ABS retro-fit
ABS retro-fit
(OP)
Has anyone seen an ABS system retro-fitted to a vehicle not originally designed for it?
The reason I ask is that I have recently received information from a respected driver about a new vehicle he has just tested (sorry cannot disclose it). It has switchable ABS. With ABS braking was described as stable and incredible, without the car was described as 'a bear with a hornet on it's arse'.
Seems an interesting area to follow up.
The reason I ask is that I have recently received information from a respected driver about a new vehicle he has just tested (sorry cannot disclose it). It has switchable ABS. With ABS braking was described as stable and incredible, without the car was described as 'a bear with a hornet on it's arse'.
Seems an interesting area to follow up.





RE: ABS retro-fit
Um, no, I've never heard of retrofit ABS, it'd cost more than the changeover cost for the car.
It isn't impossible, but I can't imagine anyone doing it.
Cheers
Greg Locock
Please see FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.
RE: ABS retro-fit
I believe the Daytona Reps produced in Melbourne have an ABS system adapted from a current HSV and partially controlled through a motec dash.
RE: ABS retro-fit
Cheers
Greg Locock
Please see FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.
RE: ABS retro-fit
RE: ABS retro-fit
That's quite different than wiring and installing the sensors and gadgetry required for ABS into a 1982 Plymouth Arrow, for example.
TTFN
FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies
RE: ABS retro-fit
Putting ABS on the above-mentioned 1982 Plymouth Arrow (or any other car that was built with no consideration whatsoever for ever being equipped with ABS) would be a challenge.
As for the original poster, a vehicle that is tail-happy and wants to swap ends without ABS needs attention to the front/rear brake bias, as others mentioned. Even without ABS, it should not be like this. The front wheels should always be arranged to lock first. I've had some production cars (first-gen Honda Civic) that had too much rear brake bias, and it is indeed a handful. If the vehicle in question has switchable ABS (which I've never seen! I wish I could switch ABS off in my car, but I can't) then it's possible that the system is designed so that the ABS is responsible for controlling the rear brake bias. In other words, the rear is over-braked by design, and the ABS is used to keep it under control. This is how so-called "electronic brake force distribution" works - they just chucked out the old fashioned mechanical proportioning valve and let the ABS controller deal with it.
Race cars don't commonly have ABS ... in many cases the rules require that an original-equipment ABS be disabled.
RE: ABS retro-fit
The ABS is there I believe to assist the driver in adverse conditions, particularly as the fuel load is at least 100lt and is positioned behind the rear axle.
Thank you for the information.
RE: ABS retro-fit
RE: ABS retro-fit
Cheers
Greg Locock
Please see FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.