Just after reading some of the debate on a recent/current ABS thread, I went
out and jumped on my brakes on a wet road with a slight curve. (I won't say
whether it was planned or not.)

The anti lock system activated, and I came to a controlled stop.
Let's just say it was exciting.

Now my question: The pedal feeling and sounds are so rapid and violent,
like a small machine gun, that I can't help but think that it's wearing
something out pretty rapidly. Is it?

The modulator valves? The hydraulic brake line fittings? Nothing?


Thanks,

Grover

 

Grover C writes:

>The anti lock system activated, and I came to a controlled stop.
>Let's just say it was exciting.
>
>Now my question: The pedal feeling and sounds are so rapid and violent,
>like a small machine gun, that I can't help but think that it's wearing
>something out pretty rapidly. Is it?
>
>The modulator valves? The hydraulic brake line fittings? Nothing?
>
>
>Thanks,
>
>Grover
Congradulations. Now you know what abs feels like. I agree with your
assessment that it sounds like some damage is occuring, but I assure you, none
is. Perhaps someone with more mechanical knowledge than I can explain it
better, but in short what is happening is, you activate the brake and pump
fluid to the pads causing them to grip the disc to stop. The sensors detect
approaching lock-up and briefly release the hydraulics. What you are feeling
and hearing is this release. The first abs brakes where worse than today's,
giving you much kick-back through the brake pedal, and rachet noise from the
brakes. But, nothing is being damaged.

What you experienced is what *everyone* does when they *use* the abs. It is
far better to experience this in a non-emergency condition, because your first
inclination is to lift from the pedal.

Whenever I rent a car (usually on fishing trips) I immediately find out whether
it has abs, either by asking the agent, or check the panel at start-up. If I
am still unsure, I will put the right side in some dirt and jump on the brakes.
It's important to know this because the operation of non-abs is exactly
opposite of what you do *with* abs.

And most important - remember to steer!
Dave

http://hometown.aol.com/davplac/myhomepage/index.html

 

"Grover" <ccleaveland@earthlink.nospam.net> wrote in message
news:BBFE0ED0.4D1B%ccleaveland@earthlink.nospam.ne t...
> Just after reading some of the debate on a recent/current ABS thread, I
went
> out and jumped on my brakes on a wet road with a slight curve. (I won't
say
> whether it was planned or not.)
>
> The anti lock system activated, and I came to a controlled stop.
> Let's just say it was exciting.
>
> Now my question: The pedal feeling and sounds are so rapid and violent,
> like a small machine gun, that I can't help but think that it's wearing
> something out pretty rapidly. Is i
>
> The modulator valves? The hydraulic brake line fittings? Nothing?

Nothing. You're feeling the brakes being rapidly cycled on and off.
Perfectly normal.
--
C.R. Krieger
(Been there; sideways)

 

"Grover" <ccleaveland@earthlink.nospam.net> wrote in message
news:BBFE0ED0.4D1B%ccleaveland@earthlink.nospam.ne t...
> Just after reading some of the debate on a recent/current ABS thread, I
went
> out and jumped on my brakes on a wet road with a slight curve. (I won't
say
> whether it was planned or not.)
>
> The anti lock system activated, and I came to a controlled stop.
> Let's just say it was exciting.
>
> Now my question: The pedal feeling and sounds are so rapid and violent,
> like a small machine gun, that I can't help but think that it's wearing
> something out pretty rapidly. Is it?
>
> The modulator valves? The hydraulic brake line fittings? Nothing?
>
If you drove like that all the time, you'd wear out your brakes

Seriously, though, although the ABS is only designed for emergencies to
prevent skidding, the quattro system uses the same components and is very
reliable even in continuous winter use.

--
Kind Regards
Christopher Roberts
crackle at fuse dot net

 

"Dave LaCourse" <davplac@aol.comPirate> wrote in message
news:20031211162201.21823.00000523@mb-m19.aol.com...
> Grover C writes:
>
> >The anti lock system activated, and I came to a controlled stop.
> >Let's just say it was exciting.
> >
> >Now my question: The pedal feeling and sounds are so rapid and violent,
> >like a small machine gun, that I can't help but think that it's wearing
> >something out pretty rapidly. Is it?
> >
> >The modulator valves? The hydraulic brake line fittings? Nothing?
> >
> >
> >Thanks,
> >
> >Grover
> Congradulations. Now you know what abs feels like. I agree with your
> assessment that it sounds like some damage is occuring, but I assure you,
none
> is. Perhaps someone with more mechanical knowledge than I can explain it
> better, but in short what is happening is, you activate the brake and pump
> fluid to the pads causing them to grip the disc to stop. The sensors
detect
> approaching lock-up and briefly release the hydraulics. What you are
feeling
> and hearing is this release. The first abs brakes where worse than
today's,
> giving you much kick-back through the brake pedal, and rachet noise from
the
> brakes. But, nothing is being damaged.

