live in Southern California, I do not get that much snow
> > > but,
> > > in any quick application of my Mustang's breaks, on snow covered roads,
> > > they always seem to lock up. Well, the pumping action occurs but, at each
> > > application of the pump, I notice wheel lock-up. There is no stopping.
> > >
> > > William R. Buckley
> >
> > Noted the same thing with my wife's Acura in New Jersey.
> > The bad news is (unlike the last two years) we usually get snow here.
> >
> > Bill
> >
> > ---
>
> Okay, let's back up and consider what ABS brakes are for. They do NOT
> decrease stopping distance. Even on a dry road in perfect conditions, having
> the wheels turning instead of locked up will slow you down less fast.
> What they are for is to give you the ability to steer when you're in a panic
> stop situation. Nothing more, nothing less. By keeping the wheels turning
> you retain the ability to dodge while you stop, as opposed to locking up all 4
> wheels and praying.

Sorry, but locked up and sliding is not the quickest stop. Actually,
hitting an immovable object is, but I cannot recommend that either.

                                                 - don
 
> It's an unpleasant surprise the first time antilock activates on a slippery
> road because you expect to slide, all your instincts tell you you SHOULD slide,
> and you expect the car to slide a specific direction. Instead, Antilock keeps
> the wheels turning and you go straight. But once you realise you can *steer*
> while the antilock system is pounding away, you have a lot more options to
> avoid collisions. It takes practice, especially if this is your first car with
> antilock on it - I went from a 1974 vw bus to my Neon and the first winter I
> had the thing in colorado (I'd never gotten the antilocks to do anything
> in California) I cursed the thing and contemplated pulling the antilock system's
> fuse out. Now that I've driven it in 3 winters I wouldn't be without it.
>
> I agree with the folks who say "also make sure you have good tires, a good
> brake system (one of the advantages of my neon that they took out later - 4
> wheel disk brakes), and that you the driver know what you're doing, but I also
> think that when you're used to them, ABS brakes make the car much safer.
> --
> Jim Strickland
> jim_at_DIESPAMMERSCUMcalico.litterbox.com
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
> Vote Meadocrat! Bill and Opus in 2000 - Who ELSE is there?
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
Received on Mon Apr 05 1999 - 23:42:33 BST