Thread: ABS Brakes from hell

ABS diagnostics

[QUOTE=A driving expert said if people are properly trained in the use of conventional assisted brakes then they are more effective that ABS enhanced systems ie shorter braking distances,

A driving expert said if people are properly trained in the use of conventional assisted brakes then they are more effective that ABS enhanced systems ie shorter braking distances,[/QUOTE]

I have had two Range Rovers with ABS and hated the ABS. I agree completely that if someone is taught to DRIVE - and I mean NOT just pass the driving test, then with some experience braking will be safer, more predictable and one hell of a lot easier and cheaper to maintain and/or repair.

Unfortunately, regulations will not allow ABS if fitted as original to be replaced with a conventional system. However, it done professionally by a certified engineer, it is possible to get around that and I strongly advise doing so.

There is no way any human will ever be able to brake as effectively as a modern ABS braking system. You guys must be thinking of comparisons done back in the stone age . There is no way you can regulate each individual wheel many times a second releasing and grabbing the brakes to not only allow steering control (and improve brake stopping distances), but also aid in vehicle stability (stability control).

There is just no way. You guys are seriously living in a dream world . Having said that, just to prove what a hypocrite I am. I don't own a car with ABS, my wifes poogoe 407 has had an ABS (therefore stability control) error showing for years that I have never fixed. This doesn't mean I believe for a second "I am better" than these systems.

My youngest daughter is soon to start driving my wifes old poogoe 407. Guess who has read the codes, guess who is about to order in an rear ABS sensor to make good and sure all those ABS and stability control systems will be 100% working. Yep, me.

Also ... If I owned the car this thread is about. Guess who would pull all the ABS crap straight off it and convert it to standard brakes. Yep.... MEeeeeeee ...... Certainly not because I think I'm better than ABS, more that I believe the car will be safer with good brakes than an overly complicated old dodgy ABS system.

I have a '92 non ABS parts car here, I'd move everything I had to over to the ABS car to convert it. I couldn't care less what cars compliance plate says.

seeya
Shane L.

Yes, I agree Shane, however from the legal standpoint one must remain informed, and this thread has clarified it for the OP ( I Hope).

It's like the non-vented versus vented versus dual circuit / single circuit fronts.

and no wonder so many run disco masters and defender callipers for vented rotors. - improved braking and better / simpler basic maintenance.

Still...

the point is (and shouldn't be lost) you need to have driving skills first to have effective car control and that comes with (ironically) experience... i.e. time behind the wheel.

Bit hard if you want to be a protective caring parent and at the same time teach kids the reality of driving.

Best thing I did as a kid was learn to drive a ****ter around paddocks with no brakes and steep hills....

yep. Imagine how good it felt to be able to drive on the road and have a brake pedal (that worked).

Update to this original post.

I beleive I manages to bleed the brakes correctly, good good pedal (almost rock had). But have plenty of other issues.
Pump runs on every brake press, so replaced the accumulator with a tested unit from TRS in Adelaide. This has not fixed the issue.
The other issue is that when you brake, it pulls badly to the left.
I drove upto 60KM a couple of times and slammed on the brakes. Pulls to the left, brakes OK, but dont have a refference point.
The left front brake and wheel in general was way hotter than the rest of the wheels (70c vs around 50-60c).

I think I'm at the point of a non-abs conversion tbh.