Miata Mailing List: December 1996, Message #49
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   From: (none)

Subject: Re: Can't move, must go in snow: Torsen/ABS in Winter/Summer?

   Date: (none)



John Freas wrote:

> 

> Previously on Can't move, must go in snow: Torsen/ABS in Winter/Summer?,

> Clifford F Thompson  said...

> 

> > FINALLY, I'm about to order a '96.  I'm not going to blow this dealer

> > incentive!

> 

> Congratulations!

> 

> > It's been well discussed that ABS doesn't help much if you don't know

> > how to use it (don't pump).  But I haven't heard whether ABS (properly

> > applied) provides significantly better braking overwhat a skillful driver

> > can manage without it.  What's the conventionallwisdom on that point and

> > what are the tradeoffs in summertime driving?  (I notice the R package

> > does not have it.)

> 

> One of the TV tabloids (Datline NBC?) recently had a segment on this topic.

> The result was that ABS significantly improved controllability during extreme

> braking, but the stopping distance for the same vehicle was actually _longer_

> with ABS.

> 

> It is important to note that this was not a scientific study, and some cars

> may actually stop shorter with ABS, but it seems unlikely.  The automatic

> system does not allow continuous threshold braking.  As the tires start to

> complain, the system dumps the pressure.  You can hear the tires alternatly

> start to skid and then roll, as the pedal pulses.  The result is about 50%

> threshold braking, and 50% nothing.

> 

> The real advantage of anti-lock brakes is the ability to continue to steer the

> car while the ABS manages the braking.  The disadvantage is that for

> straight-ahead stopping, a good driver performing threshold braking will stop

> before the ABS equipped car, sometimes /way/ before.

> 

> That's why the R package doesn't have them.

> 

>         -John

> 

> ------------------------------------------------

> John Freas (jfreas@gte.net)

> Red '90 Base (Red Dwarf)

> Team Roebuck

> Team Moss

> Team Voodoo

> Team "I have no idea what those dimple things on the windshield frame are

> for."

> ------------------------------------------------





But John, this is from the people that brought us the exploding GM truck

gas tank??  An we believe them about this???  I'm not sure I do.

-- 



Larry and The White Knight



M Club Member #70

'91 Crystal White 

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