Emergency Brake Assist.
Discussion
blank said:
It should only kick in if it sees a rapid rise in brake pressure. I.e. you stamp on the pedal as quickly as possible.
If you apply the brakes more smoothly (which is a much better driving technique for various reasons), building up the pressure, you shouldn't get the brake assist kicking in.
In simple terms, this is the problem.If you apply the brakes more smoothly (which is a much better driving technique for various reasons), building up the pressure, you shouldn't get the brake assist kicking in.
Studies have shown that the majority of drivers do not press the brakes hard enough in an emergency. They release the accelerator and press the brakes quickly enough, but not hard enough, so the system is designed to recognise a fast, urgent lift from the throttle and a fast, urgent (but not necessarily hard) application of the brakes. When such an input is regognised by the system, the car will apply maximum braking effort, even with a fairly gentle pedal pressure.
So it's not a fault with the system, or an over sensitive system - it's a fault with how the controls are being used. The cause of the fault will likely be one of two things:
1. You're a bit "stompy" on the pedals. This isn't necessary on the road and does not help with keeping the car balanced. Try to look a bit further ahead and plan your approach to hazards, corners etc. lift off the throttle a little earlier and apply the brakes a little more smoothly and you should stop activating the EBA. You can still drive very fast and brake very hard with this technique, and if you're driving fast, a smooth technique is even more important, so it's well worth practising.
2. You're left-foot braking. Using your left foot on the brakes and your right on the accelerator removes, or dramatically reduces the delay between releasing the accelerator and pressing the brakes. You might think this is a good thing in an emergency, but the car doesn't know which feet you're using and will assume that a very small gap between throttle release and brake application is, in fact, an emergency, and will apply full brakes in response.
Have a read of my post on braking - particularly the section on three-phase braking here:
Braking Bad
R_U_LOCAL said:
Lots of sensible stuuff
^What he said.I had EBA on my Mondeo and it was never activated accidentally, only on occasions where I have genuinely been caught out by suicidal pedestrians and stood on the brakes. The fault lies with the way that you're planning the approach to the corner and lifting off the accelerator/moving onto the brake so quickly.
EBA is one of those things that I rate up there wit ESP, when activated in anger it's like the hand of god swooping down and stopping the car dead. Great bit of kit.
R_U_LOCAL said:
In simple terms, this is the problem.
Studies have shown that the majority of drivers do not press the brakes hard enough in an emergency.
So it's not a fault with the system, or an over sensitive system - it's a fault with how the controls are being used. The cause of the fault will likely be one of two things:
1. You're a bit "stompy" on the pedals.
2. You're left-foot braking.
Have a read of my post on braking - particularly the section on three-phase braking here:
Braking Bad
Maybe I am being a little too quick on the pedals, it's very alarming at how the system works though. I assume that because my previous car had very unresponsive controls, I developed a ham footed usage of the brake pedal :PStudies have shown that the majority of drivers do not press the brakes hard enough in an emergency.
So it's not a fault with the system, or an over sensitive system - it's a fault with how the controls are being used. The cause of the fault will likely be one of two things:
1. You're a bit "stompy" on the pedals.
2. You're left-foot braking.
Have a read of my post on braking - particularly the section on three-phase braking here:
Braking Bad
My worries lay with the prospect of me being 'too quick' to the brakes on a motorway resulting in the car shedding 20mph before i let go of the pedal!
I need to practice.....
Ford decided not to allow left foot braking in the Mondeo, it lets you for a few seconds, then ratchets the predal back up.
My limited experience of such things is that it takes a combination of factors to make it kick in but once it does you know all about it as you come to a very quick stop and find yourself with a bruised shoulder. Never knew a car could stop that quickly - and it did save me from squashing a pedestrian on their phone who just stepped out.
Maybe is just over assistance from the servo, my experience of EBA is that the brakes come on hard and full, it doesnt just slow things down the car will pretty much stop instantly. Its an amazing thing to experience.
Sounds more like you have a servo problem ? Best get it check out.
Do you get a light on the dash ?
Maybe is just over assistance from the servo, my experience of EBA is that the brakes come on hard and full, it doesnt just slow things down the car will pretty much stop instantly. Its an amazing thing to experience.
Sounds more like you have a servo problem ? Best get it check out.
Do you get a light on the dash ?
mr_fibuli said:
I had the same problem with a Mk3 Mondeo (ST220) - if I suddenly decided that I needed to brake gently, and moved my foot too quickly onto the brake, then it would take it upon itself to do an emergency stop. Never had it happen in other cars with EBA since.
Aha! Just noticed your post, this means i'm not crazy! 
Spangles said:
camelot1971 said:
I don't believe the Mondeo Mk3 has EBA - mine certainly hasn't!
http://workshop-manuals.com/ford/mondeo_2001_10.2000-02.2007/mechanical_repairs/2_chassis/206_brake_system/206-09a_anti-lock_control/description_and_operation/anti-lock_control_vehicles_built_from_06-2003_vehicles_with_stability_assist/ging84 said:
If your level of driving ability does not stretch to adjusting your driving to match the characteristics
of the car, you probably should not be pushing it hard enough that you are regularly unexpectedly activating the safety features.
You seem to have no idea what you are talking about. The problem correctly identified by OP is that what you hit the brake pedal you never know how much braking you are going to get. It's a major pita which I suspect affects people who CAN drive a lot more than those who can't.of the car, you probably should not be pushing it hard enough that you are regularly unexpectedly activating the safety features.
