ABS on a Mini
Turbo Mini Forums

Was just thinking.... with all the Jap cars coming in as parts donors, I was thinking whether it would be possible to fit ABS onto a Mini, say by removing the ABS module from, say a Toyota Tercel, together with the required sensors and stuff, and fit them onto a Mini.

Or is it impossible to fit it all on Mini hubs?

I'm not sure if Subaru use the same wheel stud pattern as BMC, which could make life a bit easier...

I donated, but somehow didn't get the label! :(

you could... but why would you want to?

Alex

AlexF

The Mini handles well, no doubt, but it was a chassis designed for a 35 bhp engine, on the tyres of the time. Now we're expecting it to remain a good chassis even when driving more than 100 bananas through the front wheels.
When I was younger (and sillier) I often suffered wheel lockups in sprints - maybe its down to my driving style, but I believe that if this system is available and can help me corner a bit faster as I can kick in the brakes later (you cannot drift a Mini on wide 13 inch wheels) without fear of wheel lock-up.

Besides, I just want to say that I've done it!

I donated, but somehow didn't get the label! :(

Team Racing

My personal opinion is that I am able to modulate braking effort in a lightweight car sufficiently to not need ABS.
The "skill" factor comes in when you find you need big bollocks to be able to back off the brakes when you have locked up, even if you are entering a corner too fast.
Also, I think you will find most ABS systems cut in a bit too early, thus extending the distance you travel when you are braking. OK for the roads, but for sprinting track or competition use? It would be useless.
I have actually been involved in back to back tests around a race circuit involving ABS. With it turned off, the lap times were faster.

Edited by Tom Fenton on 7th Feb, 2006.

From an engineering point of view it seems like a good project. I think it could improve lap times in the wet, but in the dry I reckon, as tom says, it will be better without.

I really don't like ABS that much in normal circumstances. If I'm blasting down a twisty A road it can keep cutting in and get on your nerves. However, in an emergency it does give you a better chance.

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We tried the test in a one make race series, where the cars were fitted with ABS and you were not allowed to disable it. However, by placing a "blown" fuse in the correct place in the fusebox, voila, it would stop working.
Lap times in the dry were faster, although in the wet it would have been interesting to see.

a guy on another mini forum was asking the same question but i think he got stupmed when looking for some sort of programmable ABS controller. Does such a thing exist or are they all built into the cars ECU?

I dont't know if I'm a bit too over-simplistic, but isn't the ABS just a set of sensors, one on every wheel, which trigger off when the wheel appears to lock? In such instances, a pulse is sent to the central controller which releases the brake line pressure on that wheel to allow it to keep rotating.

I don't think it should be too difficult to get something of this sort to work...

I donated, but somehow didn't get the label! :(

go for it what was you thinking of using, ford`s ? They are good system

1293 Turbo mini

I was thinking of using Jap stuff because half-cut Jap cars are plentiful and usually have ABS.

I donated, but somehow didn't get the label! :(

that`s ok but when need wiring diagrams it not that easy to find

1293 Turbo mini

Hi,
I don't think it'll be too difficult with a complete set up off a car. As far as I know there is no programable ECU, but a locked wheel is a locked wheel. As long as the ECU sees all four wheels going round at the same speed when you move off it'll be happy. The older ford systems give you better braking effort as the fluid is pressurised by a pump (no servo) and the brake pedal is connected to a valve which regulates the flow to the brakes. This gives a much more positive feel to the pedal as well.
It's crossed my mind to do this aswell, but I've got tin worm and engine/box rebuilds to worry about
Cheers,
Gavin. :)

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