jayc67

Moron ahead of me decides to make a 4 way stop out of a freeway off ramp this morning.

Thank goodness the brakes on this thing still work as designed, I truly tried to push the pedal through the floor.

ABS worked great, tracked straight etc. I don't get on the brakes that heavy very often so it got me to thinking.....

Is there any maintenance or anything that needs to be done to the ABS system itself to make sure it's all in good shape or is just using it now and then and trusting that the light doesn't come on enough?

Just a thought that crossed my mind as I stomped the pedal "Boy I hope this still works"

Gtaebr

About once a month I do a hard stop or two in the controlled environment of my deserted street. This allows me to check the ABS and cleans up the rotors from any pussyfoot to the car show n back driving I may have done!

Lizard928

You can actually brake faster in most instances by threshold braking and not engaging the ABS although I was recently driving on ice and if I didn't have ABS I doubt I could have stopped.

mickster

If you engage ABS, then come off you can actually go into a spin.

You are absolutely correct that threshold braking stops you more quickly in the dry.

However, if you are on even a slightly moist or icy road (as you said) and attempt to threshold brake, the ABS may kick in and your release of the pedal can actually cause the car to slide or even spin-out. The best thing to do is push down to the floor with ABS once you feel it engage.

Michael

dr bob

Glad it worked for you!

The Best Thing about ABS is that you can still STEER AROUND the maroons while you have the pedal mashed. Way too many folks forget that it really is OK to use the steering to AVOID the obstacles. But the brain focuses on the rear of the stopped car ahead, rather than on the safe path around. Plus it gets you out of the way of the next maroon behind you, so he/se can focus on the maroon that used to be in your crash path.

Threshold braking can be better in straight stops on surfaces that have even traction under all four wheels. Also --can-- work better on gravel and on loose-packing snow when controlled wheel slippage can build a wedge of gravel/snow under the tire. Most of us casual drivers don't have the feel or the experience to use that to advantage (same as: We aren't nearly as good as we like to think we are.), and for the rest of the time the ABS is better.

-----

Make sure you flush your brake system every couple years so the system doesn't soak in moist fluid. Steel parts of the pump and valves doin't like moisture and for sure don't like debris from other parts of the system that might also be rusting. A regularly-flushed hydraulic system will be virtually immune to internal failure. A regularly-flushed hydraulic system will be virtually immune to internal failure.

the flyin' scotsman

The ABS system is quite complicated; here's my experience.

The car braked unbelievably when I fist got it, right out of your seat belts. When it went in for an ins inspection some years ago it was noted the front rotors needed turned and new pads which was done. The brakes were worse than before and I blamed my poor choice of pads. Shortly after the ABS light came on after driving for a few kms so I changed the relay on the main electrical panel. Then I noticed the battery getting weak/discharged..............checked the charging system all was good so new battery.

New brake pads again brought the brakes back but the ABS light was intermittently coming on and the batt. discharge issue remained and I should add that the ABS system wasn't working.

After bleeding the system several times and cleaning the sensors at each wheel and no change I dug into the ABS system from the drivers wheel opening. Using Alans method of t.shooting electrical current draw I found that one of the 2 relays attached directly to the ABS system caused the high static current draw. Replacing both of these relays cured the problem for the battery but not the ABS issue.

Going with the premis that just because its new doesn't mean its good I again replaced the ABS relay on the panel and bingo all was fixed.

To this day I do not know if the electrical issue with the relays on the ABS system caused the first new ABS electrical panel relay to go bad or it came bad from the factory. All I do know is that I replaced all ABS relays (1 of them twice) to effect a repair that brought the brakes back.

I do test the system on local empty highways a few times during the driving season to ensure all remains well.

WallyP

Seven out of ten 928 drivers think that they can outbrake the ABS - under emergency conditions, one out of one hundred might be able to do so...

(87% of statistics are made up on need.)

Tails

dr bob,
+1 on your comments, I attended a couple of Advanced Driver Training sessions with new cars and threshold breaking was great in a straight line, however in the ABS breaking session we were taught that you could steer around rubber barriers to avoid accidents. My ABS has saved me a few time and I agree that regular break fluid changes and periodic testing are the best maintenance procedures.

The best save with ABS was when a lady drive pulled out in front of me from as standstill on a wet road to do a turn. I stomped on the brakes and steered the 928 around with her turn with me on the inside. No contact and no contest I like my ABS system. My verbals were slightly off colour though.

Tails 1990 928S4 Auto.

Lizard928

To those who have stated that when the ABS engages to push as hard as you can ith your foot, you are correct! When the ABS engages keep pressing and do not release pressure.

And with more current cars the ABS system is more advanced. But all of the 1988 and earlier models with ABS that I have driven and tested the system in I can tell you that even on a damp road it is easier to stop significantly faster by threshold braking, and not letting the ABS system do anything.

If you are a more aggressive driver then I would replace the fluid every spring. I do it roughly every 6 months. Or right before a track event.

Nicole

I'm glad to hear it did!

+1

LOL! Probably still not too far from the truth.