59 replies to this topic

[Thorney]

No, just put a switch in.

[chris_uk]

cool, i think im gunna do this today.. need to get a switch from somewhere tho.

[Guy182]

you can put a switch in if you like or unplugging one of the sensors switches it off too and takes a minute.

[Karlosfandango]

http://www.vx220.org...topic=50048&hl=

[benw]

You can talk all day about whether braking is better without ABS but the fact is, with it off, how confident are you that when a situation occurs on the road you will have the necessary skill to maintain control of the car under heavy braking? Especially considering the situation will probably be one you've never experienced or practiced before. I will be leaving my ABS on in anticipation of that day. Incidentally, I have no issue with the ABS on the road any more. I used to have the same complaints as everyone else but I have since altered my braking technique and now it almost never comes in. I also believe part of the problem is that the biting point of the pedal drops when the ABS cuts in so you have to consciously push harder. If you do this, braking force isn't THAT much reduced.

[chris_uk]

i feel fairly confident that i can stop jsut as quick.

[Guy182]

You can talk all day about whether braking is better without ABS but the fact is, with it off, how confident are you that when a situation occurs on the road you will have the necessary skill to maintain control of the car under heavy braking? Especially considering the situation will probably be one you've never experienced or practiced before. I will be leaving my ABS on in anticipation of that day.

exactly the reason i dont want to turn my abs off.. but when it goes into ice mode when you try put the brakes on hard... its just as unsafe.

[benw]

i feel fairly confident that i can stop jsut as quick.

Yes I can stop just as quick in a straight line. I could even stop just as quick when practising in a chicane of cones set out on an airfield. But real life incidents aren't like that. They happen very quickly and without warning.

[benw]

You can talk all day about whether braking is better without ABS but the fact is, with it off, how confident are you that when a situation occurs on the road you will have the necessary skill to maintain control of the car under heavy braking? Especially considering the situation will probably be one you've never experienced or practiced before. I will be leaving my ABS on in anticipation of that day.

exactly the reason i dont want to turn my abs off.. but when it goes into ice mode when you try put the brakes on hard... its just as unsafe.

A couple of years ago I would have agreed with you because I had the same experiences but nowadays I don't have a problem because I have changed my braking technique. I can't remember the last time ABS came on just under heavy braking. And when it does come on (i.e. over wet drain covers or big bumps) I just push the pedal harder and the car stops quickly.

[chris_uk]

i dont drive on the road where i need to brake quick.. i didnt have the ABS on the punto, or the corsa. and i feel alot more confident about braking if i know im 100% in control of them. just me personally.

[Dave E]

Incidentally, I have no issue with the ABS on the road any more. I used to have the same complaints as everyone else but I have since altered my braking technique and now it almost never comes in. I also believe part of the problem is that the biting point of the pedal drops when the ABS cuts in so you have to consciously push harder. If you do this, braking force isn't THAT much reduced.

Before I changed to 16" fronts I felt exactly the same. I practically never had the ABS cutting in.

I seem to remember reading here some time ago that the problem was that going to 16" was right on the threshold of the 5% tolerance of the ABS unit so maybe that's my problem, I'm interested to see what size fronts your running.

As ever it's down to personal preference and I'm more confident running with 16's, with it turned off.

[Mr Small]

I never managed to lock the wheels on my elise unless i wanted to. Normally if somebody was tailgaiting me!!!!

[slindborg]

Walshy explained about ICE mode and how it tends to come on it you trigger the ABS, then lift and stand on them again.... I wasnt confident when we turned the ABS off with the wheel sensor lol. have to say ive only had the ABS kick in once since having the 16/17 combo on and that was when doing the final bedding step of my PFB pads (and the fluid had lost the plot then too). It might be down to my 205/50/16's being nearly the same size as the 225/45/17's but hey. Its all personal preference at the end of the day

[RobNA]

i dont drive on the road where i need to brake quick..

That has to be one of the most ridiculous statements I've heard recently its not always your choice...

[chris_uk]

yea i know what you mean rob, but what i meant to say is that, i dont drive irratically like some people do, i know you cant predict what people are going to do. i guess if i did have to brake hard then i would be happier without the ABS.

[snoopstah]

i guess if i did have to brake hard then i would be happier without the ABS.

I'm sure you believe that to be the case, and for all I know it might be true that if you get surprised without any warning you can still accurately modulate the brakes, but bear in mind it's not only heavy braking where you can have issues.

A few weeks ago I had a (rare) occasion to be thankful that ABS was enabled when I went into a two-lane roundabout alongside another car who decided to use both lanes. My braking wasn't particularly hard, nor did it need to be, I just needed to drop off enough speed to ensure my nose was behind his tail, but as I applied the brakes whilst having a fair amount of steering lock on, there was the half-second moment where my car stopped turning as the front-right wheel momentarily locked.

Now I would say I have a fair amount of ability behind the wheel, and if the ABS had been disabled I probably would have come off the brakes in time to avoid going into the side of him, but the ABS resolved the issue almost before I noticed it had happened. It doesn't take much imagination to realise that a similar incident occuring with less tolerance, which could be entirely caused by another careless driver, could easily cause a driver with ABS disabled who wasn't driving at 10/10ths concentration to have a bump.

[chris_uk]

i did it today, and it has been raining so not really had chance to test it, but it locks up quite quick in the wet. i have turned it back on now and will wait for a nice dry day.

[MrSimba]

Thread resurrection..... Since fitting the Nitrons & upgraded Brembo's & 16" fronts with 205 sticky rubber the cars been a nightmare... Dead pedal & ice mode every drive, usually straight after I've been on full boost, touch the brakes and... nothing... hit em again and they are there but hardly confidence inspiring. I left the Peaks run early as I just didn't trust the brakes to join in Since then had new fluid, pads were fooked so a new set of CL5's and it feels much better but still after boosting the ABS just kicks in... (and you don't stop ) So thankfully Jaylin has already fitted an ABS switch so I'll try this sure it's going to be the answer, and if it is a 4 channel ABS unit is next on my upgrade list!

Edited by MrSimba, 04 December 2011 - 10:57 PM.

[VIX]

Spookily, having had my ABS switched off for the past 3+ years I reconnected it last week and it works just fine - albeit I still cadence brake when I'm braking over bumps.

[Graeme Lambert]

4 channel ABS unit is next on my upgrade list!

Also interested in a 4 channel/VXR/Lotus ABS unit.
If you find two Simon, give me a shout...

G