Especially in the rain. ABS is more or less a safety device than a high performance aid. ABS helps the driver maintain control of a car in adverse conditions. If a car is turning, then all of a sudden the driver has to brake a bit, the ABS will allow the car to maintain directional stability. This doesn't work if the conditions are extremely adverse, the tires are worn, the front wheels are turned too much and the speed is too high.

I have been in situations where I was going around a corner (with cold tires) applied the brakes (not too hard) and got major tire squeals. Even though I was not going that fast, the force generated by even light to medium braking caused the tires to break lateral adhesion.

I was in a situation about 15 years ago in a car with anti-lock brakes where I was going 70 mph on a very wet freeway. I was going in a straight line. The traffic ahead of me all of a sudden slowed very rapidly. I hit the brake pedal and the car slowed down just beatifully. I don't think I could have slowed it down nearly as well without the ABS. The tires played a major role as well.

On the flip side, When ever I track my car, the tires get so hot and stick so well, the ABS never kicks in. Maybe the pads are too small? Not enough clamping force? I used project mu race pads and ATE fluid. They never really had the bite I was looking for although I approached turn 10 at Sears at 112 mph

 

 

Ok...maybe I should have elaborated more...The abs didnt kick in till about 100-90mph...And I dont see how it would be stupid to engage it anyways the car was always completly in my control...the road was paved and very smooth less then 1 month ago...So no potholes...hell not even any gravel built up in the turning lane yet...The car we never even close to having a wreck...Thanks for your concern ..But everything did as it was supposed to...And I'd much rather run the risk of hurting my (warrantied) ABS system..then go to jail, get my car empounded and my license's revolked Later

 

Nope no lazer beam head lights here. Just a very well lit road with a lightpole every 100ft or so...I could have done this with my headlights off and still never had a problem seeing ...And why would I want to do this during the daytime?...When there is actually traffic on the road...Night was a much better desicion...It was only me and that cop on the road at the time

 

Man I didn't expect such a reponse from everyone. I originally posted this topic in Street Encounters...A moderator must have thought it was better fitted for s2000 talk. 50 responses in less then 24 hours is alot more then I expected to see in the term of the 15-20 responses in SE in a matter of a few day's. Nevertheless I did expect some more flamming towards my actions...Of course there is never an explanation for going such speeds on a public road..and to explain myself to most would still be a waste of typing But...The road i did this on is a long and smooth as they come, very few intersections, and fresh pavement. You can see the intersection 2 miles ahead of you. It is very well lit and has almost 0 traffic at this time of night. I know this to be true because I have worked 2nd shift (5:30PM to 3AM) for over a year and a half now, and use this road on a daily basis; as a matter of fact the only people I ever see on this road at 3am is myself, fellow co-workers, and police officers. Now being that I was so lucky to escape with my license, car and scott free I doubt I will be pushing my limits for some time now, thanks again for all your responses, and I expected some negative feedback so i'm not going to quote and flame everyone that didn't like my top speed testing the waters experience, I saw it coming before I even posted..Have a good one

 

 

It's not about the ABS system failing. I am not talking about that AT ALL.

Once the ABS kicked in you were NOT in complete control, the car was skidding and the ABS system was engaging to help your REGAIN control.

The point is that once the ABS has kicked in IF there was any gravel or loose asphault or slick tar you are MORE likely to SPIN out. That could take your warranteed car and put it into a wall or one of those many light poles you described. Your warantee won't do crap for that.

 

Want to knock a few feet off any of those 60-0 times? Get stickier tires. I bet that my car with my normal tires (RA-1s) can stop in a shorter distance than any car on that list. It is tires that essentially determine those distances. If you can lock up your wheels (engage ABS), no change to you brake system (I dont care if you have 8 piston calipers on 15" rotors) will make you stop shorter, but tires WILL make a difference.

What larger brakes DO is better handling of heat disapation which allows REPEATED stops without overheating (fade). A single stop is more sign of how sticky or wide the tires are (assuming all cars on that list engaged ABS when hitting brakes at 60 mph).

Many cars brakes really don't cut it at the track. The S2000 brakes are capable of handling racing with only pad and fluid changes (some extra cooling can help too).

There are a lot of characteristics involved in braking but to suggest the S2000 has anything less than steller brakes is silly. Are there cars with overall better brake performance? Sure there are a few. Cars with better brake feel and response? Again, a few. Put some decent pads on your S2000, track it and tell me the brakes are not any good.



BTW, for all you magazine bench racers, R&T tested a pre MY04 S2000 that did 60-0 in 107 feet. Also the Car and Driver website has the distance listed at 110 feet for the S2000. Maybe, the S02s are a better tire than the RE050s?

 

The list above seemed to be the numbers out of STOCK cars, aren' they? Yeah, S2000 will brake better IF you swap out the stock pads and fluid, so what? Couldn't we say the same to ANY car?

 

[QUOTE=Gymkata,May 5 2005, 08:49 AM] The list above seemed to be the numbers out of STOCK cars, aren' they?