Think I've been misled

[TW]Fox · 4 Dec 2006 at 21:41

Guigsy said:
Do you know what ABS is for?

Everyone knows that criticising ABS/ESP/DSC/Whatever makes you more manly and is prooven to increase the amount of girls who want to sleep with you by 50%.

Bri · 4 Dec 2006 at 21:43

[TW]Fox said:
Everyone knows that criticising ABS/ESP/DSC/Whatever makes you more manly and is prooven to increase the amount of girls who want to sleep with you by 50%.

I believe that it's actually 51.47%

Dogbreath · 4 Dec 2006 at 21:52

Nor said:
Can't really help you regarding your car, but in my opinion, ABS isn't that great. I much prefer doing it manually. Never had a good experience of ABS kicking in.

If the ABS has kicked in then the chances are high that you were driving too quickly for the conditions or simply not paying attention, so hardly surprising it doesn't go hand in hand with a good experience. A lot of people think they can do better than ABS; on some surfaces (snow/gravel etc.) they probably can, but on very slippery surfaces where the ABS appears to kick in almost straight away, the fact is that there is so little grip available that nothing short of a road anchor (or hitting something) is going to make the car stop quickly.

One area where no driver can beat ABS is that (modern variants at least) can control each wheel separately. No matter how good a driver you are, if one to two wheels lock you will have to release pressure to all four wheels to get them gripping again, losing braking distance in the process.

TomO · 4 Dec 2006 at 21:53

Bri said:
I believe that it's actually 51.47%

but they all ming - so its not really important.

NickXX · 4 Dec 2006 at 22:12

Nor said:
Can't really help you regarding your car, but in my opinion, ABS isn't that great. I much prefer doing it manually. Never had a good experience of ABS kicking in.

As echoed above. Do you really think you can pump your brakes 15 times a second, as well as being able to brake each wheel individually?

Didn't think so.

peter212693 · 4 Dec 2006 at 22:21

I have a 2003 MP3 Focus and I dont think mine has it, as i have not fuses in the places there should be, tryed the E-Stop and skided and no light. :rolleyes:

but I'm told the Mp3 didnt come with it as standard.

Jonny69 · 4 Dec 2006 at 23:12

Just nail the brakes at about 20mph on a nice quiet straight bit of wet road

slide = no abs

buzzing brake pedal (usually) = abs

Guigsy · 5 Dec 2006 at 09:30

Or just do a bit of heavy braking over a wet drain-cover and feel the pedal kick back at you.

FireBIade · 5 Dec 2006 at 10:06

Guigsy said:
Or just do a bit of heavy braking over a wet drain-cover and feel the pedal kick back at you.

Yeah a good wet drain cover will get your ABS going, it did with mine giving me precious few inches from the car in front when I finally stopped... Grrr ABS :rolleyes:

D4VE · 5 Dec 2006 at 10:07

Look for the ABS "unit" under the bonnet - its a box type thing with all the brake lines going to it.

Should say ABS on it.

dirtydog · 5 Dec 2006 at 10:20

I'm amazed all cars of that age don't have it as standard. It was standard or common on a lot of much older cars.

moss · 5 Dec 2006 at 11:00

D4VE said:
Look for the ABS "unit" under the bonnet - its a box type thing with all the brake lines going to it.

Should say ABS on it.

My peugeot one doesnt have ABS wrote on it, Ive had to change it 3 times :rolleyes:

@ french electrics

D4VE · 5 Dec 2006 at 11:20

moss said:
My peugeot one doesnt have ABS wrote on it, Ive had to change it 3 times @ french electrics

Thats why I said should, wasnt sure if they all did.

Infact, post a pic of your engine bay and we will have a look

Better than trying to "skid" your car IMO.

triggerthat · 5 Dec 2006 at 11:26

Look at the back wheels and see if they have drums or not.

dirtydog · 5 Dec 2006 at 11:42

triggerthat said:
Look at the back wheels and see if they have drums or not.

Some cars still have ABS even with rear drums apparently.

Dogbreath · 5 Dec 2006 at 12:04

FireBIade said:
Yeah a good wet drain cover will get your ABS going, it did with mine giving me precious few inches from the car in front when I finally stopped... Grrr ABS

As opposed the the wheel locking and ending up the the same, or worse result?

triggerthat · 5 Dec 2006 at 12:08

dirtydog said:
Some cars still have ABS even with rear drums apparently.

Not aware of any. Enlighten me please.

dirtydog · 5 Dec 2006 at 12:34

triggerthat said:
Not aware of any. Enlighten me please.

I seem to recall that some Ford models like the Mondeo have (or had) ABS with only discs on the front. Perhaps a Ford guru like Fox could set me straight.

dirtydog · 5 Dec 2006 at 12:37

Dogbreath said:
As opposed the the wheel locking and ending up the the same, or worse result?

He is right to say that sometimes ABS means you take longer to stop than you would without it. It's swings and roundabouts really. I've sometimes found ABS to be overly intrusive, and other times (well once or twice) it's been damn useful - ie. when I've braked too late.

Burlsey · 5 Dec 2006 at 12:37

triggerthat said:
Not aware of any. Enlighten me please.

2003 Ford Fiesta TDCI Ghia

Think I've been misled

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