Re: [alfa] Milano/GM ABS

[webb.p@xxxxxxxxxxx]

I saw a demo on ABS recently.   With the ABS enabled, the car was put into a 
panic stop with 2 wheels on wet and 2 on dry.   It stopped in a reasonable 
distance and dead straight.   With ABS disabled, and the same panic stop, the 
car went into a violent spin totally out of control.

I was already a fan of ABS (though I admit the Teves system is a little 
primitive and prone to nasty failures).   Like you, I do much more driving on 
the street than the track.  I still need to get where I'm going whether it's 
raining or not.  The ABS is a nice feature to have.

On to your problems.  The GM accumulator is $102.  A pump from the same source 
is about $300.   Wheel sensors are readily available.   The only part left is, 
of course, the most expensive and unrepairable.  The master cylinder.

Most of the system is repairable at reasonable cost.

The failure mode of the Teves system is another element in the difficult 
decision.   It can vary from leaving you with partial ABS enabled to total 
failure of the power brakes.  Maybe the new pump will be a bit more tolerant of 
the heat.   This is a good opportunity to change to a high temp fluid which 
will help considerably.   Something with a dry boiling point over 500degF.

Reading the Rich Hirsh piece on the StL AROC site, it sounds as expensive and 
labourious to change over as to maintain the ABS.  Especially with the cheaper 
parts now available.

my $.02

-Peter

> After reading that Mr Webb successfully replaced his bad accumulator with a 
> GM one (as per the Alfa Owner article)...I am stuck with having to make the 
> Milano ABS decision. 
> 
> My old Milano's ABS went bad (don't remember what it was that died) and I had 
> a standard system put in. Worked great of course. My ABS pump is bad, and 
> with the cheaper parts now available, I don't know which option to take.
> 
> Anyone care to offer their opinion on keeping the ABS, or converting the car? 
> I really don't see myself using the car on the track too often, if at 
> all...but I do a lot of driving...and am slightly worried that I'd run into 
> other ABS problems down the road.
> 
> Any insight is helpful. Thanks,
> 
> Ted
> HMB, CA
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