Hi,

I have a 2007 S2000 that's well-prepared for STR.

But I'm having a huge problem with the car entering ice mode when going quickly from throttle to full brakes. Starting braking bit earlier and more gently is an effective workaround, but it a suboptimal situation, since I'm giving away time compared to better braking.

I've done a number of searches, and this is a known problem, but I was unable to find a solution.

I have Carbotech AX6 front pads, and Carbotech 1521 rear pads, on stock calipers and rotors.

Any useful suggestions would be gratefully received.

Mark

 

Is ice mode VSA (stability) or ABS (braking)?
VSA you should be able to disable with a button (at least on the 06+ in the US it is possible)

 

Ice mode is a function of brakes misbehaving at the behest of the ECU, not of VSA (which is always off when I'm autocrossing).

 

Sure its not a shock setting??

 

As sure as I can be. I have changed the shocks (both compression and rebound) all sorts of ways, and it doesn't change the fundamental problem.

 

Change up your driving style. Don't just JUMP on the brakes. Get in the habit of jumping on them more slowly. Also run a less aggressive rear pad. The STX FRS I run does the same thing. We run a more aggressive front pad and it tends to happen more on 1st or 2nd run when front pads aren't fully up to temp and the rears have a bit more bite.

 

I understand that driving style can contribute to the issue. But I've had national champions drive my car (including one who also drives an STR S2000), and they universally feel that I have a serious problem with the way the brakes behave under heavy braking.

 

Just so we are clear, are you getting the abs feeling in the pedal or is this a skip/hop in the front wheels??
I know with too much compression id get a hop/skip/hop when shutting down after crossing the lights. Never got it anywhere else on course, turned compression down and it was gone.

 

Sounds like yours is worse then "normal". Every car I've raced in the last 15 years with ABS would go into Ice mode if you did "certain" things. The GT3 I autoxed in SS back in 04-07 would do it if you were still getting wheel spin when you went to the brakes. Cost me 2 runs and almost the championship in 07. What suspension are you using. Are you lifting a tire maybe right as you go to brakes?

 

What he's describing is when you get on the brakes and the abs activates. But it's activated in a "ice Mode" which gives little to no braking but a rock hard pedal and the abs kicking back at you. Usually happens by tricking the computer by jumping on the brakes hard while a wheel is airborne or your still getting wheel spin. The fix is pump the pedal once you feel it. But by then you've blown your run cause if you jump on the brakes hard enough to get ice mode.... you probably did so at the last possible moment. 99% of the cars in the world this is avoided by simply applying the brakes and letting the weight transfer before you go to full threshold braking. But if he's having an issue were other good drivers are having the same issue. I think something broken and a wheel is airborne much to often.