ABS brakes - good/bad?

goddom · 01-13-2008, 01:21 PM

This is a thread I started in the racing/autoX section, but there isn't a lot of traffic there.

Im not sure why, but I got the impression that non-ABS is the way to go. It was probably some old-school guy who prefers the "pure" driving experience without assistance from the car (No ABS, no traction control, etc.).

What do you guys think?

RePete · 01-13-2008, 02:50 PM

I saw that thread & I was about to post but I don't do auto-x, just some occasional track/road racing.

Semi-long read ahead.

This is my experience only, others will probably strongly disagree but this is from my experience and I'm convinced of it no matter what anyone else says.

In the rain, they're great - can't complain.

But I generally don't like my '91 ABS (on my '95 brakes) in anything but rainy conditions (we get a lot of that in Vancouver winters and they've helped). I'm not positive but I think (and it feels like it) they are 2 channel ABS sensors which means one for front and one for rear. So when the left front tire slips but not the right, both left and right brakes pulse regardless - which sucks. Not sure if that was corrected for later models but that's what I have to live with.

It can tend to decrease braking distances in dry conditions but in my experience it increases braking distance on bumpy, pebbly or semi-broken surfaces (and there are lots in my city). In fact, I started a thread a while back on finding out how hard it would be to wire up a rocker switch in the dash where I could snap off the ABS at will. That's how annoying it is in the street over bumpy surfaces - I hate it. It feels like I'm losing control and I'm gonna hit that old lady crossing the street. I've come extremely close a few times and I was pissed off, but when the dry surface is smooth I have no complaints, it clamps like you're hitting a wall.

BTW, the ABS behavior above was the exact same when I had the '91t brakes. It's been checked over a few times by techs, there's nothing wrong with my ABS, it's just not very sophisticated.

goddom · 01-13-2008, 03:05 PM

I have ABS currently, and also a 91. I have felt the same way. There were a few times when the ABS activated on a dry surface that I thought lengthened my stopping distance considerably. It seemed like it was too sensitive.

Thats not the reason I'm asking, mine is more of a general question, but I thought I should just say I have had similar experiences.

RePete · 01-13-2008, 03:08 PM

Oh, OK. Well generally I don't like them.

JRS_MisterTwo · 01-13-2008, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RePete

I saw that thread & I was about to post but I don't do auto-x, just some occasional track/road racing.

Semi-long read ahead.

This is my experience only, others will probably strongly disagree but this is from my experience and I'm convinced of it no matter what anyone else says.

In the rain, they're great - can't complain.

But I generally don't like my '91 ABS (on my '95 brakes) in anything but rainy conditions (we get a lot of that in Vancouver winters and they've helped). I'm not positive but I think (and it feels like it) they are 2 channel ABS sensors which means one for front and one for rear. So when the left front tire slips but not the right, both left and right brakes pulse regardless - which sucks. Not sure if that was corrected for later models but that's what I have to live with.

It can tend to decrease braking distances in dry conditions but in my experience it increases braking distance on bumpy, pebbly or semi-broken surfaces (and there are lots in my city). In fact, I started a thread a while back on finding out how hard it would be to wire up a rocker switch in the dash where I could snap off the ABS at will. That's how annoying it is in the street over bumpy surfaces - I hate it. It feels like I'm losing control and I'm gonna hit that old lady crossing the street. I've come extremely close a few times and I was pissed off, but when the dry surface is smooth I have no complaints, it clamps like you're hitting a wall.

BTW, the ABS behavior above was the exact same when I had the '91t brakes. It's been checked over a few times by techs, there's nothing wrong with my ABS, it's just not very sophisticated.

Is it possible to uprade to a more modern 4-sensor (one on each wheel) abs system?
That would probably eliminate all the faults you have found with ABS.

