got into the final turn of a series of back to back S-turns too hot and had to get on the binders HARD. not pretty to have to take a very tight right hander with the brakes fully engaged, but the car and I negotiated the turn with no tire squeal, no understeer and no back end coming around, all of which were possible during this tense 2 seconds.

basically, thought I'd just negotiated the last turn and was almost full throttle, winding out 2nd when the final right hander was staring me in the face and with traffic in the other lane so no chance of running wide. just hit the brakes hard and stayed on them through the whole turn. not everyday (for me at least) to be saved by ABS.

 

I'm having trouble wondering if the ABS is even working!
I did a quick U-turn on a local 4 lane road and threw it in a little hot to try to get the rear end around so I wouldn't have to throw it in reverse. The darn brake pedal chirped so much! I have also felt that when driving aggressively at night. Can't say I like it too much. Hope it works better than having no ABS to shorten stopping times when some freak short stops in front of me!

 

Don't think my V6 has ABS! Screeches and squeels everywhere I go.

 

ABS works only when you are really hard on the pedal trying to stop quickly as in a panic stop. remember that stopping distances with ABS engaged are longer than just hard braking. i would be surprised if ABS was in effect on a tight turned road. there are miles of them here in northern alabama and georgia and my ABS has never been used except in a panic stop and it almost put me in the Ocoee river when non-ABS would haved stopped shorter. mine came with them but i would not have ordered them.

 

huffhuff, don't you have to be an exceptional driver to be able to stop shorter than ABS would in a panic stop?

If you lock your wheels, you might slide twice as far as ABS.

 

A car with ABS will stop in less distance than the same car without ABS. That's one reason of many why cars have them. My work car (an Airliner with 2 jet engines) has them also. ABS is a godsend. The trick is knowing how to use ABS versus a car without. And the trick is don't pump them and don't let your foot off the brake pedal until you are stopped or don't need to continue braking.

Suggestion only: If you are not comfortable with ABS, go to a wide open parking lot and learn how. Pick up some speed and "slam" on the brake pedal. Pay attention on how the car feels and responds. Listen to the sounds the car is giving you in response to the ABS activating. Don't forget to wear your seatbelt or you'll have a pony impregnated on your chest!

 

Your brake pedal chirps??

 

Correct me if I'm wrong...

On the 05's, ABS only comes with the optional TCS (Traction Control System). If you don't have TCS, then you don't have ABS. How stupid is it of Ford not to make ABS standard equipment??? Maybe they got it right on the 06's...

 

i should have specified that ABS stops longer on slippery surfaces like snow or gravel, for me it was gravel. on dry pavement the ABS can stop shorter than locked up tires that are not gripping. still i have owned several cars with ABS and i'd rather not have it.

 

ABS in Snow and Ice is downright SCARY you just keep sliding and sliding. When its dry does a good job of stopping you faster than most people could without it.