It's not aproaching lock-up, it's lock-up! That's what you hear on a dry
road and you'll even leave marks on the road which the cops use to determine
your initial speed.

Ronald





>
> What you experienced is what *everyone* does when they *use* the abs. It
is
> far better to experience this in a non-emergency condition, because your
first
> inclination is to lift from the pedal.
>
> Whenever I rent a car (usually on fishing trips) I immediately find out
whether
> it has abs, either by asking the agent, or check the panel at start-up.
If I
> am still unsure, I will put the right side in some dirt and jump on the
brakes.
> It's important to know this because the operation of non-abs is exactly
> opposite of what you do *with* abs.
>
> And most important - remember to steer!
> Dave
>
> http://hometown.aol.com/davplac/myhomepage/index.html
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

 

Ronald writes:

>It's not aproaching lock-up, it's lock-up! That's what you hear on a dry
>road and you'll even leave marks on the road which the cops use to determine
>your initial speed.
>
>Ronald

Well, one out of two isn't bad, Ronald. I'll go along with your "lock-up" but
most abs experts use the term "approaching lock-up". It locks-up for the
shortest of time (milliseconds?). The tire tracks you see in the road are not
caused by the abs at lock-up. Otherwise you would see tire marks once on every
revolution the same as you would see if the tire was on grass or dirt.
Dave

http://hometown.aol.com/davplac/myhomepage/index.html

 

Ok, this is sort of funny now.

I have known (through inattentive driving and such) what ABS feels like for
years now. It's also caused me to have no illusions of my personally being
able to out perform it - especially while steering. I most likely can not
without the proper training, practice, and road conditions.

After yesterday's event, I am just now wondering (new thread) what the weak
point in the mechanical system might be, regarding wear.

In other words, if I want to practice max stopping/steering maneuvers within
slick or snowy parking lots, am I wearing anything out aside from my brake
pads and rotors?

The answer seems to be "no", but it was worth asking.

I'm one of the converted, believe me.


Grover

 

Grover writes:

>In other words, if I want to practice max stopping/steering maneuvers within
>slick or snowy parking lots, am I wearing anything out aside from my brake
>pads and rotors?
>
>The answer seems to be "no", but it was worth asking.
>
>I'm one of the converted, believe me.
>
>
>Grover

You are causing wear, of course, but you are not hurting anything. The wear
would be on the pads and the rotor. The school cars (Ford Taurus) take a big
beating each day they are used, but brakes last a long time, even under school
conditions.

Dave

http://hometown.aol.com/davplac/myhomepage/index.html

 

You did what most people should do. Slam on them and see what happens. Do
that in the snow too.



In article <BBFE0ED0.4D1B%ccleaveland@earthlink.nospam.net> ,
ccleaveland@earthlink.nospam.net says...
>
>Just after reading some of the debate on a recent/current ABS thread, I went
>out and jumped on my brakes on a wet road with a slight curve. (I won't say
>whether it was planned or not.)
>
>The anti lock system activated, and I came to a controlled stop.
>Let's just say it was exciting.
>
>Now my question: The pedal feeling and sounds are so rapid and violent,
>like a small machine gun, that I can't help but think that it's wearing
>something out pretty rapidly. Is it?
>
>The modulator valves? The hydraulic brake line fittings? Nothing?
>
>
>Thanks,
>
>Grover
>

 

"Grover" <ccleaveland@earthlink.nospam.net> wrote in message
news:BBFE0ED0.4D1B%ccleaveland@earthlink.nospam.ne t...
> Just after reading some of the debate on a recent/current ABS thread, I
went
> out and jumped on my brakes on a wet road with a slight curve. (I won't
say
> whether it was planned or not.)
>
> The anti lock system activated, and I came to a controlled stop.
> Let's just say it was exciting.
>
> Now my question: The pedal feeling and sounds are so rapid and violent,
> like a small machine gun, that I can't help but think that it's wearing
> something out pretty rapidly. Is it?
>
> The modulator valves? The hydraulic brake line fittings? Nothing?

It (should!) be designed to take the load.

Arguably there is potentially more damage to the surface of the pads (the
on/off is arguably more violent and frequent than a typical human driver
would apply), but - IMHO - I would very, very much doubt that it has a
significant difference on the service interval for the pads.

Theoretically, depending upon the materials used, it could shorten the life
of the calliper seals. Mind you, they should have failed any rational
test/inspection w-a-y before then.

--

Hairy One Kenobi

Disclaimer: the opinions expressed in this opinion do not necessarily
reflect the opinions of the highly-opinionated person expressing the opinion
in the first place. So there!