Brake Balance?

[patmat2350]

Less than 200 miles on my new B-Sprt, and I was stuck in some stop & go LA freeway traffic. I stopped once just a little hard from not too fast, and I felt the rears break loose before the ABS (almost immediately) activated. MAYBE there was a little gravel there on the off ramp I was on, I dunno.

Now ABS *should* keep tires from breaking loose except maybe at the hairy limits, so I was surprised to experience this. Probably the ABS would keep things in control if I was going faster... but I still get the sweats thinking about my wife's tail-happy '84 Mustang that would break loose in the rear- it spun her around in an intersection once.

Anyone else notice tail-happiness in their B-sprts?

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[Bucko]

I've yet (and hopefully never will) experienced a panic stop that provokes the ABS in my BS.

 

[Flash]

One panic stop, no problems

 

[Mark S.]

Rapidly changing surface conditions can briefly "trick" the ABS. The system applies the brakes for the surface you are currently on when you step on the pedal. If you move from a dry paved surface to a loose surface (such as dirt or gravel) while the brakes are still applied it can take a second for the ABS to react and "catch up" to the changes.

The stability-control system installed on your Bronco Sport is designed to prevent loss-of-control incidents like you describe with your '84 Mustang. It constantly measures velocities in all directions, and can independently control braking on all four wheels to keep the car going in the direction you steer it.

 

[RSH]

ABS works by sensing wheel lock up, and or different wheel speeds, the wheel can initially lock but the ABS system will release the brake pressure and reapply brake pressuse multiple times per second as needed to keep the wheel from locking up allowing you to remain in control of the vehicle, this is assuming you keep your foot on the brakes.
Most people dont know how to properly use ABS brakes and think they can do a better job modulatiing the brakes themselves, race car drivers are capable of doing this but the average Joe or Jane cannot.
It's possible when you felt/heard the initial wheel lock/skid you took your foot off the brakes thinking to get the vehicle under control instead of letting the ABS system work, it happens everyday.

 

[Cursed Bronco]

I've locked it up once and the rear definitely kicked out and I slid diagonal. That's likely due to weight transfer and front brake bias, but that's all I can say.

 

[Slingy]

ABS goes to work when it senses a wheel locking up and skidding. As Mark said, it'll grab multiple times per second to keep the vehicle from going into an all out skid. It does this far faster than typical human reaction time which is what makes it so great. It sounds like your system is working just fine. It has to sense loss of braking traction before it kicks in. It would only be a problem if it didn't do anything at all when you hit the loose spot.

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