How do drive a non ABS car...well how to stop that is?

Question

I have been driving for 4 years now, 5 in october, and all the cars i have driven were ABS cars.

Now i want to get a classic, maybe a 67 mustang or some other muscle car from that era. And well they dont have ABS and i of course never driven a car without ABS.

Now, i live in Pennsylvania so it does snow here but i dont plan to drive the car in the snow, but i will in the rain.

So even in the rain i had my ABS in my cars/trucks go turn on at times when i had to come to a fast stop, can someone tell me how would i come to a fast stop in a car without ABS in the rain or even snow?

Answer 1

My brain hurts...Thinking about it...

Answer 2

In wet weather, pump your brakes, be careful if you have to make a quick stop, if you stand on the brakes, you could lock up the wheels and then you are going to go into a skid, and you don't want that. You won't have control of your car if that happens, the only thing you can do if that happens is steer in the direction of the skid and hope you can gain control. It is scary when it happens.

Answer 3

First, don't "hit" or "slam" on the brakes. "Squeeze" on the brakes. It doesn't matter how fast you need to stop, squeeze the brake pedal - firmly. You will stop quicker by squeezing the pedal down than by slamming or hitting the brakes.

Then, squeeze the pedal down to the point just before the tires begin to skid - right at the limit of the tires's traction or grip. Never forget that if you lock-up the brakes and begin to skid, you have lost all directional control of the car. No matter what you do with the steering wheel, the car will continue straight ahead. Plus, a skidding car takes more distance to stop.

You need to pay attention to the feel in the steering when braking. If the steering suddenly starts to feel light or insensitive, the front brakes are probably locked up. You should also notice that the car is not responding to the direction you've turned the steering wheel. And, of course, if you're driving on dry pavement you may notice the screeching of tires.

Actually, when you're braking right at the limit just before the brakes lock-up, a faint howl may be heard from the tires. Braking at this limit is called "threshold braking", and is the fastest and safest way to stop a car.

If you exceed the limit for threshold braking and begin to lock-up, ease up slightly on the pedal - curling your toes back should release enough pressure - and then smoothly reapply again. In other words, you may have to modulate the pedal pressure slightly using the tire noise, the forces on your body and the balance of the car for feedback. Abrupt, hard braking will cause the car to nose-dive, putting most of the braking effort on the front brakes, increasing your stopping distance.

This does not mean "pumping" the brakes, which is definitely the least effective way of stopping a vehicle - and unfortunately, over-used. Perhaps years ago, when vehicles didn't have the sophisticated and durable braking systems we enjoy now, pumping was a useful technique. But not anymore.

The single biggest reason drivers lock up and skid is that they focus their eyes on what they are about to hit. Once you have locked your vision onto something in front of you, it is difficult to threshold brake and steer to avoid.

So, if you're trying to avoid colliding with something, don't look at it. Keep your vision up. Look to either side, then "squeeze" the brakes firmly, feeling for any signs of lock-up. If you begin to skid, quickly ease off the pedal slightly, and continue to look where you want to go - to either side of it.

One of the keys to effective braking is bracing your body by pressing your left foot against the floor, on that rest pad area to the left of the clutch and/or brake pedal. This helps support your body so that you will be more sensitive and effective with the modulation of the brake pedal.

It takes an experienced, sensitive foot to threshold brake properly. This comes with a lot of practice. I recommend practising threshold braking in a safe place, such as a vacant parking lot or a driver training facility. And even practise squeezing the brake pedal firmly (but lightly - don't practise emergency stops on public roads!) in your everyday driving, so that it becomes second nature. It may just be the most important life-saving skill you'll ever acquire.

Answer 4

If you drive properly, you will probably never need ABS anyway.

ABS was developed because most people don't know how to control their vehicle in emergency situations, especially on slippery roads (rain, snow)....

ABS braking systems simply lock and release your brakes at a very high rate of speed (many times per second), which allows a panicky driver who's right foot is slammed onto the brake pedal to have SOME sort of steering control.......

Drive like you don't have ABS brakes and you'll be a safer driver..........follow further back from the vehicle ahead (which allows you to see ahead better too and gives you more time to react if you need to), begin gentle braking earlier (to make sure you are stopping in time).......use good observation skills to watch for potential situations.........

Yes, I agree with the others here who say that threshold braking works better than using your ABS system..........as a driving instructor I have demonstrated ABS systems many times over the years, and quickly "squeezing" your brake pedal down to the point just before lockup, then easing up and applying your brake again softly, with practice, will bring you to a stop in less distance than using ABS (used on a wet or snow covered track). On dry roads, you wouldn't get the same effect due to the improvement in traction control (but watch out for sand and gravel on those dry roads).

I might add too, that you should never brake at the same time as you are steering. First you brake, then off the brake, and then steer where you want to go.............this is a learned skill. Take a few lessons in advance driving techniques, and allow the experts to show you how to fully control your vehicle.

Also, those "classic" cars have REAR WHEEL DRIVE too, which react differently in acceleration, especially on turns.

the same effect due to the better traction.

Answer 5

It takes a while to learn, but the best way is "threshhold braking".  That means putting pressure on up to the point of locking the wheels, and backing off just a fraction.  It will stop you faster than pumping, and faster than ABS.  I suggest a lesson with a driving instructor experienced in teaching this method.  Likely this would be a race driving instructor.

http://www.canadiandirect.com/Auto/Safe_...

http://www.safespeed.org.uk/braking.html

Answer 6

abs just makes your brakes more efficient by taking advantage of "static" friction

non-abs is fine on dry roads, you will notice no difference...

on wet roads, you might slide a bit more than you did previously...just let off the brakes and hit them again...

ABS simply "pumps" the brakes for you at a high rate of speed...

pump your brakes...

Answer 7

Instead of slamming on the brakes as you would normally, you need to squeeze the brakes at the point where you should feel they are about to lock up.  Hold your foot there, this is called threshold braking.