I'm with Jim. Take the car to a dealer who can diagnose the problem aand
then see the best route to fix cost wise.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim Gathmann" <jim_gathmann@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, September 05, 2002 7:02 PM
Subject: Re: IML: 90's Imperial brakes
> Well, ABS is an interesting thing....
> --- Matt Hopkins <mhoppy@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> > I am not quite sure this is your
> > problem as I understand that if ABS fails the brakes
> > will still work.
>
> In theory or paper, a car with ABS is a car with an
> onboard computer which assists in the control of the
> powerbrakes, in an effort to keep control of the car
> during ice, sand, or other such road conditions which
> may cause the car's brakes to not control the car as
> well. This then eliminates the need for the driver of
> an ABS car to pump the brakes in the winter.
> So then the ABS system assists the powerbrakes which
> basically assists the traditional brakes.
> However things aren't so simple.
>
> In making a computer assist system like ABS, the
> companies which developed ABS (back in the mid 80's if
> I remeber right... though its roots date back to the
> 60's and 70's...) made it so the computer locks the
> brakes electrically, and the computer's outputs
> control when, and for how long, and for how long
> inbetween the computer causes (electronically) for the
> brakes to brake. Hence the reason why an ABS car can
> electronically lock all 4 tires through the use of
> home made car security systems and such.
>
> However, several factors were overlooked with the
> development of ABS.
> First, with ABS, the computer does the brake pumping
> for you, so you do not have to pump the brakes.
> However when they designed this, it caused a situation
> where PUMPING the brakes on an ABS car causes the ABS
> system to temperally lose braking ability. To those
> not in the compuuter industry, this comes down to
> losing all but basic powerbraking.
> When the ABS computer goes out... due to anything, be
> it pumping the brakes, electrical short, etc., on many
> ABS systems, this will result in a loss of both ABS
> and powerbrakes... not always good.
> Also, ABS uses sensors to determine when and what it
> should do. These sensors can get false readings, it
> will often result in it taking longer for the car to
> stop, then it would if it had a powerbrake system.
> Also, if the car believes it is slipping when it
> isn't, you may lose control of how long and hard it
> takes your car to stop. This can translate into rear
> ending someone, or getting rear ended if one isn't
> careful.
>
> Because of this and other similar problems, many
> people dislike ABS and refuse to use ABS cars. This is
> the only reason why there are still some Mopars
> produced today with ABS as an option.
>
> I am personally fimilar with the ABS systems on late
> model Fords and GMs, and they are extremely full of
> problems, and thus a reason why I personally dislike
> ABS.
>
> It is possible (and has even been done) to get an all
> disc brake system off of a 5th Ave/New Yorker and swap
> it onto a abs Imperial. These all disc systems are
> much better, and have alot more stopping power, and
> alot less stopping distance.
>
> Now one thing to consider if the ABS is keeping too
> much pressure is a bad or ill-adjusted sensor
> somewhere in the system. I'm not fimilar with the
> Bendix systems, so I don't know what is used to
> regulate the pressure. A FSM would be the best bet for
> figuring this out.
>
> Have you tried contacting your local Mopar dealer to
> see what they'd say? If the quote a simple diagnostic
> fee for finding the problem, would make repairing it
> alot faster...
>
> Just something to consider.
>
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