View Single Post
  #2  
Old 10-06-2010, 12:15 PM
swiss swiss is offline
Approved Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Zürich, Swiss Confederation
Posts: 2,266
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by julian265 View Post
+1 to that. Hydraulic brakes are so simple and reliable... Perhaps a good reason to change it is if you have a completely automated braking system, but my experiences of ABS have been poor, with it degrading braking on surfaces other than smooth bitumen roads. I'll never forget the ~2003 camry that chattered it's way into an (empty) intersection, after we started braking side-by-side coming down a wet road on a slight hill. My '83 car stopped without issue. Traction control is another story of mis-automation. Try a gravel road/driveway on a moderate incline and it struggles.
Well, actually ABS decreases braking distance - on any surface other than on dry tarmac.

I remember following experiment, which involved braking in snow, with and without ABS, with and without winter tires.

ABS vs conventional, winter tires:
ABS<conventional

ABS vs conventional, summer tires:
Conventional<ABS

The latter is explained by the conventional wheel locking up, building a wedge of snow in front of the tires which increases friction.
The ABS however is confused, because then summer tires can't get any grip on the snow - and the ABS doesn't want to let them slip, as result the brake stays open...

Is it possible your camry had shitty tires?
Reply With Quote