Blue Oval84 said:
...when activated in anger it's like the hand of god swooping down and stopping the car dead. Great bit of kit.
I'm confused...exactly HOW can it stop a car more quickly than the maximum pressure that a driver can exert on the pedal???The way I see it, the system is there to compensate for drivers that haven't been taught that an emergency stop means STANDING on the middle pedal as if it were a very large spider about to scurry up your trouser leg and bite your wedding tackle...
...so if you've been taught how to emergency stop, it should just appear to be a labour-saving device, not something miraculous...
havoc said:
Blue Oval84 said:
...when activated in anger it's like the hand of god swooping down and stopping the car dead. Great bit of kit.
I'm confused...exactly HOW can it stop a car more quickly than the maximum pressure that a driver can exert on the pedal???The way I see it, the system is there to compensate for drivers that haven't been taught that an emergency stop means STANDING on the middle pedal as if it were a very large spider about to scurry up your trouser leg and bite your wedding tackle...
...so if you've been taught how to emergency stop, it should just appear to be a labour-saving device, not something miraculous...
gavsdavs said:
My mum's peugeot 307 did exactly this to me. I'd just got out of my car (not very servo'd at all) and into the peugeot (very servo'd brakes), used the brakes (probably too hard for the system) and the car stopped itself (complete standstill).
The explanation makes a lot of sense !
Nailed it, PSA cars are *very* servoed and need a lighter touch. You're grateful for the extra assistance though when the emergency comes.The explanation makes a lot of sense !
Volvos, to me, are to a point where you think 'this bugger isn't stopping' (add their heft into the equation) but are very progressive on the pedal and will stop with additional pressure.
The A5's caught me out once - but think there was a bit of loose gravel at the end of the road by the stop sign. Wasn't expecting such a sudden stop but it was on the button, and I had approached slightly too quick as it happened anyway, causing the harder-than-usual brake application.
havoc said:
I'm confused...exactly HOW can it stop a car more quickly than the maximum pressure that a driver can exert on the pedal???
The way I see it, the system is there to compensate for drivers that haven't been taught that an emergency stop means STANDING on the middle pedal as if it were a very large spider about to scurry up your trouser leg and bite your wedding tackle...
...so if you've been taught how to emergency stop, it should just appear to be a labour-saving device, not something miraculous...
God knows quite frankly, I believe that I was standing on the pedal when the ABS kicked in, but when the ABS + EBA kicked in it was quite noticeably "grabbier".The way I see it, the system is there to compensate for drivers that haven't been taught that an emergency stop means STANDING on the middle pedal as if it were a very large spider about to scurry up your trouser leg and bite your wedding tackle...
...so if you've been taught how to emergency stop, it should just appear to be a labour-saving device, not something miraculous...
I can only guess that the EBA could get to max pressure quicker than my foot, and that this made it feel sharper. Alternatively and more likely, once the ABS was chundering away under my foot I stopped pressing any harder, whereas I actually should have been standing even harder because maybe the back wheels still had some traction to help out...
All I know is, when it kicked in in anger, it was like you'd hit a wall.
Blue Oval84 said:
havoc said:
I'm confused...exactly HOW can it stop a car more quickly than the maximum pressure that a driver can exert on the pedal???
The way I see it, the system is there to compensate for drivers that haven't been taught that an emergency stop means STANDING on the middle pedal as if it were a very large spider about to scurry up your trouser leg and bite your wedding tackle...
...so if you've been taught how to emergency stop, it should just appear to be a labour-saving device, not something miraculous...
God knows quite frankly, I believe that I was standing on the pedal when the ABS kicked in, but when the ABS + EBA kicked in it was quite noticeably "grabbier".The way I see it, the system is there to compensate for drivers that haven't been taught that an emergency stop means STANDING on the middle pedal as if it were a very large spider about to scurry up your trouser leg and bite your wedding tackle...
...so if you've been taught how to emergency stop, it should just appear to be a labour-saving device, not something miraculous...
I can only guess that the EBA could get to max pressure quicker than my foot, and that this made it feel sharper. Alternatively and more likely, once the ABS was chundering away under my foot I stopped pressing any harder, whereas I actually should have been standing even harder because maybe the back wheels still had some traction to help out...
All I know is, when it kicked in in anger, it was like you'd hit a wall.
1) I think your bold text is correct - turbo'd cars 'feel' more accelerative than an equivalent n/a as the rate-of-change of torque is greater for turbo (even more so for diseasels). So EBA is probably just that.
2) If your ABS system is that sick I'd be taking it to the doctors...or not letting it drink as much!
PS - Emergency stop NOT taught in the driving test?!? WTRF?!?
iamAlegend said:
It sure stops the car pretty damn quick, but no quicker than you can do yourself with a bit of practice!
Really- how many people, be honest, find heavy braking satisfying or remotely interesting? I can do that cadence braking thing on my non ABS car but I know damn well that the ABS etc on daily driver are better than I am . They banned ABS in F1 - and not because a driver was a better braker. Good driving to me is making quick progress with minimal use of brakes - if you are frequently on the limits of your brakes you are doing something wrong- unless, of course you are outbraking Plato into Druids...."Carmakers urged to extend US commitment on AEB to Europe..."
http://fleetworld.co.uk/news/2015/Sep/Carmakers-ur...
http://fleetworld.co.uk/news/2015/Sep/Carmakers-ur...
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