Tony P wrote:
You lost me there? And I wish I had a switch to turn my ABS OFF!

Tony,
I think you are asking how the basic ABS system works.

Each wheel on your car has a tonewheel (steel wheel with many teeth on
it) just like the digital rowe's have on the record carousel. There is
an optical pickup on each wheel that senses each wheel's speed upon
application of the brakes, as is the black U shaped on on the rowe
mech. If any one of the wheels stops moving on your car, the abs pump
comes on and pulsates the pressure to get the wheel out of lockup and
distribute pressure to the wheels that can help the car stop.

The abs computer attempts to equalize all wheel speeds by distributing
the brake pressure to the wheels that need (or can handle) it upon
hard deceleration.

I greatly simplified it, but the whole idea is that the pickup from
the wheel and the pickup from the record carousel are bacically the
same deal. There are no "wear items" to wear out. They can only break
off if struck by something. Highly unlikely on a record mech like a
rowe, but possible on a car. I have never seen the pickup break off on
a car, but I have seen wires get sliced.

ABS is a miracle in 95% of emergency braking situations. It can be a
nightmare on a road that is a washboard, or bouncy. The computer goes
ape **** trying to divide the pressure.

Another crazy abs fact is that on dry, flat pavement, the computer can
pulse the pedal 17 times per second. Try doing that with your foot!!

Tony

Thanks, I know pretty much about how ABS works. Except I thought they
use eddy sensors. It's hard to imagine optic sensors staying clean
enough to work? I also know that there have been studies evaluating the
same vehicles with and without ABS. It seems ABS works miracles on a
test track, but in real life, there is little or no difference in the
accident statistics. And yes, I've been on bumpy roads attempting a
quick stop! Without a doubt the ABS makes the stopping distance
further. Also on a road close to my home there is a steep downgrade,
often with cinders to skid on. Again, the ABS sucks in this situation.
When I first bought my most recent van (2000 chevy 1 ton) I tested the
antilocks in a wet parking lot by trying to lock up the brakes, and then
making a turn. You would think the ABS would help it turn instead of
skidding in a straight line, but that was hardly the case. :-( As far
as how they work on a dry smooth road, yes they pulse great then. But
compare the coefficient of traction of a locked up tire on a dry road to
one that is pulsing and you will see there is hardly a difference. OK,
that's enough of my Anti-ABS rant!

Now back on topic, I think all the german made wurlitzers use an optic
sensor to keep track of where the record carousel is at. Even Rock-Ola
started in the late 70's, I guess around the same time Rowe did? I'm
not sure who was first in that technology.

--
Tony M