When the ABS kicks in

[DarkSeat]

Hello there!

Quick question,

When i'm driving and them suddenly brake hard sometimes I feel a vibration from the brake pedal as the car is coming to a stop is this normal as I think the ABS is kicking in, or do I have a problem with the braking system i.e brake pads/discs worn?
Mind you, when I brake normally (not hard) I dont get a vibration from the brake pedal.

 

[Gertwin]

Yes that sounds like the ABS locking all the brakes.Kinda feels like braking on a cobbled road??

 

[DarkSeat]

Thats right as i remember braking on the snow and it happend more often so i dont have anything to worry about

 

[cuprablue]

Shocking isn't it? I thought something had broken the first time my ABS kicked in. I have to say either my tyres are really rubbish, the brakes too powerful or else I think the ABS kicks in way too early on these cars (20VT Cupra). Having said that I haven't had the car out on a nice warm day on really grippy tarmac yet, just crappy London roads in mild weather.

cuprablue

 

[DarkSeat]

So does this happen more often if the brake pads are worn as I dont have the brake pad worn sensor on my model

 

[cuprablue]

I don't think the sensor is relevant to be honest. I haven't had to change my pads yet, but the better the pads/discs are working the more likely the ABS is to kick in as you're more likely to

a) over come the tyres grip

or

b) increase the rate of wheel deceleration past the point where the ABS will think the wheel's going to lock up.

So worn pads are more likely to reduce the amount of times the ABS is triggered as your brakes will be less effective.

cuprablue

 

[CupraUK]

So worn pads are more likely to reduce the amount of times the ABS is triggered as your brakes will be less effective.

I thought the whole point of brake pistons moving forward was to eliviate brake wear, IMHO I though that brake effectiveness remained constant

 

[Fl@pper]

down to crap roads and the secure feeling that lulls you into actually driving faster than you realise

cars are way too comfy today

 

[DarkSeat]

so when does the EBD electronic brrake distribution kick in

 

[Fl@pper]

so when does the EBD electronic brrake distribution kick in

explains it better than i can

plus mrs draggin me off to bed

 

[cuprablue]

I thought the whole point of brake pistons moving forward was to eliviate brake wear, IMHO I though that brake effectiveness remained constant

In theory yes. But in practice, not perfectly so. As the friction material gets thinner it will be more prone to overheating so more likely to fade. Also obviously if you actually start to wear the material down to the bare metal then you will have a lot less braking force.

Also as the material wears down the reservior fills in the system with more brake fluid. Now whilst brake fluid is not very compressable it is still slightly so and so you get slightly more "give" in the system with very worn pads especially if your fluid is a few years old and has some water in it.

cuprablue