Antilock Brake Tips?

[Jaguar Engineer]

I’m leaning towards keeping the antilock brakes from my 2002 donor mustang and was wondering if anyone had done this and could provide ideas, specifically on antilock brake module placement and routing? Pics would be great. Finally is the hassle of keeping antilock brakes worth it in a car that I don’t plan on driving in the rain :-)

[Gromit]

older threads but probably still relevant

http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showt...ight=abs+gt500

http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showt...Ford+GT500+ABS

and you HOPE your not going to drive it in the rain. but unless you
A don't drive it at all
or
B follow an enclosed trailer around.

your likely to get caught sooner or later.

Chris AKA Gromit

[toadster]

here are my plans, a little different - but some ideas for you

https://cobradreams.com/2020/04/12/abs-planning/

[Richard Oben]

With IRS the ABS is fine. With a Live axle the added length has to be accounted for in the wheels. I have yet to see a car with longer 94-98 width or the even longer 99-04 width without tire rub issues. A lot of stuff is all great until the body goes on and the tires rub. JMHO. Richard.

[mike223]

Finally is the hassle of keeping antilock brakes worth it in a car that I don’t plan on driving in the rain :-)

What do you plan on doing with the car?

Operator input is everything in these cars - short wheelbase, high power engines + brakes for the (low) weight + big tires.


You've got to get the brakes (and everything else) right and learn to drive the car (throttle + steering + brakes - operator input).


If you want computer nannies to help - you'd be way ahead buying something with the nannies already engineered in it - rather than trying to retrofit / rig complex electronic systems to work well in a classic that already works extremely well if the operator is doing their part.


The cars will make little mistakes into big mistakes - quite unforgiving.

And the computer systems you can retrofit / rig onto it aren't likely to change that dynamic greatly.


My best advice, YMMV.

Good luck,

Mike

[Jaguar Engineer]

What do you plan on doing with the car?

Operator input is everything in these cars - short wheelbase, high power engines + brakes for the (low) weight + big tires.


You've got to get the brakes (and everything else) right and learn to drive the car (throttle + steering + brakes - operator input).


If you want computer nannies to help - you'd be way ahead buying something with the nannies already engineered in it - rather than trying to retrofit / rig complex electronic systems to work well in a classic that already works extremely well if the operator is doing their part.


My best advice, YMMV.

Good luck,

Mike

Mike,
Thanks for the input. My plan is primarily to be a weekend cruiser. My plans to install the abs primarily hinges on it being largely plug and play, notwithstanding the brake plumbing involved for the install. Are you saying that incorporating the mustang abs on the MK4 would require additional tuning to get it dialed in for typical weekend cruiser use?

[mike223]

My plans to install the abs primarily hinges on it being largely plug and play, notwithstanding the brake plumbing involved for the install. Are you saying that incorporating the mustang abs on the MK4 would require additional tuning to get it dialed in for typical weekend cruiser use?

I'm saying that's a considerable amount of complex potential failure modes, extra trouble, and eventual obsolescence to put in a weekend cruiser that's already lighter, on wider tires, and (very probably) brakes better than anything remotely comparable.

[toadster]

I've known several friends who have flat spotted some expensive tires... plus, if the car gets away from you, ABS may help you from putting it into a guardrail...

[mike223]

I've known several friends who have flat spotted some expensive tires... plus, if the car gets away from you, ABS may help you from putting it into a guardrail...

Weekend cruising?

[mike223]

plus, if the car gets away from you, ABS may help you from putting it into a guardrail...

In case the OP doesn't yet know:


These sorts of cars (rear weight biased supercar) get wrecked at least 20:1 by getting the car sideways and stepping off the throttle, often fatal out on the big road.

Stepping on the brake in that situation accomplishes absolutely nothing - you're still going for a ride you're not going to like, ABS or no.

It's a mistake you can't afford to make.