Hi Tom, All!
On Wed, 10 Aug 2005 10:24:24 -0400, Tom Reingold wrote:
True. Putting studded snows on m'ladys Forester made a huge difference. I use the Michelin Alpin Pilots on my rex. They just don't offer enough grip on ice (despite being offered as an "ice" tire; the Arctic Alpin is much better, and no longer available, naturally) to get the ABS to work properly. The real problem, tho, seems to be in the way the ABS control modulates the brake pressure. The Subaru unit seems to pulse the brakes a lot slower than the GM I was comparing it to; Subaru is a definite on-off-on-off sensation, while the Caddy is more of a HUMMMMMMM. The dirt road issue is, I think, an entirely different thing, and may be common to all ABS systems (never tried _this_ with the Caddy ;-). When braking hard into a bumpy corner (washboards), the tires experience less grip, (and hence some wheel lock-up) as they skip thru the bumps. The ABS responds by modulating the brake pressure, giving the sensation of drastically reduced braking. You'd probably never notice this driving at rational speeds, but when cornering at the limits of traction, the effect is extremely disconcerting, and may result in a quick trip into the ditch at the outside of the corner! Trust me; I have tried both ways looking for that edge, and the difference is dramatic. With the ABS off, the WRX will hammer an apex and rocket out of a turn with very little fuss; point it and put the pedal down. With the ABS on, it is difficult to "turn in" to the apex properly; you either have to begin braking way early, or aim for an apex way short of where you really want to be, and then wait until things settle before getting back on the gas, neither of which results in a fast line thru the turn.
ByeBye! S.
Steve Jernigan KG0MB Laboratory Manager Microelectronics Research University of Colorado (719) 262-3101