NONACK · 01-13-2008, 03:48 PM

Since you started this in the racing/autox section, I assume you mean abs for racing. I dd/autox a '91 without it, and although I have never owned an MR2 with abs (or power steering for that matter), I have autox'ed cars with abs and hated it. Basically, it works like this: if your abs kicks in, you are doing something wrong, and probably getting a slower time because of it. I would much rather skid a couple of times, learn to threshold brake, and be a better driver for it than rely on abs. In most MR2s, the inside front tire tends to lock while braking, and with our early 90s abs, this would most likely cause the car to go into abs mode and throw the car off balance at a crucial time. So, no abs for racing.

01-13-2008, 01:21 PM	#1 (permalink)
goddom WEEEEEEEE!!!!!!! Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 164 Thanks: 12 Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (2/100% )	ABS brakes - good/bad? This is a thread I started in the racing/autoX section, but there isn't a lot of traffic there. Im not sure why, but I got the impression that non-ABS is the way to go. It was probably some old-school guy who prefers the "pure" driving experience without assistance from the car (No ABS, no traction control, etc.). What do you guys think?

01-13-2008, 02:50 PM	#2 (permalink)
RePete 17x7 +40, just say no. Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Vantastic, BC Posts: 811 Thanks: 0 Thanked 48 Times in 47 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	I saw that thread & I was about to post but I don't do auto-x, just some occasional track/road racing. Semi-long read ahead. This is my experience only, others will probably strongly disagree but this is from my experience and I'm convinced of it no matter what anyone else says. In the rain, they're great - can't complain. But I generally don't like my '91 ABS (on my '95 brakes) in anything but rainy conditions (we get a lot of that in Vancouver winters and they've helped). I'm not positive but I think (and it feels like it) they are 2 channel ABS sensors which means one for front and one for rear. So when the left front tire slips but not the right, both left and right brakes pulse regardless - which sucks. Not sure if that was corrected for later models but that's what I have to live with. It can tend to decrease braking distances in dry conditions but in my experience it increases braking distance on bumpy, pebbly or semi-broken surfaces (and there are lots in my city). In fact, I started a thread a while back on finding out how hard it would be to wire up a rocker switch in the dash where I could snap off the ABS at will. That's how annoying it is in the street over bumpy surfaces - I hate it. It feels like I'm losing control and I'm gonna hit that old lady crossing the street. I've come extremely close a few times and I was pissed off, but when the dry surface is smooth I have no complaints, it clamps like you're hitting a wall. BTW, the ABS behavior above was the exact same when I had the '91t brakes. It's been checked over a few times by techs, there's nothing wrong with my ABS, it's just not very sophisticated. Last edited by RePete; 01-13-2008 at 02:58 PM. Reason: Damn grammar, some more clarity

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

01-13-2008, 03:05 PM	#3 (permalink)
goddom WEEEEEEEE!!!!!!! Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 164 Thanks: 12 Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (2/100% )	I have ABS currently, and also a 91. I have felt the same way. There were a few times when the ABS activated on a dry surface that I thought lengthened my stopping distance considerably. It seemed like it was too sensitive. Thats not the reason I'm asking, mine is more of a general question, but I thought I should just say I have had similar experiences.

01-13-2008, 03:08 PM	#4 (permalink)
RePete 17x7 +40, just say no. Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Vantastic, BC Posts: 811 Thanks: 0 Thanked 48 Times in 47 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Oh, OK. Well generally I don't like them.

01-13-2008, 03:48 PM	#6 (permalink)
NONACK What skills? Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 113 Thanks: 4 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	Since you started this in the racing/autox section, I assume you mean abs for racing. I dd/autox a '91 without it, and although I have never owned an MR2 with abs (or power steering for that matter), I have autox'ed cars with abs and hated it. Basically, it works like this: if your abs kicks in, you are doing something wrong, and probably getting a slower time because of it. I would much rather skid a couple of times, learn to threshold brake, and be a better driver for it than rely on abs. In most MR2s, the inside front tire tends to lock while braking, and with our early 90s abs, this would most likely cause the car to go into abs mode and throw the car off balance at a crucial time. So, no abs for racing.