Adding Modern ABS to a non-ABS car...

Just time and $'s can make this happen. Need to tear out all of the present breaking system and replace with the 1st year car that uses the system. May be tricky with the microprocessor but I'm sure it could be done. I would suspect you would need to replace the hubs (with the sensors) as well as the MC and brake servo unit. I would suspect you can do this for $4-$8k but if someone does this for you I don't think they will garranty the job even if an F shop does it. The issue is liability. Also I have not checked but try the web to see if there is an aftermarket setup out there. I would think that the hot rodders would be getting into this .

 

Hi Auraraptor,

for the 328 ABS it need's some space: The so called ABS rims. (already on your profile car)
Late 328 models have also a wider track gauge (necessary?)
Guess for 355 or 360 discs + breakes you need even much more space.
IME the sh*** feeling when emergency braking the 328 GTS is a issue of blocking front wheels.
The behavior of a light front that is diving deeply needs a lot of exercising.
A 328 ABS with some sport-pads would be sufficient to improve the performance. But the diving is still there.
Maybe this is an advantage to get some ballast on the front axis.

try to keep it as original as possible

cinquevalvole

 

If it were me, and ABS was that important to me...
I would sell the car you have and get one with ABS.

IMHO the car you have, is the 328 model that the performance guys want.
It has the updated suspension, but lacks the quasi ABS system that sucks for track days.

IMHO, want better brakes on your 328,
then the ABS system is not the way to go.
Purchasing a big brake kit from someone like Brembo would be better money spent, and would stop your car better.

 

"That is not quite an option as one of my requirements is that the brakes remained balanced"

Then why not do what everyone else does in that situation....

A Brake Proportioning Valve!

 

Why would one do that ? I prefer non-abs brakes on a sports car anyway. At the track you can't threshold brake an abs car nearly as well as a non-abs car.

 

"Why would one do that ? I prefer non-abs brakes on a sports car anyway. At the track you can't threshold brake an abs car nearly as well as a non-abs car."

Exactly... That is why the 328 that Omar has is a better track car than the ABS version.

 

IMHO ABS sucks. Why screw up your car?

 

Well, I'm surely not the best qualified to answer this, but here's my take. First of all the coefficient of friction in sliding (brakes locked up) is worse than at that point where skidding just starts (the threshold before lockup occurs). So the trick is to apply just enough brake pressure (reach the threshold) before lockup occurs to get maximum braking resistance (and obviously still have steering control of the car). ABS systems come reasonably close to the threshold, but are generally not as good as the human touch by a relatively skilled driver. In my view ABS was developed for the ordinary driver who when confronted with an emergency situation just slams on the brake pedal and hasn't the presence of mind or ability to apply a firm brake pedal, but not lock em up. In this case they (ABS systems) are an appropriate technology. Also, in this instance you can still steer the car if the wheels are turning and not simply sliding in the direction of momentum. But in racing for example or sport driving you obviously know a corner is coming up and can probably slow the car more effectively using your touch more effectively than an ABS system can. For those of us who live in snowy climates, ABS systems (again IMHO) are downright dangerous, and I personally think they cause more crashes than they prevent. This whole topic eventually leads to that discussion of the "rightfulness" of servo assisted driving mechanisms versus, the good ole human brain and skill of a driver. Formula 1 wrestles with this concept continuously (for example launch control - the opposite of ABS in a sense) allows a driver to mash the pedal to the metal (or probably flip a switch in this case) and the car magically knows the amount of power it sends thru the gears and not induce wheelspin. Technology is cool, but it does take the driver skills out of the picture a bit. (Actually I think F1 removed launch control for this year). This whole traction control thing is quite common in newer cars and again in my view (like ABS) sucks unless you drive like grandma. Also, newer cars are contemplating servo assisted steering which changes gear ratios for steering dependent upon speed, such that at lower speeds you don't have to turn a bunch to get in the store parking lot, while at high speeds, little twitches in your hand won't send you back and forth across the yellow line. Again, technology is trying to overcome driver shortcomings. Good, bad, you decide, but I personally don't like the autopilot approach to driving a car, and in the case of ABS, you don't even have to be anywhere near a F1 pilot to beat the effect that the system is trying to accomplish (just slightly better than grandma). Anyway (sorry grandma) and I hope this helps.

 

I don't think you would lose the parking brake with a brake proportioning valve-it just lets you adjust the relative amount of braking force going to the rear vs the front. You can then set it so that they both lock together, or usually done the fronts look sl. earlier, so you can carefully watch the poll you are going to hit the whole time.
ABS won't make you stop quicker on a nice surface on a dry track.
Practice a few stops with the windows open so you can hear the wheels when they lock-there's a subtle change in pedal pressure you should be able to feel-once you know what it feels like your toes become the ABS.
Completely different are the brake actuating stability systems out now (though not on any ferrari I think)-an amazing thing when you can feel an individual brake being applied to straighten out the car.
Retrofitting ABS to a 328 sounds like an almost impossible challenge.

 

When ABS first was introduce I discussed them with a mechanic that worked on alot of police cars. He said he had to replace the enitire front suspension on most every car due to the extreme shuttering the ABS system creates by its very nature. I would want to know if they increased the strength of ABS car front ends before I slapped a set on my non-ABS car. I agree with others that the whole auto pilot syndrome is not the way I want my F-car. I have a brand new daily driver that has ABS, traction control and other nifty stuff. But when I drive the F-car I know it is all me.

 

What did people do before ABS brakes became avaible on their cars/Ferrari's

 

They would pump the brakes in the wet or snow just like ABS only slower. Or they would lockk up the wheels and flat spot the tires. ABS is nice but no big deal. They are realy simple in concept . The wheel sensors see when each wheel is locking up and would release that brake. Thats the simple defination but you need all of the necessary hardware and CPU to make this work.